Technical Assistance to the Caribbean Marine Protected Area Managers

Statement of Work Technical Assistance to the Caribbean Marine Protected Area Managers Network and Forum Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration PR#NCND1000-10-10355 Overview: This contract is to provide technical assistance services to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Ocean Service (NOS) Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) in support of the Caribbean Marine Protected Area Managers Network and Forum (CaMPAM). The main focus of these services will be to provide coordination support for CaMPAM, to coordinate the completion of a marine protected area management capacity assessment in the Caribbean region with CaMPAM and to support the CaMPAM network goals to enhance the capacity of Caribbean MPA managers by fostering communication, sharing and exchanges, enhancing the use of available resources and seeking new opportunities and funding sources. Background: The SPAW (Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife) Protocol of United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) launched the Caribbean Marine Protected Areas Management (CaMPAM) Network and Forum for MPA managers to promote better practices, as well as foster communication, sharing and exchanges between MPAs. Since its creation in 1997 and until 2004, CaMPAM was exclusively coordinated by the UNEP- Caribbean Environment Program which manages the CaMPAM listserv, administers a small grants program and implements capacity building programs (training the trainers for MPA managers, MPA and fishers' exchanges, and other MPA-related workshops). Since its expansion in 2004 CaMPAM has struggled to maintain effective coordination of activities that can serve the membership according to the changing needs of the MPA community in the region. The network strategic plan for 2004-2009 (http://www.gcfi.org/campam/CaMPAM.htm) included several capacity building activities to enhance MPA managers skills that were discussed and approved at a workshop held at the 2004 GCFI Annual Meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida. This landmark workshop (sponsored by UNEP-CEP and GCFI with funding from SIDA, UNEP, NOAA, TNC and Environmental Defense) was attended by 46 people from 14 countries and territories of the wider Caribbean (6 fishermen and officers of national fisheries departments, 8 MPA mangers, 16 experts on Caribbean fisheries and MPAs, and scientists). For more information on this event and the CaMPAM strategic plan, see the workshop report at http://www.gcfi.org/campam/CaMPAM.htm CaMPAM's goal is to enhance MPA management capacity by supporting a combination of training and communication tools, including: - an active list-serve for the dissemination of relevant information to the membership; - a web page (http://www.gcfi.org/campam/CaMPAM.htm); - the publication of materials in electronic newsletters (MPA News, etc.); - the implementation of regular workshops and meetings that bring together fisher, scientists and MPA managers and personnel; - a train the trainers program for MPA managers that includes one intensive 2-week long regional course (alternating English and Spanish) that includes follow-up local trainings, and networking among alumni and instructors; - administration of a small grants program funded by UNEP for technical assistance to promote MPA best management practices; - periodic staff exchanges and training exercises between MPAs in the region; - representation of the regional MPA community in fora and meetings; - coordination with other organizations to enhance the participation of CaMPAM members in coral reef science and management courses, workshops and events; - a regional database (http://cep.unep.org/caribbeanmpa), which is a repository of standardized information, a source of data for sub regional and regional analysis, donors and business sector, and a tool for sharing data with similar efforts (site, national, and international databases). In 2010 NOAA CRCP seeks to work in partnership with CaMPAM to complete an assessment of capacity to manage marine protected areas in the Caribbean region and will require assistance in coordinating that effort. Based on the findings of the capacity assessment NOAA CRCP also seeks to hold a peer to peer learning summit to provide an opportunity for a learning exchange between MPA managers in the Caribbean region and will also require assistance in the coordination and execution of this meeting. Project Scope and Tasks: This is a multi-year award whose ceiling is NTE $500,000. Tasks 1 and 2 are expected to continue over the next three years. Task 1. Provide technical advice to the coordination of CaMPAM The Contractor shall be a member of and attend CaMPAM Executive Committee meetings and review materials during the implementation of CaMPAM. They will provide insight into the activities of CaMPAM using experience implementing other MPA manager networks in the Caribbean region. This will also include the development of meeting agendas, materials, and travel to Caribbean islands and Florida (where NOAA staff leading this project is based) to attend CaMPAM meetings and to provide guidance and insight. Task 2. Provide support for the CaMPAM Coordinator Position The Contractor will support and employee a full time coordinator for CaMPAM. This coordinator will develop and implement a work plan based on the following activities: - Conduct an analysis of the current training needs of MPA managers and develop an assessment of priority MPA training needs in the Caribbean region; - Identify existing training opportunities and resources for Caribbean MPA managers (courses, workshops, exchange