Tamil Nadu Forest Department

From To

The Chairperson, As per the list noted below.

Project Executive Committee,

Conservation Authority of Pallikaranai MarshLand

and

District Forest Officer,

Chengalpattu Division,

Kancheepuram.

Ref. No. 171 / 2013 Dated : 24 .07.2013

Sirs,

Sub: TNFD– Tender for appointment of Institution / Resource

Organization for Developing a Comprehensive Management Plan for the

Pallikaranai Marsh – Reg.

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You are hereby invited to submit separate technical and financial proposals for

preparing the Comprehensive Management Plan for the conservation of the Pallikaranai

Marsh which would be the basis for future negotiations and a contract between your firm

and the District Forest Officer.

Name of the work:

“Developing a Comprehensive Management Plan for the Conservation of the

Pallikaranai Marsh with site specific additions or modifications.”

The following documents are enclosed to enable you to submit your proposals:

a) Brief note on the Project (Annexure –I)

b) Terms of Reference (Annexure – II)

c) Supplementary information for Bidders (Annexure-III)

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

The proposals are to be submitted in two parts viz. technical and financial, and

the “TECHNICAL” and “FINANCIAL” proposals must be submitted in two separate

sealed envelopes (Both respectively marked in bold letters) following the formats / schedules

given in the Annexure III. The first envelope marked “TECHNICAL PROPOSAL” should

indicate the description of the firm/ organization, general experience in the field of

assignment, the qualification and competency of the personnel proposed for the assignment

and the proposed work plan methodology and approach in response to suggested terms of

reference. The second envelope marked ‘FINANCIAL’ should contain the detailed price

offer for the baseline survey of biodiversity in critical habitats prior to removal of alien

species services with breakup of cost.

OPENING OF PROPOSALS:

The proposals (first envelope containing technical proposal only) will be opened by

the Chairman, Project Executive Committee, Conservation Authority of Pallikaranai Marsh

Land & District Forest Officer or his authorized representative in his office at on in the

presence of such bidders or their authorized representative who may choose to be present. It

may please be noted that the second envelope containing the detailed price offer of only those

who qualify by obtaining the minimum technical score 75 points, will be opened after the

technical evaluation is completed.

EVALUATION:

A two-stage procedure will be adopted in evaluating the proposals with the technical

evaluation being completed prior to any financial proposal being opened. The technical

proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria:

- The firm’s capability and relevant experience in the field.

- The quality of the methodology proposed

- The qualification, experience and competence of the key staff proposed for the

assignment.

- The Curriculum vitae of the senior personnel to be deployed for imparting the

training should be included in the proposal (in the format for sample curriculum

vitae) for assessing the qualifications, experience and competence.

The evaluation criteria for the technical proposal will be as follows:

i) Specific experience of the consultants with reference to the assignment Points

(a) Firm’s experience 30% 20

(b) Personnel 30%

(c ) Adequacy for the consultancy 40%

ii) Quality of the methodology proposed 40

iii) Qualification and competence of the key staff for the assignment 40

a) General qualification 30%

(b) Adequacy for the consultancy 60%

(c ) Experience in the region & language 10%

Total Points 100

Minimum technical score required is 75 points.

The institution / Resource Organization whose proposals are selected will be notified

indicating the date and time set for opening of financial proposals. The Institution/ Resource

Organization whose proposals do not meet the minimum qualifying mark will be notified and

their financial proposal returned unopened on completion of the selection process.

After the evaluation of quality, the financial proposals shall be opened in the presence of

the tenderers or their representatives who may choose to be present. The name of the

Institution/ Resource Organisation, the quality scores and the proposed prices shall be read

out and recorded when the financial proposals are opened. The minutes of the public

opening will be prepared.

The evaluation committee will determine whether the financial proposals are complete

and costing has been done for all the items.

The lowest financial proposal (Fm) will be given a financial score (Sf) of 100 points.

The financial scores (Sf) of the other financial proposals will be computed as sf = 100 X Fm /

F, in which Sf is the financial score, Fm is the lowest price and F the price proposal under

consideration. Proposals will be ranked according to their combined technical (St) and

financial (Sf) scores (total 200 points).

