Scope of Work: ISP014
Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership (GHHP)
Scope of Works
for
Project ISP014: Developing the coral indicators for the
Gladstone Harbour Report Card.
Proposals due by COB 30 April 2015
Source of funds – Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership
Project administrator – Fitzroy Basin Association Inc.
Dated: 02 April 2015
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Scope of Work: ISP014
1. PURPOSE
This document outlines the scope of works for a project focused on the development of coral
indicator data and report card scores for the Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership’s (GHHP)
annual harbour report card. The requirements of this project are to:
1. Identify and establish long term coral monitoring sites within the Gladstone Harbour area.
2. Develop coral health indicators, baselines and a suitable scoring system for report card use.
3. Develop a program for ongoing annual coral monitoring and reporting.
The project will be the first of two phases and will comprise project development and reporting
for the 2015 Gladstone Harbour Report Card. A separately contracted second phase will consist
of the ongoing annual monitoring and reporting.
2.
INTRODUCTION
The Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership (GHHP), advised by an Independent Science Panel
(ISP), intends to define and track the health of Gladstone Harbour and enable effort
prioritisation towards identified improvement activities by developing a whole-of system report
card to expand on the 2014 Pilot Report Card.
The GHHP is a forum to bring together parties (including community, industry, science,
government, statutory bodies and management) with a vision to maintain, and where
necessary, improve the health of Gladstone Harbour. The guiding principles of the partnership
are open, honest and accountable management, annual reporting of the health of Gladstone
Harbour and management recommendations and action to be based on rigorous science and
strong stakeholder engagement.
The role of the ISP is to provide independent scientific advice, and review and direct research to
ensure that the environmental, social and economic challenges of policy, planning and action to
achieve the GHHP vision and are supported by credible science.
In 2014, the GHHP decided upon a framework for the Gladstone Harbour Report Card (Report
Card Framework). This framework outlines the four components of the report card;
environmental, cultural, economic and social aspects of harbour health. The report card was
piloted in 2014 and the first Gladstone Harbour Report Card will be released in late 2015 and
annually thereafter.
During the pilot year some monitoring programs were developed for the report card. This
included developing and trialling some report card indicators and indicator reference
conditions, monitoring strategies for novel datasets and undertaking statistical assessment to
refine the report card scoring methodology. In addition, the approach to communicating the
report card was trialled during 2014, with the release of a pilot report card for consultation with
Gladstone Harbour stakeholders on 4 December 2014. In parallel to the above activities, a
Gladstone Harbour Model is under development and due to be completed in 2016. This project
will deliver an end-to-end package of models comprised of bio-physical, ecological, economic,
cultural and social parameters, to provide the GHHP with a scenario analysis tool to guide
responses to the annual report card results.
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Scope of Work: ISP014
Indicators developed through the present project will inform the coral health score of the
report card under habitats sub-component (Figure 1). The coral indicator results will be made
available to the public with the release of the report card.
Figure 1: The four components of the Gladstone Harbour Report Card and the indicator groups
associated with each.
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Scope of Work: ISP014
3. DETAILED SCOPE OF WORK
Establishment of long term coral monitoring sites
The Gladstone Harbour report card area covers 13 reporting zones (Attachment 1) and will be
the primary area of interest for the development of and reporting on coral indicators.
A wide range of reef habitat types are present within the report card area (see BMT WBM Pty
Ltd 2009, 2013, Sea Research 2012 and DHI 2013 for recent reviews and more detailed coral
mapping). These reefs include fringing, platform, headland reefs and rubble fields comprised of
both hard and soft corals (BMT WBM 2013).
DHI (2013) recorded coral reefs in the intertidal zones surrounding Facing Island and Seal Rocks
where suitable substrate was available and sufficient light penetration occurred. That study
also indicated that coral communities were abundant within deeper channels (>5m) in The
Narrows, and around Passage Island and North Passage. Regions of hard and soft coral have
also been recorded along the northern edge of Hummock Hill Island and limited coral reef
development has also been identified in Rodds Bay (DHI 2013). This report also suggested that
there were likely to be additional unmapped coral communities within Port Curtis. However as
described below the monitoring required for this project will be restricted to representative
reefs that can demonstrate changes over time to corals in Gladstone Harbour
The successful contractor will be required to identify and establish coral monitoring sites that
will be suitable for long-term annual monitoring, yield sufficient data to identify change over
time and that will be suitable for the coral indicators developed for this project. The proponent
will be required to collaborate with the GHHP ISP (or delegates) and GHHP’s statistical
consultant to determine appropriate indicator(s), scoring / grading methodologies and an
interpretation scheme in relation to harbour health.
