Request for Proposals
Title: PDD – Carbon Project Development Services
RFP No: RFP_PDD_001
Date of Issuance: 05-03-2024

Blue Carbon

Introduction

Blue Carbon is committed to pioneering environmental solutions by creating and maximizing environmental assets through nature-based projects for carbon credit origination. Operating within the international compliance market, Blue Carbon develops carbon projects that are aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Our company specializes in the cultivation of high-integrity and high-value carbon credits, known as ITMOs, which play a critical role in achieving global climate targets.

Blue Carbon is based in the UAE and works with regional governments on NDC fulfillment as well as corporations in hard to abate sectors towards their net zero compliance targets. Blue Carbon strongly believes in the merits of harvesting private sector involvement in deploying climate finance for developing countries’ sustainable development.

Background

Blue Carbon’s primary aim is to develop “Mitigation Outcomes” that are transferable as ITMOs through the mechanisms provided by Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. This includes both an Article 6.2 and 6.4 approach, as deemed appropriate. Having signed several exploratory MOUs and agreements with countries particularly across Africa, Blue Carbon is seeking PDD development services that will support project development.

Given the delays in the operationalization of Art. 6.4, Blue Carbon will start the project development activities, data gathering, socio-environmental compliances in line with existing methodologies, depending on project activity, and in line with the highest Carbon Standards available.

With a particular focus on nature-based solution projects, project activities will address greenhouse gas emission reductions and removals through AFOLU mitigation activities such as agroforestry, improved agricultural land management, improved fire management, improved forest management, improved grassland management and reforestation.

Services requested through this RFP will primarily serve to develop the PDD/Monitoring plan for Blue Carbon projects across Africa and elsewhere.

PDDs summarize project characteristics, quantify carbon benefits, and outline monitoring plans for independent validation and verification of emission reductions. Monitoring Reports (MR) detail project implementation and calculate emission reductions. In the Article 6 framework, PDDs are Mitigation Activity Design Documents (MADD) and include several additional elements that need to be considered in project design.

Purpose

Through this RFP, Blue Carbon seeks to solicit proposals from service providers with the skillset and expertise needed to carry out key services for PDD development. Service providers would be responsible for the following:

1) Successful development of PDD and MR – with support till successful validation

The overall purpose is to successfully service different steps within the project lifecycle for the ultimate development and issuance of Mitigation Outcomes.

Scope of Work

4.1. Project Description Document, Monitoring Plan:

With the integration of all elements required as per Article 6 guidance on Mitigation Activity Design Documents, with all supporting documentation, including but not limited to:

1. Activity Overview
2. Application of selected methodologies and standardized baselines
2.1. References to methodologies and standardized baselines
2.2. Applicability of methodologies and standardized baselines
2.3. Mitigation activity boundary, sources and GHGs
2.4. Methodological approach establishing a baseline
3. Additionality
4. Monitoring and reporting plan
4.1. Explanation of methodological choices
4.2. Data and parameters fixed ex ante
4.3. Data and parameters to be monitored
4.4. Ex-ante estimation of emission reductions
4.5. Sampling plan (as needed)
4.6. Other elements of monitoring plan
4.7. Monitoring SDG outcomes
5. Sustainable development contribution
6. Timeline of project lifecycle
7. Environmental impact – as per Article 6 guidance
8. Compliance with Regulations
9. Stakeholder Consultations
10. Theory of Change

Submission Details

Prior to submitting the proposal, a Letter of Interest should be sent to Blue Carbon. Accordingly, project area shapefiles will be shared with the bidder for proposal development.

a. Proposals will be accepted until 12:00 PM UAE time on the 29th of March 2024. Late submissions will not be accepted. Proposals must be submitted via email to (info@bluecarbon.ae). All proposals are to be submitted following the guidelines listed in this RFP.
b. Clarifications. Questions may be submitted to (info@bluecarbon.ae) by the 22nd of March 2024. The subject of the email must contain the RFP number and title of the RFP.

Proposal to Include

Proposal should be in the following format and address, in detail, the needs and requirements of the proposed project.

a. Contact Information. Provide the name, title, phone number, and email for the best contact for follow up questions and/or to notify of bid status.
b. Summary & Qualifications. Use this section to introduce yourself, your company, and provide information on your relevant experience and qualifications. This section should also include countries where the company has previous relevant experience.
c. Methods and Plan. Describe your methodology and capabilities for meeting project deliverables and detail your plan of action for executing and completing this project. Include a detailed milestone timeline in this section.
d. Expectations and Results. Explain your expectations for the project and summarize the results you anticipate achieving. Include a summary of your anticipated timeline for completion in this section.
e. Management and Staff. List all applicable personnel that would be involved with this project, along with their titles, roles, and qualifications.
f. Equipment and Resources. List all necessary equipment and associated costs. Include details of any outsourced or contracted work here.
g. Budget and Costs. Provide a detailed breakdown of all anticipated expenses, as well as a summary of the total proposed costs of the project OR a share of credits proposal.
h. Timeline/Milestone breakdown: Provide a detailed breakdown of the anticipated timeline of deliverables as per Annex 1.
i. References. Provide references for previous work of a similar nature.

Qualifications

a. Experience in developing projects and/or programs of activities under the UNFCCC mechanisms (CDM or Joint Implementation), that were successfully registered and delivered credits.
b. Staff with demonstrated work experience with REDD+ and/or Afforestation/Reforestation and/or Blue Carbon and/or Sustainable Grassland Management, Agricultural Land Management carbon project design and development.
c. Knowledge of the Paris Agreement and subsequent CMA (Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement) decisions related to Article 6.2 and Article 6.4 mitigation activities.
d. Demonstrated experience with full VCS and CCBS or GS or CAR validation and verification processes, including the development of Project Description (PDs), Monitoring Reports (MRs) and Validation and Verification Body (VVB) audits
e. Excellent analytical skills with demonstratable experience of GIS, and Remote Sensing including land use change modelling (RStudio or Python).
f. Ability to proactively engage with relevant stakeholders during data collection
g. Solid understanding of relevant processes, policies, and legal frameworks across Africa
h. Experience in engaging with multiple stakeholders to ensure inclusion of all necessary partners
i. Ability to perform field visits and interviews in rural and remote areas
j. Demonstrated professional-level fluency in oral and written English is required.
k. Experience with training field teams on developing and implementing forest, carbon, biodiversity and social monitoring plans is preferred

Cancellation

Contract shall be just cause for cancellation in part or in its entirety if:
• Continuing lateness of reporting;
• Vendor failed to comply with all terms and conditions of this request for quotation.

Blue Carbon shall then have the right to award this contract to any other vendor or to re-tender.

Confidentiality

All proprietary information provided by the bidder shall be treated as confidential and will not be shared with potential or actual applicants during the solicitation process. This includes but is not limited to price quotations, cost proposals and technical proposals. Blue Carbon’s evaluation results are confidential and will not be shared among bidders.