The Institution / Resource Organization achieving the highest combined technical /

financial score will be invited for negotiations. During negotiations, the Institution /

Resource organization must be prepared to furnish the detailed cost breakup and other

clarifications to the proposals submitted by him, as may be required to adjudge the

reasonableness of the price proposals.

Negotiations will commence with a discussion of the technical proposal, the proposed

methodology (work plan), staffing and any suggestion the Institution / Resource Organization

may have to improve the Terms of Reference (ToR). Agreement must then be reached on the

final ToR, the staffing and staff members, logistics and reporting. Special attention will be

paid in optimization of the required outputs from the Institution / Resource Organization and

to define clearly the inputs required from the department to ensure satisfactory

implementation of the Assignment.

Changes agreed upon will then be reflected in the financial proposal, using proposed

unit rates.

Having selected the Institution / Resource Organization, the department expects to

negotiate a contact on the basis of the two senior most personnel named in the proposal and

prior to the contract negotiations, will require assurance that these personnel will be actually

available. The client will not consider substituting during the course of implementation

except in cases of unexpected delay in the starting date or incapacity by professional staff for

reasons of health.

The negotiations will be considered with a review of the draft form of contract. The

Department and the Institution / Resource Organization will finalize the contract to conclude

negotiations.

If the negotiations with the Institution / Resource Organization are successful, the

award will be made and all other Institution / Resource Organization notified. If negotiations

fail, and if it is concluded that a contract with reasonable terms cannot be reached with the

Institution /Resource Organization, the Institution / Resource Organization with second highest

combined score will be invited for negotiations. This process will be repeated till an agreed

contract is concluded.

Please note that the department is not bound to select any of the Institution / Resource

Organization submitting proposals.

You are requested to hold your proposal valid for 90 days from the date of submission

without change of the personnel proposed for the assignment and your proposed price. The

department will make its best efforts to select a Institution / Resource Organization within

this period.

Please note that the cost of preparing the proposal and of negotiating a contract

including visits to the places of assignment, if any is not reimbursable as a direct cost of the

assignment.

The successful bidder is expected to commence the assignment immediately.

Objective of the Management Plan :

ANNEXURE-I

BRIEF NOTE ON PALLIKARNAI MARSH

To strengthen the protection mechanisms and measures, restoration initiatives, and

conservation measures of the Pallikaranai Marsh thereby contributing to environmental

conservation and harmonized socio-economic development of Tamil Nadu.

Component and activities

The major components and subcomponents of this Project are as follows:

1. Baseline research on key aspects required for the protection of a wetland

2. Review of secondary literature

3. Engagement with relevant stakeholders on the issue

4. Consolidation of inputs to develop the Management Plan

Scope of Work

Wetlands are the most important of life-supporting ecosystems that have sustained

human lives and communities over the millennia. They are defined as ‘lands transitional

between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface

or the land is covered by standing water that does not exceed 6 meters’.

The Pallikaranai Marsh is located along the Coromandel Coast south of the Adyar

Estuary. It is surrounded by the IT-Corridor (Rajiv Gandhi Salai /erstwhile Old Mahabalipuram

Road) and the residential areas of Perungudi and Thoraipakkam on the East, Siruseri-

Sholinganallur villages on the south, the residential areas of Pallikaranai, Madipakkam and

Narayanapuram on the West and Velachery, Taramani, Kandan Chavadi, Perungudi on the

North. The original expanse of the marsh, estimated on the basis of the Survey of India

toposheets (1972) and aerial photographs (Corona) of the year 1965 was about 5500 ha. Habitat

loss of the marsh is discussed in the latter sections of the report.

The uniquely heterogeneous hydrology and ecology of the Pallikaranai Marsh makes the

marsh one of the most diverse natural habitats of the country. A project on ‘Inland Wetlands of

India’ commissioned by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India had

prioritized Pallikaranai Marsh as one of the most significant wetlands of the country.

An estimated 1,386,000,000km3 of water fills the earth. Of this only 2.5% is fresh water.

Two-thirds of the Earth’s freshwater are locked up as ice. The freshwater that is held in lakes,

rivers, wetlands, underground aquifers, soil pores, plant life and atmosphere – the Earth’s major

source of freshwater, amounts to a mere 0.77% of the total water that fills the earth.

