CEFAS24-02 RFQ for technical advice and services on waste management in Belize

Tender description

Request for Quotation for technical advice and services on waste management in Belize, under the Ocean Country Partnership Programme. Background: The Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) was announced in 2021 as a key bilateral aid programme under the £500m Blue Planet Fund. The UK is working with partner countries to deliver marine science technical assistance across the 3 core themes of marine pollution, biodiversity loss and supporting sustainable seafood. Between 2021-26, Cefas will lead delivery of the OCPP, working in partnership with experts from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). See our video An introduction to the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) to find out more about the Programme. Belize and Project ‘Fresh Start’ To realise OCPP core objective of poverty alleviation, protecting Belize’s marine and terrestrial environments from the impacts of pollution like solid waste is critical. In particular, preventative measures like sustainable solid waste collection removes the potential damage unmanaged waste can do to the environment, human health, and livelihoods. In rural areas throughout Belize, the absence of these waste collection services often mean solid waste is mismanaged through ‘disposal’ methods such as burning, burying, and dumping in uncontrolled and/or illegal dump sites. These introduce risks such as leachates and harmful chemicals being released into the atmosphere that can directly impact human health and lead to a deterioration in the productivity of the environments that support livelihoods and biodiversity. The Department of the Environment (DOE) in Belize is responsible for regulating and enforcing the prevention and control of environmental pollution, conservation, and management of natural resources. Project Fresh Start was therefore established, and the DOE selected four (4) communities in the Cayo District, namely Santa Familia, Billy White, Duck Run I and Duck Run III, to provide support to their respective village councils in establishing a sustainable solid waste collection system and to aid in closing and cleaning up nearby illegal dumpsites and reduce the open burning of solid waste. Through Project Fresh Start, the DOE provided support for a period of six (6) months, which included the acquisition of a lift trailer for each community and a stipend to offset costs associated with collection and transportation of waste. Waste collected from the communities is either disposed of at a managed disposal site situated near Duck Run III, managed by the Spanish Lookout Community, or at the San Ignacio transfer station, managed by the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority. Requirement: Despite the initial support through Fresh Start, the communities are facing logistical challenges in providing consistent waste collection services and implementing a cost recovery system that will aid in ensuring the financial and operational sustainability of the waste collection services. Cefas require the Supplier to work closely with the DOE and members of the selected village councils to identify challenges and make recommendations to improve and support the implementation of improvements to the waste collection services, particularly the sustainability and design of the fee mechanism and systems. Requirement 1 - Rural waste collection assessment The Supplier will work with the selected local community's village councils and community members to assess the existing waste collection services, including evaluation of collection frequency, coverage, and logistical operations, challenges and gaps in service provision, and any other areas the Supplier deems important factors to a self-sufficient waste collection service. The report will include: • a summary of the state of current rural waste collection under Fresh Start • cost recovery scheme currently being implemented under Fresh Start • details on the four communities and the stakeholders engaged • the challenges identified • actionable recommendations based on the assessment, that will enhance the sustainability and quality of the waste collection. • Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the methodology used to write the report (as an Annex), so that the assessment might be repeated to evaluate progress and/or used in other communities in Belize, as well as potentially in other OCPP countries. Requirement 2 - Develop a waste collection service toolkit Based on the findings of Requirement 1, the Supplier will produce a Sustainable Rural Waste Collection Toolkit. The Supplier will ensure that should ensure that all ‘tools’ are included that would allow another local community in Belize to use the toolkit (in conjunction with Requirement 3 below) to setup their own rural solid waste collection service, with for example, the aid of a grant for purchasing of equipment. This may include, but is not limited to: • best practices • logistical and operational considerations • cost recovery mechanisms • case studies from the communities The toolkit must be provided in a manner that will allow it to be adapted/updated to reflect other communities in Belize and potentially across other OCPP countries. For example, consideration of how images and diagrams can be used to support understanding by communities where literacy may be limited. It must be accessible to local communities where there may not be internet or computer access, so for example as a printed document. It should also be translated and made available in relevant languages (English, Spanish, Belizean Creole and Garifuna). Requirement 3 - Produce a short awareness video The Supplier will provide a professionally produced and engaging short video, highlighting Project Fresh Start and the importance of proper waste management, showcase the efforts and successes of the communities, and provide educational content on how other rural communities can replicate the waste collection systems. It should complement the toolkit and be produced in a way that allows for widespread use in Belizean communities, as well as be adaptable for use in other OCPP countries. The video will be used across various communication and social media platforms so should be produced with this in mind. The Supplier will specifically provide: • a version of the fully produced video in English. • a version of the fully produced video in Spanish, Belizean Creole and Garifuna. • a version of the video with no narration (music only is acceptable) to allow it to be adapted to other languages in future. • a written script of the content/narration to support potential future translation. Requirement 4 – Summary report The Supplier to produce a final report summarising overall outcomes of the above requirements 1-3, including specifically: • lessons learned • recommendations for future initiatives • key considerations for scaling and for adaption to other partner countries across OCPP. The Supplier is required to work on the ground in-country for a period of the Contract in order to maximise engagement, understanding and impact. Cefas envisage at least one visit of around 14 days duration. All required Travel and Subsistence for completion of the Contract must be included in your Total Fixed Price in Part 2 – Pricing submission. Sustainability Suppliers should consider Sustainability and aim to minimise Carbon Footprint when carrying out the Deliverables of this Contract, including specifically in relation to travel of staff and attendees to any engagement events/ activities, use and disposal of any required items including for any catering requirements. On completion of the Contract, Cefas require a Carbon Footprint statement – including details on mode of transportation, engine capacity, km travelled, and fuel used in the delivery of the Contract. This is to be used by the Cefas Environmental Team to contribute to calculation of Cefas’ environmental footprint. Data Management and Security The Authority require the awarded Supplier to complete a Statement of Assurance Questionnaire upon provisional award. This is available in the Bidder Pack for your information, alongside the Security Awareness and You, Protecting Government Assets - OFFICIAL document which you should please read. Deliverables: 1. Requirement 1 – assessment and provision of report, as per above details a. To be delivered within 2 months of Contract start date 2. Requirement 2 – toolkit to be developed and finalised, as per above details a. To be delivered within 4 months of Contract start date 3. Requirement 3 – short awareness video to be produced and finalised, as per above details a. To be delivered within 5 months of Contract start date 4. Requirement 4 – final summary report to be provided a. To be delivered within 6 months of Contract start date 5. Carbon Footprint Statement provided, as per above details a. To be delivered at end of Contract Location for services to be undertaken: Remotely, and in Belize as per above requirements.