Development of coral indicators
Coral reef communities within the Gladstone Harbour report card zone may be impacted by
natural processes including, floods, storms and biological interactions as well as historical and
current human activity, including land use within the catchment area, dredging and other port
related activities (BMT WBM 2013). Indicators of coral reef health are required to document
changes over time in relation to these natural and anthropogenic pressures, or in response to
management actions aimed at improving the health of Gladstone Harbour.
The ISP has shortlisted the following indicators of coral health for consideration:
• Percentage of live coral cover.
• Macro algae cover (within coral monitoring sites / transects).
• Taxonomic composition genus level or form.
• Number of juvenile coral colonies.
Additional data collected could include percentage of bleached and dead coral cover within
monitored sites.
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Scope of Work: ISP014
Comparisons with other inshore reefs outside of Gladstone Harbour may also provide valuable
contextual information useful in the interpretation of trends in coral health within the
Gladstone Harbour area. Consideration should be given to the use of coral monitoring and
reporting methodologies that are compatible with current programs (e.g. AIMS Marine
Monitoring Program) when preparing the project proposal.
An important component of this project will be to consider the suitability of these indicators for
assessing coral health and demonstrating change over time.
Selection of long term monitoring sites
The successful contractor will be required to identify survey sites within hard coral communities
suitable for inclusion in a long term coral monitoring program. These should be suitable for
assessing coral health and identifying change over time and be representative of coral reefs
within Gladstone Harbour. Selection of survey sites should be confined to the following areas
identified in BMT WBM (2013).
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Reefs in the North Entrance area (Curtis Island Reef Number 4, Facing Island Reefs
numbers 1 and 2, Rat Island Reef, Farmers Reef)
Reefs to the western side of Facing Island (Facing Island Reefs numbers 3 to 5 and
Gatcombe Head Reef).
Reefs at Seal Rocks (Seal Rocks reefs numbers 1 to 3).
Other reefs, such as Turtle Island Reef, Manning Reef and East Bank reefs.
The proposal should include a budget for monitoring a total of three survey sites selected from
the areas indicated above. The proposal should also include an estimated per site cost for
additional locations within the areas indicated above.
Report card scores
The key element of this project will be the provision of report card scores and grades for
inclusion in the 2015 Gladstone Harbour Report Card to be publically released in late 2015.
These scores and grades must be received with the final project report by 5 September 2015 to
allow their inclusion in the 2015 report card. As the current state of coral reefs within the area
of interest is likely to represent a shifted baseline (BMT WBM 2013), identification of suitable
baselines will be required to enable the calculation of report card grades and scores. Other
approaches such as expert opinion or existing coral health assessment methodologies could
also be considered. The scoring methodology will be evaluated by the ISP and the statistical
team before being finalised. The final scoring / grading methodology and all raw monitoring
data will be included in the GHHP Data and Information Management System (Figure 2).
Ongoing coral monitoring
A detailed program design and budgeting for ongoing annual coral monitoring beyond 2015 will
also be required with the final report.
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Scope of Work: ISP014
Key References and information to be considered by the proponent
AIMS (2014) Design and Architecture of the Data and Information Management System (DIMS)
for the GHHP Report Card Monitoring Data. Project ISP009 Milestone Reports.
Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville.
BMT WBM Pty Ltd (2009) Port Curtis Reef Assessment. Report prepared for Gladstone Ports
Corporation. BMT WBM Pty Ltd, Brisbane.
BMT WBM Pty Ltd (2013) Central Queensland Corals and Associated Benthos: Monitoring
Review and Gap Analysis. Report prepared for Gladstone Ports Corporation. BMT WBM
Pty Ltd, Brisbane.
DHI (2013) Gladstone Coral Desktop Study of the Distribution and Ecological Value of Corals and
Coral Reef in the Gladstone Region and Wider Bioregion. Report prepared for Gladstone
Ports Corporation Limited. DHI, Singapore.
Sea Research (2012) The Impact of Dredge Spoil Dumping of Fringing Coral Reefs Around Facing
Island: Report Prepared for Gladstone Ports Corporation Limited. Sea Research,
Hideaway Bay Qld.
Thompson A, Schaffelke B, Logan M, Costello P, Davidson J, Doyle J, Furnas M, Gunn K, Liddy M,
Skuza M, Uthicke S, Wright M and Zagorskis I (2013) Reef Rescue Marine Monitoring
Program. Annual Report of AIMS Activities 2012 to 2013– Inshore water quality and
coral reef monitoring. Report for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.
Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville. 182 pp.
