CONSULTING SERVICES-Expressions of Interest

Technical Assistance for Developing the Blue Tourism Cluster for the Indian Ocean

SOUTHERN-WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN – INDIANOCEANA
Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Reunion Island, and Seychelles

Founded in 2005, Cap Business Océan Indien has become a key actor of regional economic cooperation. The association is now a platform aiming to represent all the private sectors of the six islands in the Indian Ocean region namely Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Reunion Island, and Seychelles. Through its various actions and initiatives, it seeks to facilitate cooperation between regional economic actors on the one hand, and to clarify issues to promote the emergence of common fronts on the other hand.
Taken together, the Exclusive Economic Zones of the six island territories extends over 5 million square kilometers, home to a rich marine flora and fauna, and also recognized as part of the global marine biodiversity hotspot with the potential of regenerating biodiveristy. The coastal areas attract nearly 80% of the tourists, positioning the marine ecosystem as a critical driver of the local tourism industry. Blue Tourism, also known as coastal and marine tourism, is a distinct concept of the traditional tourism industry and often associated with the components of the Blue Economy (BE). Blue Tourism plays a vital role in fostering a productive, prosperous, and thriving economy in the Indian Ocean region.
However, the adverse effects of climate change, such as global warming, cyclones, floods, and other natural disasters, have rendered the marine environments of these islands increasingly fragile, with some areas already under threat. Additionally, human pressures on the coastlines, including unplanned hotel and bungalow construction, oil spills, and pollution (land and sea), and leisure activities in sensible and fragile areas have further contributed to the degradation of the coastal and marine environments, placing marine biodiversity at risk. To restore the health of these ecosystems, additional efforts are essential in transitioning to more sustainable tourism practices, in line with the blue economy development.
Cap Business Océan Indien has received a financing from Agence Française de Développement ("AFD"), and intends to use part of the funds thereof for payments under the following project ‘Developing the Blue Tourism Cluster for the Indian Ocean’, that promotes blue tourism, biodiversity regeneration, economic development, and regional collaboration in line with the Action Plan for Sustainable Tourism in the Indian Ocean.
The action plan may be provided upon request by email as indicated further in this document.


This Request for Expressions of Interest is open to:

Consulting firms Individual consultants

NGOs ✓Joint Venture between NGO(s) and consulting firm(s)

The funding amount for the services is limited to 285 000 euros.
Cap Business Océan Indien is hereby inviting candidates to express their interest to provide the following services for a period of eight months:

(i) Literature Review Report on existing international, regional and local reports, studies, policy documents, relevant to Blue Tourism in the Indian Ocean including initiatives, market study reports, national and international strategies, and funding mechanisms already in place internationally and regionally.
(ii) Blue Tourism Cluster Development Plan: Developing a detailed blueprint for the Blue Tourism Cluster, including proposed geographic zones in each territory, key tourism products and services, and low carbon footprint infrastructures that can contribute to the regeneration of marine biodiversity and sustainable travel in the region.
(iii) Stakeholder Engagement: Mapping of the key stakeholders of the Blue Tourism and Blue Economy, including government agencies, private sector operators, financial institutions, environmental NGOs, and coastal communities with the aim to participate and contribute in the technical committees and regional workshops.
(iv) Sustainability Framework: Assessment and comparative analysis of the policy framework of the six islands to ensure that existing laws are conducive to the development of a Blue Tourism Cluster.
(v) Capacity building: Identifying existing entreprises to support and equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to develop, implement, and market new tourism products and services as per the blueprint.
(vi) Financing strategy: Identifying new funding opportunities that could be leveraged for developing the Blue Tourism Cluster through investment strategies (public and private sector), international donors, and specialized funding programs (e.g., environmental impact funds, eco-tourism funds, climate adaptation finance).
(vii) Indian Ocean Blue Tourism Brand: Developing a regional brand identity that integrates the values of sustainability, culture and history, connectivity and innovation of each island

The expected outcomes are as follows:

