CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Use of Integrated Earth Observations and Space, for Socio-economic Development
“Harnessing the access and use of Integrated Earth Observations and Space for Progressive Socio-Economic benefit”.
The National Earth Observations and Space Secretariat is pleased to announce a Call for Proposals on the use of Integrated Earth Observations and Space, for socio-economic development. Applicants are requested to familiarise themselves with the information provided in this Call for Proposals (CFP).
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 23 February 2024
DATE OF SUBMISSION: Friday, 15 March 2024
TIME OF SUBMISSION: 16h00 hours
1. INTRODUCTION
The objective of this Call for Proposals (CFP) is to invite innovative projects that leverage the use of integrated Earth observations and space to drive socio-economic development.
2. BACKGROUND
The Programme is a socio-economic innovation funding mechanism established by the National Earth Observations and Space Secretariat (NEOSS), an initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation that is hosted and managed by the CSIR within the Business Excellence and Integration (BE&I) Portfolio.
The program aligns with NEOSS activities, emphasizing key thematic and embedded areas vital for socioeconomic development. NEOSS has a number of thematic and embedded areas as follows.
- Agriculture and Food Security
- Circular Economy and Natural Resources Management
- Human Settlements and Spatial Planning
- Satellite Navigation and Communication
- Natural Capital Accounting
- Earth Observations Infrastructure
- Data governance
- Climate Action
3. AIM
This programme aims to harness the immense potential of Earth Observations and Space for progressive socio-economic innovation. It also creates synergies, stimulate collaboration, and innovation in the Earth Observations and Space community, both public and private, particularly, Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs).
The programme aims to catalyze demand, foster growth, and enduring development of EO and space solutions for societal benefit. It establishes a flexible framework to promptly address and facilitate innovative technology, applications and solutions that can effectively respond to evolving priorities, emerging opportunities, and the dynamic needs of the community, public and private sector institutions and operators.
It is also designed to be versatile and responsive to evolving requirements and opportunities to propel advancements in Earth science, pioneer novel applications, and fortify the competitiveness by leveraging state-of-the-art tools, including collaborative platforms.
4. TARGETED INITIATIVES
Targeted projects, interventions, solutions, or concepts should demonstrate the practical use and advantages of space science, Earth Observation (EO), and technology. Proposals should emphasize how the project has potential to enhance the quality of life, generate income and profit, increase collaboration and knowledge exchange, impact decision-making and contribute towards building a more inclusive, creative, and sustainable ecosystem as follows.
- Articulate plans for leveraging Earth observation, space data and technologies to address socio-economic and environmental challenges, aiming to promote sustainable socio-economi development and enhance overall quality of life for individuals and communities.
- Promote collaboration and innovation amongst identified communities, fostering creativity, sharing data, expertise, and resources, ensuring inclusion of diverse perspectives, and establishing, where possible a post-project collaboration plan to address evolving challenges and opportunities.
- Enhance the use of existing EO and space data, information prioritising datasets from government, for social impact in South African communities, emphasizing effective knowledge exchange, facilitating collaboration among Earth observation and space experts, and promoting education and awareness of available datasets.
- Demonstrate policy impact and success stories through the use of space science and Earth observation (EO), contributing to evidence-based decision-making at various levels, advocating for sustained support, investment, and providing user-friendly interfaces for policymakers to access and analyze information efficiently.
- Ensure alignment with diversity and inclusivity, while also encouraging collaboration among individuals from diverse backgrounds and collaborating with community structures, organizations, and leaders to enhance overall inclusivity.
5. SELECTION PROCESS
The application will be reviewed against the eligibility criteria. If eligible, it will be assessed against the assessment criteria. Only eligible applications will proceed to the assessment stage.
5.1 Applicant eligibility
Eligibility will be assessed in accordance with the eligibility criteria outlined below.
5.1.1NEOSS Community of Practice (Registration)
The applicant or entity must be a registered and active member of one or more of the NEOSS Communities of Practice (CoPs) listed in paragraph 2 (Background). Registration can be completed online at https://neoss.co.za/index.php/user/register.
5.1.2 Tax Compliance and BBBEE Requirements
The applicant must be fully compliant with applicable tax laws, regulations, and obligations as stipulated by SARS and submit a Tax Compliance Certificate (TSC). Application for tax compliance status (TCS) may be made via e-filing through the SARS website www.sars.gov.za. Applicants must also submit a valid copy of BBBEE certificate/ sworn affidavit.
