ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES TO DETERMINE THE MOST FEASIBLE SOLUTION TO THE HYDROLOGICAL ISSUES OF THE LAKE ST LUCIA ESTUARINE SYSTEM

Analysis of alternatives to determine the most feasible solution to the hydrological issues of the Lake St Lucia estuarine system

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST NOTICE

COUNTRY South Africa

PROJECT Development, Empowerment and Conservation in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and surrounding region project

SECTOR Global Environment Facility (GEF)

GRANT NO TF96152

PROJECT ID NO P086528

NAME OF ASSIGNMENT Analysis of alternatives to determine the most feasible solution to the hydrological issues of the Lake St Lucia estuarine system

TYPE OF SERVICE Consulting services

This request for expressions of interest follows the General Procurement Notice for this project that appeared in Development Business No. wb 2901 of 07/07/2010.

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority has been awarded a Grant from the Global Environment Facility through the World Bank for the iSimangaliso GEF project entitled "Development, Empowerment and Conservation in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Surrounding Region".

The project intends to apply a portion of this grant to eligible payments for consulting services, under the iSimangaliso GEF Project Component 1, for a study: 'Analysis of alternatives to determine the most feasible solution to the hydrological issues of the Lake St Lucia estuarine system.'

The Lake St Luciasystem is one of the most important estuaries in South Africa and thelargest of only three estuarine coastal lake systems in the country, with a water surface of 300 km2 and a shoreline of over 400km. It represents over 80% of the estuarine area of the southern African sub-tropical region and 60% of the estuarine area of the country, making it the most important nursery ground for juvenile marine fish and prawns along the east coast.

Lake St Lucia, however, is facing serious hydrological problems. For the most part of the last decade there has been below average rainfall and very little water from the system's five rivers has flowed into St Lucia. While changes in the catchments of these rivers have affected the amount and quality of water entering the lake, the major impacts on Lake St Lucia have arisen through human intervention in the uMfolozi catchment, which is the largest catchment of the Lake St Lucia system. Of particular significance are theeffects of the removal of the swamp vegetation on the floodplain, thecanalisation of the uMfolozi River and the separation of the uMfoloziand St Lucia systems.

The main objective is to undertake a detailed and multidisciplinary integrated analysis (hydrological, hydrodynamic, sedimentological, ecosystem response and economic) of a selection of proposed management interventions in order to recommend the most ecologically feasible option taking into consideration social, financial, political and economic considerations; and to provide a detailed description of the recommended option actions in order to facilitate implementation (phase 1). Following this, phase 2 of the assignment is to project manage the implementation of the approved preferred option.

The required experience and qualifications of the firm includes: at least ten (10) years expertise in project management of multi-disciplinary applied research teams, experience of research in an estuarine/coastal environment, good written communication skills, experience of the St Lucia system is an advantage, at least (10) years of experience and specialist expertise in hydrology, coastal sedimentology, estuarine physical processes and ecology, socio-economic and environmental resource economics.

The contract is for an initial one-year period, subject to review after the first year, with the possibility of extension/s dependent on performance and the requirements of the project, and at the sole discretion of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority.

The iSimangaliso Authority now invites eligible consultancy firms to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (including brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availabilityof appropriate skills among staff, etc). Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications.

Consultants will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers, 6 May 2004 revised inOctober 2006, May 2010. Consultants are reminded to take note of the Conflict of Interest and Eligibility provisions stated in the mentioned guidelines. In particular, any firm or individual involved in the preparation of the Terms ofReference for the study is not eligible to submit an EOI or to be shortlisted or to be awarded the contract.

Before the submission ofthe EOI, interested consultants are required to contact the official bid representative, Ms Ingelore Taylor, [email protected] in order to obtain an instruction document that will provide guidance on the EOI submission.

Original and four (4) hard copies of the stipulated documents for the EOI must be received by iSimangaliso in a clearly labelled and sealed envelope no later than 16h00 on 4 May 2012. The delivery address for the EOI is as follows:

The GEF Bid representative iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority

The Dredger Harbour

Private Bag x05 St Lucia Estuary

3936

South Africa

Please note that the costs of preparing EOI documents are not reimbursable. The iSimangaliso Authority may withdraw this tender at any time. It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure that their tender documents have beenreceived. Applicants whohave not received any response within 60 days from closing date should consider their application unsuccessful.