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Scope of Work: ISP014
3D Hydrodynamic
Model (ISP 007)
Connectivity
indicator
(ISP 007)
Environmental
Indicators
Water and sediment
quality, fish & crabs
and habitat indicators
including mangroves,
seagrass and corals
Social, cultural and
economic
indicators
(ISP 005)
Cultural indicators
(ISP 012)
Statistical support project
Data and Information Management System
(ISP009)
Gladstone
Harbour Model
Whole of
system model
(ISP 006)
Gladstone
Harbour Model
Minimum
realistic model
(ISP 006)
GLADSTONE HARBOUR REPORT
CARD
Including report card scores, trend
analysis, and web-interface
Scenario analysis
Receiving
Water Quality
Model
(ISP 006)
Figure 2: Linkages amongst projects within the GHHP’s Science program are linked. Projects with
an ISP number are conducted by contracted project teams.
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Scope of Work: ISP014
High level project task breakdown
Task Number
Description
1
Inception meeting
2
Detailed program design and work plan
3
Milestone Report 1: Coral indicators for the Gladstone Harbour report card
4
Milestone Report 2: identification of long term coral monitoring sites
5
Coral monitoring for the 2015 Gladstone Harbour report card
6
Submission of draft scores/grades for review
7
Submission of a draft report for review
8
Presentation to the ISP (Gladstone)
9
Submission of final report including final report card grades
10
Submission of a paper to a peer reviewed journal
Detailed task breakdown and deliverables
TASK 1: Inception meeting.
An inception meeting will be held between the GHHP Science Team, ISP representatives and the
successful tender’s project team. This meeting will allow agreement on the interpretation of
the scope of the work; specific project tasks, timelines objectives and identification of any
additional project requirements.
TASK ONE DELIVERABLES:
Attendance at project inception meeting.
Agreement on project tasks, timelines, objectives and integration with other GHHP projects.
TASK 2: Submission of a detailed work plan
This plan will include a detailed design proposal and work program which will be developed in
discussions with GHHP Science Team. This plan should include a detailed description of the
proposed methods for coral indicator selection, selection and establishment of long term coral
monitoring sites, proposed methodology for the calculation of report card scores, any statistical
consultation required, a detailed timeline and a publication plan. This will also include an
integration strategy for the project team to work closely with the DIMS, statistics support and
other GHHP project teams as required. The detailed work plan should be submitted two weeks
after the inception meeting.
TASK TWO DELIVERABLES:
Detailed program design and work plan.
Detailed timeline.
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Scope of Work: ISP014
TASK 3: Development of coral indicators milestone report
This milestone report should document the final indicators selected for the coral monitoring
program and include a review the suitability of the following coral indicators shortlisted by the
ISP; distribution (% cover), taxonomic composition, numbers of juvenile coral colonies (genus
level or form) and cover of macro algae. The report should also consider whether other
indicators are required and the compatibility of the chosen indicators with existing monitoring
programs in the region including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Monitoring Program (MMP).
The report should provide an explanation for the final indicator selection including their
suitability for identifying changes over time. This report will be subject to ISP review before
coral monitoring commences.
TASK THREE DELIVERABLES:
Coral indicators milestone report.
TASK 4: Establishment of long term coral monitoring sites.
Currently no long-term coral monitoring sites exist within the Gladstone Harbour area. The
successful contractor will be required to identify sites suitable for inclusion in a long-term coral
monitoring program. Potential sites for coral monitoring have been identified in Section 3 and
see also BMT WBM Pty Ltd (2009, 2013) Sea Research (2012), DHI (2013) for further
information. An additional desktop review of coral distribution is not required.
This milestone report should also include:
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The proposed number, location, depth and size of sampling sites.
Parameters monitored at each site and their contributions to the report card score.
Frequency of sampling (noting that the report card will be produced annually).
Identify most appropriate time of year for coral monitoring in the Gladstone Harbour area.
Amended budget for ongoing monitoring.
TASK FOUR DELIVERABLES:
Long term coral monitoring site selection milestone report.
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Scope of Work: ISP014
TASK 5: Coral monitoring for the 2015 Gladstone Harbour report card.
This task involves completion of all required monitoring for the 2015 report card.
TASK FIVE DELIVERABLES:
Coral monitoring for the 2015 Gladstone Harbour report card completed.
TASK 6: Report card scores.
This task includes developing the methods for calculating the annual report card scores for the
selected coral indicators. The report card indicators and metrics and scores will be presented in
the draft project report (Task 7) and will be reviewed by the contracted statistical team who will
assesses the statistical robustness of the statistical methods employed. The successful
contractor will be required to work with the GHHP statistical team to achieve this.