5.1.3 National treasury Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration
Applicants are required to self-register on the National Treasury’s Central Supplier Database (CSD) which has been established to centrally administer supplier information for all organs of state and facilitate the verification of certain key supplier information. Registrations can be completed online at: www.csd.gov.za. In order to enable the CSIR to verify information on the CSD, Applicants are required to provide the unique CSD registration reference number.
5.1.4 Proposal Format
All submissions are required to strictly follow the provided template, encompassing a thorough project description, objectives, methodology, anticipated outcomes, and a comprehensive budget. Proposals should be submitted in either MS Word or PDF format and must not surpass 10 pages.It is imperative to note that proposals exceeding R 500K will not be considered.
5.1.5 Timely submission
Proposals shall be submitted to CSIR/NEOSS at info@neoss.co.za on the above-mentioned email address by no later than 17:00, Friday, 15 March 2024. If a proposal is not submitted to the CSIR/NEOSS by the designated due date and to the specified email address, it will not be taken into consideration.
5.2 Technical Evaluation
Proposals will be evaluated for technical soundness based on the following criteria:
5.2.1 Relevance or Alignment
The project must address the priority areas, target initiatives and objectives specified in paragraph 2, 3 and 4. The project must have the potential to positively showcase the use, benefit and impact of Earth Observation and Space in South Africa at the district and local levels.
5.2.2 Relevant Project Experience
The proposal should provide details about past projects, highlighting their relevance to the current endeavor and demonstrate a track record of successful completion of projects similar to the one being proposed.
5.2.3 Benefits and Impact
The project must demonstrate the potential to significantly impact specific thematic areas, bolster the capability and capacity of Earth Observations and Space, and actively contribute to the generation of employment opportunities.
5.2.4 Feasibility
The project must demonstrate the feasibility and probability of successful project implementation, considering the existing capacity, capability, and resources available. The simplicity of implementation and the projected timeframe, specifying whether it is a long-term, medium-term, or short-term solution.
5.2.5 Collaboration and Innovation
The project's success hinges on its originality, whether it contributes to knowledge or offers practical solutions for leveraging Earth Observation (EO) and space in socio-economic development. Evaluation will consider the degree and efficacy of collaboration with pertinent stakeholders, emphasizing the uniqueness and creativity embedded in the proposed approach.
6. SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
6.1 Reservations
- The CSIR expressly reserves the following rights:
- To reject all or any proposals
- To waive any or all irregularities in the proposals submitted
- To retain the right not to select any application/s even if meeting all the requirements.
6.2 Personal Information
Each Party consents to the other Party holding and processing “personal information” (as defined in the POPI Act) relating to it for legal, personnel, administrative and management purposes (including, if applicable, any “special personal information” relating to him/her, as defined in the POPI Act). Notwithstanding the generality of the aforesaid, each Party hereby undertakes to comply with all relevant provisions of the POPI Act and any other applicable data protection laws. The Applicant further agrees to comply with all CSIR’s reasonable internal governance requirements pertaining to data protection.
Each Party consents to the other Party making such information available to those who provide products or services to such parties (such as advisers, regulatory authorities, governmental or quasi- governmental organisations and potential purchasers of such Party or any part of their business).
While performing any activity where a Party is handling personal information as a “responsible party” (as defined in the POPI Act), each Party undertakes that it will process the personal information strictly in accordance with the terms of the POPI Act, this Contract, and the other Party’s instructions from time to time, and take appropriate operational measures to safeguard the data against any unauthorised access.
Each Party acknowledges that in the course of conducting business with each other, each Party intends to maintain and process personal information about the other Party in an internal database. By signing this Contract, each Party consents to the maintenance and processing of such personal information.
Where relevant, the Applicant shall procure that all of its personnel, agents, representatives, contractors, sub-contractors and mandataries shall comply with the provisions of this clause 30 (Personal Information). The CSIR shall be entitled on reasonable notice to conduct an inspection or audit Applicant s compliance with the requisite POPI Act safeguards.
6.3 Conflict of interests
Applicants must include a signed copy of the attached Conflict of Interest Statement with the bid and declare any potential conflicts of interest among team members, subcontractors, or other affiliated entities involved in the project.
6.4 Contractual Arrangements
The successful applicant/s will be required to enter into a written Agreement with the CSIR, an entity responsible for the management and hosting of NEOSS, on behalf of the DSI.