(i) Summary of key findings from existing studies and publications relevant to Blue Tourism in the Indian Ocean, with complete access to full reports/publications obtained during the study.
(ii) Develop a three-year Action Plan with a clear roadmap on how the cluster will be developed, implemented, and maintained to regenerate marine biodiversity and reduce the carbon footprint of travelers in the region.
(iii) Setting up of a Blue Tourism Technical Committee and support its implementation through workshops with a minimum of 50 stakeholders from the private sector of the region and enabling them to share, co-create, promote and give visibility to the Indian Ocean Blue Tourism Initiatives.
(iv) Provide recommendations for the adaption of a regional sustainability framework for supporting and sustaining the Blue Tourism Cluster in the Indian Ocean.
(v) Support the implementation of the capacity building program with existing entreprises that have the potential to enhance the value of products and services based on sustainable practices of the Blue Tourism Cluster.
(vi) Support the design and establishment of a dedicated funding mechanism that mobilizes, manages, and allocates financial resources to the private sector for Blue Tourism initiatives in the Indian Ocean region.
(vii) Create on a medium and long term a Blue Tourism Label to position the Indian Ocean as a leading sustainable destination for tourism and tourism product aligned with the values of the Blue Economy and entrepreneurship.

Eligibility criteria to AFD financing are specified in sub-clause 1.3 of the "Procurement Guidelines for AFD Financed Contracts in Foreign Countries", available online on AFD’s website:
https://www.afd.fr/en/ressources/procurement-plan

The Applicant shall submit only one application, either in its own name or as a member of a Joint Venture (JV). If an Applicant (including any JV member) submits or participates in more than one application, those applications shall be all rejected. However, the same Subconsultant may participate in several applications.

If the Applicant is a JV, the expressions of interest shall include:
 a copy of the JV Agreement entered into by all members,
or
 a letter of intent to execute a JV Agreement, signed by all members together with a copy of the Agreement proposal,
In the absence of this document, the other members will be considered as Subconsultants.
Experiences and qualifications of Subconsultants are not taken into account in the evaluation of the applications.
Interested Applicants must provide information evidencing that they are qualified and experienced to perform those Services. For that purpose, documented evidence of recent and similar services shall be submitted.
Determination of the similarity of the experiences will be based on:
 The contracts size : only contracts of and above 100,000 Euros will be taken into consideration;
 The nature of the Services : detailed technical studies in the field of eco-tourism, sustainability, climate change, marine biodiveristy, and carbon footprint reduction;
 The technical area and expertise: demonstrate capabilities in product development (ocean-based and land-based), collaboration platforms, innovative solutions for sustainable tourism;
 The location: experience in projects related to Blue Tourism and Blue Economy in the Indian Ocean region (Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Réunion Island, and Seychelles)
Cap Business Océan Indien will also take into account for the evaluation of the applications the following items:
 Skills and availability of in-house technical back-up experts provided to the on-site experts;
 Local representatives/partners
 Quality assurance procedures and certifications of the Applicant – specify the type or the label of the certification: for example, ISO 9001 or environmental and social certification
The evaluation matrix is found in Annex.
Among the submitted applications, Cap Business Océan Indien will shortlist a maximum of six (6) Applicants, to whom the Request for Proposals to carry out the Services shall be sent.
The Expressions of Interest must be submitted to the address below no later than Tuesday 1st July 2025 before 4 PM (UTC+4).
Address:
UCCIOI/Cap Business OI, NG Tower, 2nd étage, Suite 205, Cybercity, Ebène, Ile Maurice (Attention: Nawshin Mahadooa )
Reference : EOI : Blue Tourism
Téléphone : +230 463 15 37
Or by email at the following address not later than Tuesday 1st July 2025 before 4 PM (UTC+4).
Email : ocean@capbusiness.io and direction@capbusiness.io
Interested Applicants may obtain further information by email: ocean@capbusiness.io

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Technical Assistance for Developing the Blue Tourism Cluster for the Indian Ocean
Summary of Q&A
Period: 26 May 2025 to 24 June 2025
"
No Questions Answers
1 Given that the official language of most of the countries concerned is French, will the project and its deliverables be in French or English? The study and findings can be conducted in French language wherever applicable, however the deliverables must be in English language.