The Pallikaranai Marsh is amongst the few and last remaining natural wetlands of south

India. The Marsh that was till about 30 years ago spread over an area of more than 5000ha

(50km2) has been reduced to around one-tenth of its original extent due to ill-planned

development and the consequent disposal of waste generated by the urban society. Despite the

onslaught, the Marsh has survived due to its unique ecology – in being partly saline and largely

freshwater. This more or less flat low-lying land has sustained an ecosystem by draining the

storm water from large areas of southeast Chennai into the Bay of Bengal. The most important

link – in fact the aorta of the ecosystem, is the narrow canal at Okkiyanmadavu that takes the

Marsh’s water into the sea. Despite the flow being interrupted by the Buckingham Canal during

the past 100-150 years, the Okkiyanmadavu has been vital to the sustenance of the Pallikaranai

Marsh by allowing the storm water to drain into the sea during the monsoons and letting the

seawater enrich the ecosystem during the non-rainy months. In a nutshell, it may be said that

the Okkiyanmadavu canal is not only the aorta, but also the pulmonary vein of the Pallikaranai

Marsh.

The entire ecology of the Marsh is sustained by the seasonal hydrology in general and

the mixing of sea and freshwater in particular. As is well-known, freshwater wetlands that are in

the stage of marshes are unstable as they eventually transform to grasslands and then to scrub

and forests due to the semi-aquatic and terrestrial plants that over-run the habitat. It is only the

mixing of seawater that sustains marshes as very few plants are adapted to living in saltwater

systems and as they cannot survive elsewhere have evolved ‘life-styles’ that mutually sustain

the ecosystem and the living communities of plants and animals that depend on them. In other

words, the freshwater-salt marsh ecosystem is one that is delicately balanced in nature and is

sustained by a set of equally fragile ecological communities.

Biodiversity of Pallikaranai Marsh is typified by the presence of species representing

various faunal groups, of which birds, fishes and reptiles are the most prominent. It is the

natural habitat to some of the most endangered reptiles such as the Russell’s viper and birds

such as the Glossy Ibis, Pheasant tailed Jacana etc. The marsh has also had the distinction of

new records of reptiles and plants being described, on a rather regular basis since 2002.

The Plan should strengthen and develop the Forest Department’s technical capacity in

wetland management, using participatory processes that enable key stakeholders (e.g. PWD

and village communities) to express their aspirations, engage in the formulation of plans and

contribute to their implementation.

The following activities are to be implemented during the Project period in the Wetland

Action Plan.

a) Enhance aquatic habitats and aquatic species diversity / composition

b) Enhance peripheral and nearby terrestrial habitats for birds.

c) Monitor water levels monthly in the tank / lake / reservoir, and maintain register.

d) Establish specific points within marsh to document the density, species

composition of aquatic vegetation, including patches of invasive species such

as water hyacinth, Ipomoea carnea, Pistia, Salvinia etc.

ANNEXURE II

TERMS OF REFERENCE

The specific purpose of the Terms of Reference (hereinafter referred to as ToR) detailed

herewith is to enable the preparation of the Management Plan for the Pallikaranai Marsh of

Tamil Nadu. The ToR is also designed to identify and engage competent agencies with a proven

record of developing action and management plans for systems that have the mandate to protect

biodiversity with specific reference to aquatic systems notably wetlands.

Resource Organization for “Developing Comprehensive Management Plan for the

Pallikaranai Marsh”

The various components that would constitute the ToR are as follows:

1. Eligibility criteria

Defines and details the eligibility criteria so as to highlight the nature and functioning

of the organization and its expertise domain. These criteria would ensure that only those

organisations which have the expertise and track record for executing similar tasks would

participate in the process. The criteria would also facilitate the possibility of two or more

organisations functioning as a consortium or collective to execute the task.

1. Statutory Status: Details of registration, Legal name of the organisation

2. No. of years in operation

3. Structure of the governing body/board/trust

4. Synoptic account about the members of the governing body/board/trust

5. No. of permanent employees

6. No. of part time employees

7. Awards/ Recognitions if any

8. Details of the projects undertaken by the organization in the last three years

9. Representation in Committees, Working Groups and Expert Groups of the State or

Central Government

10. Expertise domain of the organization

11. Specific expertise in Ecological assessments, ecological planning and management,

restoration and conservation , subject domains such as ornithology, botany, zoology,

social science, geography, hydrology, rural management etc.