visits, mentorships, grants, etc.); - Promote CaMPAM programs including the Training of Trainers and small grant programs; - Coordinate the small grants program of CaMPAM; - Manage the existing CaMPAM listserv; - Coordinate the Training of Trainers program; - Coordinate ad-hoc partnerships between CaMPAM programs and other regional training activities such as those implemented by NOAA and The Nature Conservancy on coral reef resilience and climate change, conservation action planning, MPA management plan development, sustainable financing, socioeconomic monitoring, and MPA effectiveness evaluation; - Enhance membership by incorporating more MPA managers in the region; - Enhance information resources to the membership via CaMPAM list serve (grant opportunities, papers, emergent issues, events, lessons learned, best practices, education programs, etc.); - Liaise with relevant list serves (Coral list, GCFI net , Caribbean Biodiversity); - Provide assistance to the membership on grant proposal opportunities and writing; - Coordinate the sharing of data from the Caribbean MPA database with similar efforts (Inter American Biodiversity Information Network; World Database of Protected Areas and individual MPA web sites); - Coordinate the CaMPAM Executive Committee and the CaMPAM Leadership and Resource Team; - Mobilize volunteer efforts to expand CaMPAM activities; and - Identify funding opportunities and expand fundraising efforts to support activities described above. Task 3. Coordinate the completion of a capacity assessment of marine protected area (MPA) management in the Caribbean region The contractor will perform the following tasks: - Work with NOAA CRCP, and the CaMPAM Executive Committee to develop a scope of work for the MPA management capacity assessments - Announce a call for proposals and conduct a competitive process to identify an expert consultant who will perform the capacity assessments - Subcontract selected expert consultant to perform capacity assessments - Work with NOAA CRCP and the CaMPAM Executive Committee to oversee the implementation of the capacity assessments by the expert consultant including the following activities: o Compilation of similar MPA management assessments that have been previously completed in the Caribbean region and completion of a gap analysis of both topical issues and geographic areas for which we do not have current information on MPA management capacity needs o Identification of priority geographic area in the Caribbean region (islands, countries, and MPA sites) that should be the focus of the MPA management capacity assessments o Development of methodology for completing MPA capacity assessments in selected areas o Execution of MPA management capacity assessments in the selected areas using the developed methodology o Production of a final capacity assessment report which includes outcomes of capacity assessments as well as specific recommendations for how CaMPAM, NOAA CRCP and other entities can best meet these needs. Task 4. Coordinate the execution of one peer to peer learning summit The contractor will work with NOAA CRCP and the CaMPAM Executive Committee to plan and execute a peer to peer learning summit. This summit will entail a 1-2 day meeting which will bring together coral reef managers to exchange information on a specific MPA related management topic. This topic will be determined as a result of the MPA management capacity assessment to be performed in task 3 above. The contractor will: - Pay for and arrange the travel of all MPA managers who will participate in the meeting - Identify, secure and pay for a meeting venue - Provide all meeting supplies and equipment including A/V equipment - Print and produce all materials needed for the meeting - Assist NOAA CRCP and the CaMPAM Executive Committee in the facilitation of the meeting - Assist NOAA CRCP and the CaMPAM Executive Committee in producing a summary report following the meeting FY'11 Deliverables .................................................................... $125,000 Task 1. Provide technical advice to the coordination of CaMPAM Due Date: 12 months from start of award Task 2. Provide support for CaMPAM Coordinator position Due Date: 12 months from start of award Task 3. Coordinate completion of capacity assessment Due Date: 12 months from start of award Task 4. Coordinate the execution of one peer to peer learning summit Due Date: 12 months from start of award FY'12 Deliverables ................................................................ $ 50,000 Task 1. Provide technical advice to the coordination of CaMPAM Due Date: 12 months from start of award Task 2. Provide support for CaMPAM Coordinator position Due Date: 12 months from start of award FY'13 Deliverables ................................................................ $ 50,000 Task 1. Provide technical advice to the coordination of CaMPAM Due Date: 12 months from start of award Task 2. Provide support for CaMPAM Coordinator position Due Date: 12 months from start of award Contractor Qualifications - Experience working in the Caribbean region on Coral Reef and Marine Protected Area management issues - Have staff located in Florida that can meet with NOAA staff - Experience working across cultures and internationally is preferred. - Knowledge and experience designing and developing websites, web-based and client-based computer databases, word processing programs, and spreadsheets. - Good organizational skills with an attention to details. - A proven ability to build positive relationships with partners Period of Performance: The period of performance for this contract is to be 12 months from the date of the award. Government Estimated Cost The magnitude of this project no greater than $125,000.