6.5 Collaboration
Collaboration between organisations, institutions, and companies to jointly deliver a project is encouraged. Only the Project lead applicant can submit the application form and enter into the project agreement with the CSIR. The application should identify all other members of the proposed group and include a letter of support from each of the project partners. Each letter of support should include:
- details of the project partner
- an overview of how the project partner will work with the lead applicant and any other project partners in the group to complete the project.
- an outline of the relevant experience and/or expertise the project partner will bring to the group.
- the roles/responsibilities the project partner will undertake, and the resources it will contribute (if any)
It is the responsibility of the lead Applicant to ensure that all formal arrangements are in place with all parties.
6.6 Intellectual Property
Intellectual property will be managed in accordance with the Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Financed Research and Development Act, 2008.
6.7 Preparation costs and limitation of liability
The Applicant will bear all its costs in preparing, submitting and presenting any response to this CFP and all other costs incurred by it throughout the CFP process. Furthermore, no statement in this CFP will be construed as placing the CSIR, its employees or agents under any obligation whatsoever, including in respect of costs, expenses or losses incurred by the Applicant (s) in the preparation of their response to this CFP.
An Applicant participates in this CFP process entirely at its own risk and cost. The CSIR shall not be liable to compensate the Applicant on any grounds whatsoever for any costs incurred or any damages suffered as a result of the Applicant’s participation in this CFP process.
6.8 Indemnity
If an Applicant breaches the conditions of this CFP and, as a result of that breach, the CSIR incurs costs or damages (including, without limitation, the cost of any investigations, procedural impairment, repetition of all or part of the CFP process and/or enforcement of intellectual property rights or confidentiality obligations), then the Applicant indemnifies and holds the CSIR harmless from any and all such costs which the CSIR may incur and for any damages or losses the CSIR may suffer.
6.9 Governing law
South African law governs this CFP and the CFP response process. The Applicant agrees to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the South African courts in any dispute of any kind that may arise out of or in connection with the subject matter of this CFP, the CFP itself and all processes associated with the CFP.
6.10 Confidentiality
Except as may be required by operation of law, by a court or by a regulatory authority having appropriate jurisdiction, no information contained in or relating to this CFP or an Applicant’s response (s) will be disclosed by any Applicant or other person not officially involved with the CSIR’s examination and evaluation of a Proposal.
No part of the CFP may be distributed, reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise, in whole or in part except to prepare a Proposal. This CFP and any other documents supplied by the CSIR remain proprietary to the CSIR and must be promptly returned to the CSIR upon request together with all copies, electronic versions, excerpts, or summaries thereof or work derived therefrom.
Throughout this CFP process and thereafter, Applicant (s) must secure the CSIR’s written approval before the release of any information that pertains to (i) the potential work or activities to which this CFP relates; or (ii) the process which follows this CFP. Failure to adhere to this requirement may result in disqualification from the CFP process and civil action.
6.11 Availability of funds
Should funds no longer be available to pay for the execution of the responsibilities of this CFP, the CSIR may terminate the Agreement at its discretion or temporarily suspend all or part of the services by notice to the successful Applicant who shall immediately make arrangements to stop the performance of the services and minimize further expenditure: Provided that the successful Applicant shall thereupon be entitled to payment in full for the services delivered, up to the date of cancellation or suspension.
6.12 Disclaimer
This CFP is a request for proposals only and not an offer document. Answers to this CFP must not be construed as acceptance of an offer or imply the existence of a contract between the parties. By submission of its proposal, Applicants shall be deemed to have satisfied themselves with and to have accepted all Terms & Conditions of this CFP. The CSIR makes no representation, warranty, assurance, guarantee or endorsement to Applicant concerning the CFP, whether with regard to its accuracy, completeness or otherwise and the CSIR shall have no liability towards the Applicant or any other party in connection therewith.
7. ANNOUNCEMENT OF PROJECTS
CSIR_NEOSS may publish non-sensitive details of successful projects on the NEOSS platform unless otherwise prohibited by law. This information may include:
- Name and logo 0f your company or organisation
- Title of the project
- Description of the project and project aim
- Project Benefits and outcomes.
The project information may also be published by the NEOSS through its communication channels (official website and social media channels).
8. SUBMISSION DETAILS
- Submission Deadline: Friday, 15 March 2024, 17:00
- Funding: Successful proposals will be considered, with amounts allocated based on the project's scope, impact, and budgetary requirements, which may be reviewed by the Selection panel.
- Contact: For inquiries and submission details, please contact info@neoss.co.za. Only written queries will be responded to.
9. ATTACHMENTS: PROJECT RESPONSE TEMPLATE