12. Past experience in evolving Management Plans for Bird Sanctuaries, Wetlands

2. Background This section would provide the introductory details about the Bird Sanctuary. These include:

1. Name of the Entity :

2. Year of establishment :

3. Area and extent in Ha. :

4. District / Forest Division :

5. Administrative jurisdiction :

6. Context for developing the Wetland Action Plan:

7. Past efforts (synoptic) in protecting and managing the area:

3. Scope of the assignment

This section will provide details on the objectives and scope of the Management Plan

for the Pallikaranai Marsh Land

1. The vision and mission of the Wetland viz. Pallikaranai Marsh Land

2. The thematic and subject components such as habitat description, characterization,

habitat management, habitat improvement, hydrology, community engagement,

involvement of local communities

3. The scope (methodology to be agreed upon) for developing the Plan

1. Secondary data review and analysis

2. Primary data sourcing, analysis and interpretation

3. Rapid assessments, field surveys, focus group discussions, follow up and

sustainability mechanisms

4. Identification of issues, concerns, problems associated with the management of the

Marsh (SWOT Analysis)

5. Identification of protection, restoration and conservation measures

6. Identification of feasible units for implementation and demarcation on ground

7. Identification of regular and periodic monitoring mechanisms and protocols for

various components associated with management of the PALLIKARANAI

MARSH LAND: notably micro habitats, wild bird disease monitoring,

documentation.

8. Identification of Innovative local specific conservation measures that involve local

communities

4. Tasks and deliverables

1. Defining time lines through an Inception Report

2. Preparing locale specific conservation action plans: with immediate, short and long

term action points (matrix), targets, actions and financials

3. Review of the Comprehensive Management Plan

4. Finalisation of the Comprehensive Management Plan

5. Request for Proposals

1) The resource organization / agency should have the experience of involving the

local community to support towards the conservation of Wetland.

2) The agency should submit the methodology and training programme structure

based on the frame work as provided by which all proposed work will be taken up.

3) The agency should submit the publications / documents along with the application

in support of Development of the Wetland.

4) The agency shall furnish the list of resource persons, their qualifications, and

experiences in their organization with documents to support thereof along with the

application.

5) The organization’s capacity to prepare comprehension Wetland Action Plan with

details of previous such experience.

6) The resource personnel of the approved agency shall remain available throughout

the period Wetland Action Plan of conservation initiatives taken by CAPML.

6. Duration of the Work

Developing the Comprehensive Management Plan should be completed before

27.11.2013. However it is preferable if the task is completed before 30.10.2013.

7. Target Area Pallikaranai Marsh Land.

8. Specific outputs of the Initiative

This section will provide details on the objectives and scope of the Wetland Action

Plan for the Pallikaranai Marsh Land

1. The vision and mission of the PML.

2. The thematic and subject components such as habitat description, characterization, habitat

management, habitat improvement, hydrology, community engagement, involvement of local

communities.

3. The scope (methodology to be agreed upon) for developing the CMP.

i. Secondary data review and analysis.

ii. Primary data sourcing, analysis and interpretation.

iii. Rapid assessments, field surveys, focus group discussions, follow up and sustainability

mechanisms.

iv. Identification of issues, concerns, problems associated with the management of the RF

(SWOT Analysis)

v. Identification of protection, restoration and conservation measures.

vi. Identification of feasible units for implementation and demarcation on ground.

vii. Identification of regular and periodic monitoring mechanisms and protocols for various

components associated with management of the RF: notably micro habitats, wild bird

disease monitoring, documentation.

viii. Identification of Innovative local specific conservation measures that involve local

communities.

9. Report progress and monitoring

The Resource Organization should submit reports on the progress made at every stage to

the District Forest Officer. The final report should be submitted after discussion with

implementing officers.

10. (a) Formats for collection of data

All the data collection details should be in the following formats.

Year of formulation of the COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN

Plan duration - 5 years.

Name of the Marsh Land : Pallikkaranai Marshland.