It is preferable that R scripts are developed for the calculation of report card scores. The
successful contractor will be required to work closely with the DIMS team to incorporate the R
scripts into the DIMS. Should the project team wish to use an alternative statistical package this
must be identified in the project proposal, and the GHHP Science Team may negotiate a
translation into R. The coral data sets will belong to the GHHP and will be stored in the DIMS,
this data will be made publically available according to the GHHP Data Policy (available on
request). Data and metadata files must be exportable in standard formats compatible with the
DIMS. Any issues relating to data formats or compatibility with DIMS should be resolved with
the DIMS team. The GHHP science staff can facilitate access to the relevant team members.
The final report card grades and scores must be submitted with the final report by 5 September
2015.
TASK SIX DELIVERABLES:
Develop report card scoring methodology and calculate scores for the 2015 Gladstone
Harbour report card.
Integrate coral monitoring data and calculation scripts for scores and grades to the DIMS.
TASK 7: Draft project report.
This report should give a detailed description of all tasks completed during the project and a
plain English summary suitable for a non-technical audience. This summary may be reproduced
in full or in part in the GHHP Technical Report for the 2015 Gladstone Harbour report card and
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Scope of Work: ISP014
in subsequent reports thereafter. The body of the report should include a detailed description
of the selected long term coral monitoring sites, a detailed description of the selected coral
health indicators and scoring system, suitable baselines for each indicator, coral health survey
results, and report card scores for the 2015 Gladstone Harbour Report Card, discussion of result
interpretation and limitations of the study and a program design for ongoing annual coral
monitoring beyond 2015.
The report is to include sufficient detail for the work to be replicated and will be reviewed by
the ISP and the GHHP Science Team before being finalised.
TASK SEVEN DELIVERABLES:
Draft project report for review by the ISP and the GHHP Science Team.
TASK 8: Presentation of project results to the ISP (Gladstone).
A 30 minute presentation (including 10 minutes for questions) to the ISP in Gladstone. This
presentation should outline the findings of the draft report and highlight any issues
encountered.
TASK EIGHT DELIVERABLES:
A forty minute presentation for the ISP Gladstone (including 10 minutes for questions).
TASK 9: Project final report and final report card scores.
A final report which addresses all comments from the ISP and the GHHP Science Team.
TASK NINE DELIVERABLES:
Final project report
TASK 10: An open access publication in a peer reviewed science journal.
Depending on the level of involvement and contribution, members of the GHHP Science Team
or ISP may request to contribute to the journal publication.
TASK TEN DELIVERABLES:
Submission of a manuscript to a peer reviewed journal.
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Scope of Work: ISP014
Timeline
Date
Task
16/02/2015
ISP review completed of scope of works completed
02/04/2015
Tenders open
30/04/2015
Submission of tenders closes
15/05/2015
Proposals assessed by ISP and GHHP Science Team and assessments
forwarded to Management Committee for approval.
25/05/2015
Successful contractor notified / Project Inception
01/06/2015
Task 1: Project inception meeting
29/06/2015
Task 2: Detailed program design and work plan
*TBD
Task 3: Development of coral indicators for the Gladstone Harbour report
card milestone report
TBD
Task 4: Establishment of long term coral monitoring sites
TBD
Task 5: Coral monitoring for the 2015 Gladstone Harbour report card
completed
18/08/2015
Task 6: Draft report submitted including report card scores submitted for
review. By the ISP and GHHP Science Team
25/08/2015
Task 7: Presentation of findings to the ISP and other GHHP stakeholders
(Gladstone)
01/09/2015
Task 8: Draft report reviewed by the ISP, statistical team and the science
team
5/09/2015
Task 9: Final report and report card grades / scores
30/06/16
Task 10: Submit journal article for publication
30/06/2016
Project completion
*TBD to be determined by the contractor.
4. Communications
It is expected that the proponent will work closely with the GHHP Science Team and the ISP
through approximately fortnightly teleconferences and other communication. As this is a new
initiative, the ISP and the GHHP Science Team will expect to receive regular updates on the
project progress and will review key stages of the project to ensure timely and relevant delivery.
The GHHP Science Team will be available to provide information and assistance throughout the
project, however all administrative requirements must be provided by the proponent.
Communication with Project Manager
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Scope of Work: ISP014
Any matters which arise that will materially affect the development of the project should be
communicated with the project manager within 24 hours of the matter being known to the
project team.
Meeting Requirements
The consultant will be required to attend fortnightly teleconferences with the project manager
and other members of the GHHP Science Team. Relevant ISP members may be present at
meetings if required. The following meetings are proposed.
