Support for the production of Site-Specific Conservation Objectives

Description

The National Parks and Wildlife Service NPWS of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage are seeking tenders from interested parties to provide support to the Conservation Planning Unit in the Scientific Advice and Research Directorate of NPWS in the production and delivery of Site-Specific Conservation Objectives SSCOs for Natura 2000 sites within Ireland. SSCOs are a legal requirement and key feature in the protection processes for designated Natura 2000 sites and their features within Ireland. NPWS have been undertaking this process for a number of years, and have developed standardized templates and reporting processes. These templates and processes will be used and, where necessary, built upon as part of this support contract. This is an entirely desk-based project, taking place part-time from Sept 2023 to Dec 2024. Good editing skills and attention to detail will be a priority. Brief tenders demonstrating experience and with clear costings will be appreciated. Lot 1: - Directly liaise with and provide support to the nominated NPWS Project Officer in relation to all aspects of conservation objective production, including generating, editing and updating SSCOs and relevant supporting documents. - Liaising with NPWS staff and other experts in relation to selecting suitable attributes and targets for defining favourable conservation condition of habitats and species at site level. - Compiling or updating conservation objective templates for habitats and species, as well as supporting documents, where relevant. This element of the work will build on existing templates, and be carried out in close co-operation with NPWS staff. - Liaising with NPWS GIS staff in relation to map production and checking. - Inserting site-specific text into conservation objective templates, and compiling supporting documents, based on text and information provided by NPWS. - Editing and proof-reading draft conservation objective and supporting document texts. A keen eye for detail will be required, as well as editing experience. - Finalising site-specific conservation objective documents and supporting documents, following liaison with NPWS staff (e.g. Conservation Planning team, relevant specialists, etc.). - Working with the NPWS internal system ‘BIOS’, from which the final SSCO and supporting documents are generated. This includes data/text entry, checking, references, etc. - Managing and storing data in accordance with Department protocols. - Participating in SSCO training events (e.g. workshops) for NPWS staff, as necessary, and in conjunction with Conservation Planning staff. Please note this contract will be desk-based, with no fieldwork involved. There will be a start-up meeting with the NPWS Project Officer and the Conservation Planning Unit shortly after the contract is awarded. This may be in person or online. Due to the nature of this work, frequent meetings with the NPWS Project Officer will be required, most of which will be online. A schedule of delivery will be agreed between the contractor(s) and NPWS either at the start-up meeting, or shortly thereafter, and will be reviewed periodically. Provision of regular progress updates will be required. The work is to be undertaken primarily at the tenderer’s own premises. However, it is envisaged that attendance at ‘in-person’ meetings with NPWS personnel may occasionally be required at the NPWS offices in 90 King Street, Smithfield, Dublin 7.