1. Location.

1.1 State: District: Taluks:

1.2 Geo-coordinates (lat and long)

1.3 Boundaries:

1.4 Area in hectares: Total water spread area:

1.5 Period of water logging.

1.6 Area of the sanctuary.

2. Climate

2.1 Rainfall: Monsoon, Seasons, Number of rainy days, Average Annual Rainfall.

2.2 Relative humidity, temperature (maximum, minimum)

2.3 Wind pattern:

3. Landscape description 3.1 Topography: flat/undulating/ hilly: Contour Maps if any.

3.2 Altitude:

3.3 Orientation: Coastal / Inland / Others

3.4 Ecosystem: Whether part of marine, riverine, flood plain, hills, agricultural, urban or others.

3.5 Bio-geographic zone (as defined by the Wildlife Institute of India):

3.6 Agro-ecological zone (as defined by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research):

3.7 Predominant vegetation:

3.8 Presence of beach / shoreline/ sand dune/ mud flats/ rocky out crops/ quarries / others

(specify)

3.9 Whether an individual entity or part of a wetland complex:

3.10 If the RF is part of a wetland complex, names and location of the satellite aquatic

habitats:

4. Habitats and hydrology

4.1 Major habitat types: whether saline, brackish or freshwater.

4.2 Seasonal trends in salinity:

4.3 Habitat zonation within the wetland: types and area under each type.

4.4 Whether rain fed or canal fed

4.5 If canal fed: describe the feeder canals, seepages, overflows, gully.

4.6 Outlets and discharge canals

4.7 Directional flow of water: seasonal / tidal/ perennial

4.8 Surface run off

4.9 Water Table: depth and seasonal variation

4.10 If the adjoining area is used for commercial or industrial extraction of water

4.11 Potability of the ground water

4.12 Water quality parameters: salinity, conductivity, hardness, pH

etc.

4.13 Major pollutants identified in the water source: type:

4.14 Type of soil

5. Land use history

5.1 Name of the catchment

5.2 Description of catchment including area and extent, administrative jurisdiction

5.3 Specific land use type

5.4 Specific land classification: within the RF / buffer

5.5 Changes over the last decade in land use: over a 5 km radius.

5.6 Change in land use classification over the last five years:

5.7 Agricultural system: Commercial / Intermediate / SuRFistence / Opportunistic.

5.8 Cropping Pattern and Intensity (provide details of cropping seasons, major and minor

crops, net area sown)