Meeting
Number
Date
Purpose
1.
01/06/15
Project Inception Meeting.
2.
15/06/15 to
09/10/15
Fortnightly project update (brief meetings, normally via
teleconference).
3.
25/08/15
Thirty minute PowerPoint presentation to the ISP followed
by about 10 minutes for questions. ISP meetings are
conducted in Gladstone.
Reporting deliverables
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Detailed design proposal and work program (this will be revised following initial
discussions with GHHP Science Staff).
Attendance at the meetings outlined above.
Presentation of findings to the ISP and potentially broader GHHP stakeholders in
Gladstone
Coral indicator raw data and calculation scripts to be uploaded to the Data and
Information Management System (DIMS). The successful contractor will work with the
DIMS team to coordinate the integration of raw data and calculation scripts (preferably
in R) with this system.
A draft technical report including scores for coral indicators for use in the GHHP 2015
report card and underlying data used to generate those scores.
A final technical report which addresses all comments on the draft report.
A plain English summary of the project findings (executive summary) which is suitable
for a non-technical audience.
A publication plan.
An open access publication in a peer reviewed international science journal.
5. TERM OF CONTRACT
Commencement date is from one week after advice of acceptance of the project proposal
through to September 2015, with submission of scientific paper for publication no later than 30
June 2016.
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Scope of Work: ISP014
Should this project be conducted satisfactorily, the desire is to contract the provider for a
further term (subject to the availability of funding), to deliver the coral element of subsequent
Gladstone Harbour report cards.
6. CONTRACT VALUE
This project will be conducted on a fixed fee basis based on the value of the successful tender.
The proponent must cover the costs of all expenses incurred during the execution of the project
including, but not limited to:
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Tender preparation costs
Operating costs, including field survey costs
Salaries and on-costs
Travel and accommodation (including to provide the presentation to the GHHP)
Provision of data sets
Publication costs
The GHHP aims for co-investment from research partners (cash and in-kind, ideally 50:50). The
Budget will include an itemised estimate of costs, time and rates to demonstrate value for
money and a clear understanding of the scope of works. Include GST in the budget estimate.
The payment schedule will be agreed to with the successful proponent but will be based on an
upfront payment with subsequent payments subject to successful completion of agreed project
milestones.
7. REQUIREMENTS FOR PROPOSAL PREPARATION
Proposals to undertake the coral indicator project should include the following information:
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A clear statement of the methods and approach to be used to meet this scope of
works/project. For each indicator methods should clearly identify any technology used
its spatial resolution and level of accuracy.
Details of the deliverables.
Project timelines and milestones (including publication plan).
Personnel (including brief resumes outlining skills and experience on similar projects).
Budget (including co-investments). Quoted prices are to be valid until project end.
Details of pubic liability, worker’s compensation and professional indemnity insurance.
Proponent/project lead’s primary contact details.
Page describing the contribution of each team member towards the project outcomes.
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Scope of Work: ISP014
8. CONTRACTOR SELECTION
The following criteria will be used by the GHHP ISP to assess proposals:
a) Addresses all elements of the scope of works including milestones and timeline.
b) The proponent/project team has demonstrable experience and knowledge relevant to the
development of coral indicators for report card purposes.
c) Value for money – proposals will be assessed on the basis of the proposed cost.
d) Historical performance – the proponent/project team has a track record for delivering on
time and budget, and publishing the results in peer reviewed journals.
e) The proponent/project team has demonstrable experience in project development, contract
management, on-ground delivery, monitoring and reporting and technical support.
The ISP preferred approach to intellectual property arising from the review is an open
access/creative commons arrangement surrounding data and products (GHHP Data Policy
available on request).
The ISP will select the recommended provider or consortium of providers and seek endorsement
from the GHHP Management Committee. The GHHP ISP conflict of interest policy is available on
request.
9. PROCESS SCHEDULE
Proponents should submit proposals by close of business on Monday 30 March 2015 as an
email attachment in a single Microsoft Word™ or .pdf document. Interested proponents are
encouraged to contact the GHHP Science Project Officer early in the application process to
discuss the project, prior to submitting a proposal.
A decision on the successful application will be made within a month of the cut-off date. All
applications will be notified of the outcome of the assessment of their application.
10. CONTACT
All questions and submissions regarding this request for proposal should be submitted to:
Mark Schultz
Science Project Officer, Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership (GHHP)
[email protected]
(07) 4999 2814
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Scope of Work: ISP014
Attachment 1: The 13 reporting zones for the Gladstone Harbour Report Card including known
locations of coral reefs.
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