2 Must NGOs that are part of the joint venture be local to each country? As per the selection criteria outlined in the EOI, Local representatives/partners will be given due consideration during the evaluation. We request you to kindly download the EOI document and annex and go through the evaluation template carefully.

3 "Is it enough to have one local NGO partner in one of the countries in the region, or should we have one local partner in each of the six countries?
" "The bid is open to consultancy firms and/or joint venture with NGOs. To this end, the EOI does not specify the requirements of having local NGOs.
Local representatives/partners will be given due consideration as outlined in the selection criteria."

4 "Si les universités, les instituts de recherche, ainsi que les coopératives, telles que la SCIC GE Odyssea Tourisme et Croissance Bleue, peuvent être considérés comme des ONG ?
" "Entity with a legal personality as or equal to an NGO are acceptable .
"

5 "Liste des documents à fournir :
1. Une copie de l’accord de coentreprise conclu par tous les membres :
2. Les expériences (sur la base les critères) et les qualifications de chaque membre de coentreprise
3. Les compétences et disponibilité d’experts techniques internes fournis aux experts sur site
4. Les représentants locaux/partenaires
5. Les procédures d’assurance qualité et certification du demandeur
6. Pouvez-vous nous confirmer que cette liste est exhaustive, ou bien, merci de nous préciser s’il est nécessaire de fournir d’autres documents essentiels.
" "1. This document is to be provided in case of partnerships in the form of an agreement amongst the partners and the agreement cannot be changed in case the candidate is selected to submit the Request for Proposal.
2. A CV of each member of the consultancy firm and/or the NGOs will suffice. The relevance of the CV will be determined through the evaluation criteria grid found in ANNEX of the EOI document.
3. The technical experts must demonstrate how they will work alongside the experts that will do the field work.
4. The details of the local office, or partners, and individual partners in each of the six islands, if available, must be provided.
5. To be provided, if available
6. The requirements outlined in the EOI will not be altered during the application, submission and evaluation process.

6 Does this mean that only joint ventures between NGOs and consulting firms can submit EOIs? Can a joint venture between two consulting firms submit an EOI? Please note that the joint venture is possible among consultancy firm(s) and/or NGO(s).

7 Could you kindly confirm if the opportunity is exclusively open to joint ventures between NGOs and consulting firms? Additionally, we would appreciate clarification on the definition of “NGO” within this context and specifically, whether it must be a registered non-profit. We have encountered inconsistencies in similar language in the past and want to ensure we fully understand the eligibility criteria as we identify the right NGO partner. Please note that the joint venture is not compulsory but opened to consultancy firm(s) and/or NGO(s). An entity that has a legal personality as or equal to an NGO is acceptable.

8 "
Can the lead partner of the consortium be from an EU country, or must it be from a regional partner only?" "Please note that there is no restriction on the nationality of the partners, and consultants under a JV. If the Applicant is a JV, the expressions of interest shall include:
− a copy of the JV Agreement entered into by all members, or
− a letter of intent to execute a JV Agreement, signed by all members together with a copy of the Agreement proposal,
In the absence of this document, the other members will be considered as Subconsultants. Experiences and qualifications of Subconsultants are not taken into account in the evaluation of the applications."

9 For Submission Requirements (01 July 2025), what exactly is expected at this stage? Should we submit only the consortium agreement? If so, is there a template available? Or is a concept note, detailing the work breakdown based on the ToR, also required? "Please refer to the following section of the EOI (as shown in screengrab below). At this stage, the applicant should provide written evidence about similar expériences as outlined in the list of services and outcomes of this EOI.
The evaluation grid found at the end of the EOI will be used to evaluate each experience provided. "

10 "
Is a detailed budget breakdown required at this point, covering the amount specified in the call? " The terms of reference, deliverables and timelines including technical and financial application forms will be sent through the Request for Proposal document to six shortlisted candidates of this EOI exercise.