5.9 Post –harvest practices typical to the landscape

5.10 Village commons if present, details and description of each of the types

5.11Total area under cultivation: rain fed / irrigated

5.12 Predominant systems of irrigation

5.13 Use of organic / Inorganic fertilizers: list

5.14 No. of small, medium and large farmers

5.15 Number of households engaged in fishing

5.16 Seasonal variation in fishing

5.17 Types of fishing: lease, subsistence, opportunistic, others

5.18 Fishing practices and gear used

5.19 Fish species harvested

5.20 Fish species preferred

6. Demographic details of the Landscape

6.1 Numbers and names of villages in close proximity to the RF (3 km radius):

6.2 Block / Taluk / District details

6.3 Numbers and names of Panchayats in close proximity to the RF (3 km radius)

6.4 Population: Male; Female

6.5 No. of households and the density of human presence

6.6 Literacy levels: including number of functionally literate

6.7 No. of land owning households.

6.8 Occupational categories: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary

6.9 Livelihood categories

6.10 Migration patterns:

6.11 Number of BPL households

6.12 Social infrastructure in the landscape (for example: PHCs, Schools, etc)

6.13 Major morbidity patterns

6.14 Presence and functioning of organized groups such as SHGs, VFCs etc.

7. Human Infrastructure:

7.1 Roads (types) around the RF

7.2 Connectivity to nearest major town

7.3 Whether part of the NH system

7.4 Major industries around the RF

7.5 Major gated communities / residential zones

7.6 Potentially detrimental projects

8. Cultural aspects of wetland use

8.1 Nominate species of the wetland / landscape / human habitation

8.2 Nominate deities, temples, festivals, cultural events

8.3 Traditional water use systems

8.4 Customary laws, rules and regulations

8.5 Sacred habitats, species

8.6 Case studies of unique contemporary or historical conservation traditions

9. Natural resource dependency

9.1 Total livestock around the RF (including categories)

9.2 Whether owned or under tenancy

9.3 Grazing area in ha. and intensity

9.4 Source of fodder

9.5 Presence of livestock farms

9.6 Poultry in and around the RF

9.7 Presence of Aquaculture projects including ornamental fish

9.8 Collection of grass / fuel – wood / thatch / fibre/snails/frogs/others

9.9 Collection of medicinal plants

9.10 Others (specify)

10. Local Economic scenario

10.1 Primary economic activity

10.2 Income levels:

10.3 No. of families BPL

10.4 Names of nationalised and private banks in the landscape

11. Ownership and jurisdiction of various departments

11.1 Land ownership: Lease / tenurial arrangement in place

11.2 Overlap domains

11.3 Existing collaboration/interface/arrangement/programmes between departments.

11.4 Whether part of a major irrigation network

11.5 Consolidation of the RF area (legal status) if applicable

12. Ongoing measures of conservations (year wise for the last five years):

Nature of work Output: Financial outlay: Deficit

12.2 Whether the programmes are ongoing

12.3 Whether considered for revision or modification

12.4 Successful initiatives

12.5 Initiatives that need reorientation or redrafting

12.6 Uniqueness of the RF specific conservation measures

13. Research interface

13.1 Presence of in-house researchers

13.2 Association or collaboration with research/academic/research NGOs.

13.3 No. of research projects completed

13.4 No. of technical reports available

13.5 No. of papers published

13.6 Geo referenced databases

13.7 Primary focus area of research

14. Stakeholder or participant engagement

14.1 Major stakeholders

14.2 Secondary stakeholders

14.3 Tertiary stakeholders

14.4 Demographic arrangement of stakeholders

14.5 Consultative processes in place

14.6 Major conflicts

14.7 Drivers of conflicts

14.8 Reconciliation measures in place

14.9 Future scenarios

14.10 Mechanisms and institutions in place for stakeholder consultation and engagement

14.11 Concerned Panchayat

14.12 Committees and local groups in place and functionality

14.13 Whether Gram Sabha is present and active

14.14 Procedures for Panchayat engagement

15. Tourism

15.1 Current practice of tourism including tariff

15.2 No. of visitors

15.3 Seasons of high tourism and lean season

15.4 Facilities available for tourism

15.5 Whether part of eco-tourism zones

15.6 Details of eco-tourism

15.7 Measures for ensuring sustainability of tourism

16. Biodiversity

16.1 List of species of birds (including land birds), mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians,

dragonflies and other aquatic insects, butterflies, benthic fauna, plants (others if any)

16.2 List of species of non-native, introduced and invasive plants and animals

16.3 Extent of cover of invasive plants

16.4 Flagship species (population trends)

16.5 Trends in populations of birds

16.6 Episodes of mass mortality in birds, fish, others.

16.7 Known cases of bird flu or other contagious disease

16.8 All available data on birds (checklists, census, photos, etc)

16.9 Data maintained by watchers and patrol staff

16.10 Data / Information collated form visitor’s books / records

17. Conservation prioritization / plan

17.1 Overall Action and Activities

17.2 Zone or habitat specific actions and activities

17.3 Interface with existing programmes such as TBGP, Ecotourism

17.4 Interface with existing microplans

17.5 Time frame for activities

17.6 Financial outlay (activity/action/year wise)

18. Review and Monitoring System

18.1 Mechanism for review

18.2 Periodicity and process of review

18.3 Indicators – Biological, social and economic

18.4 Bio-indicators for the RF (specific)

18.5 Adaptive measures

19. Maps, geo-referenced for the data set.

10. (b) 10 (Ten) bound copies of the Wetland Action Plan should be submitted.

10. (c) Budget and payment schedule

The payment will be made to the Resource Organization at 50% on giving the work

order, 25% on receipt of the draft Wetland Plan complete shape and the balance 25% will be

released only after approval of the final report in full shape incorporating the suggestions /

modifications on the draft Wetland Action Plan by the Screening Committee to be constituted

by the Conservator of Forests which will include the member of the concerned Divisions and

Biodiversity Expert Consultant from Project Management Consultant and also a

representative from Project Management Unit.

Income Tax and Service Tax will be deducted at source on the prevailing rates.