11 "
On page 2, the document mentions that applications are open to consulting firms, individual consultants, NGOs, and joint ventures. However, only the checkbox next to “Joint Venture between NGO(s) and consulting firm(s)” is ticked.
Could you kindly confirm whether a consulting firm can apply independently, or if only joint ventures are eligible?" Joint venture is not compulsory but opened to consultancy firm(s) and/or NGO(s).

12 " For the EOI, Is there a maximum number of references to be included?
"Please refer to the following section of the EOI (as shown in screengrab below). At this stage, the applicant should provide written evidence about similar expériences as outlined in the list of services and outcomes of this EOI.
The evaluation grid found at the end of the EOI will be used to evaluate each experience provided. The selection criteria are found in Annex at the end of the EOI. "

13 "
While reading carefully the document ""Request for Expressions of Interest"" we did not find an explicit requirement about the language(s) in which our answer has to be written.
Would you be kind enough to provide us some guidelines or explicit requirements about the language in which we had to send our proposal.
" Please note that the English language must be used for this project.

14 "We were unable to download specific Templates for the EOI, are there any templates we should be aware of?
" "

Please note that as part of the application process, we kindly request you download the EOI on dgMarket link. You should first register and use the login credentials to access the tender Technical Assistance for Developing the Blue Tourism Cluster for the Indian Ocean. Should you have any technical issue in downloading the EOI, please send us the details through a sreenshot that appears on the dgMarket site and we shall do needful to resolve the issue. "

15 "
With regards to the scope of the project, and considering our expert selection for the most suitable candidates, we wondered if you could kindly clarify the scope of the ""Support the design and establishment of a dedicated funding mechanism"".
" This is related to the funding requirements (assistance for securing the funds) for ensuring the implementation of the Action Plan. The detailed scope of work will be shared through the Request for Proposal that will be sent to the six best candidates retained through the EOI exercise.

16 Just to confirm, with regards to the references that we can include to showcase our track record, are we right assuming that all projects included over 100k will be assessed independently of the contract year? "
Please note that projects of and above 100,000 Euros and will be assessed independently of the contract year."

17 On another note, could you kindly indicate whether only consortiums between Consultancies and NGOs are eligible to apply? Would local entities of different nature be considered? "Please note that the joint venture is not compulsory but opened to consultancy firm(s) and/or NGO(s). An entity that has a legal personality as or equal to an NGO is acceptable.
Additionally, there is no restriction on the nationality of the partners, and consultants under a JV. If the Applicant is a JV, the expressions of interest shall include:
− a copy of the JV Agreement entered into by all members, or
− a letter of intent to execute a JV Agreement, signed by all members together with a copy of the Agreement proposal,
In the absence of this document, the other members will be considered as Subconsultants. Experiences and qualifications of Subconsultants are not taken into account in the evaluation of the applications."

18 Appendix - Matrix template for evaluating Expressions of Interest Could you please specify the minimum number of projects to be provided in the matrix template? At this stage, the applicant should provide written evidence about similar experiences as outlined in the list of services and outcomes of this EOI. Please note that there is no minimum requirements as to the number of projects to be evaluated. However, only projects of and above 100,000 Euros will be assessed independently of the contract year.

19 "Page 3: Cap Business Océan Indien will also take into account for the evaluation of the applications the following items (a) Skills and availability of in-house technical back-up experts provided to the on-site experts Should CV(s) of the resource persons be submitted at this stage of EOI?
" "Please note that the CVs of personnels and expertise with a description of their roles and duties to perform the services outlined in the EOI will be required. Evaluation will be made on the CVs obtained for the EOI and same cannot be ammended should the applicant be selected to submit the Request For Proposal.