The National Biodiversity Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests would like to hire national consultant to develop audio visual user manual for Bhutan Biodiversity Portal (www.biodiversity.bt).

In this regard, we would like to invite ‘Expression of Interest’ for carrying out the above consultancy service from the eligible national consultant(s).

The ToR can be downloaded from the links below. The EoI should be submitted to NBC, MoAF, Serbithang not later than 11.00 AM on 28^th August, 2018 and will be opened on the same day at 11.30 AM.

The Expression of Interest shall include the following documents but not limited to:

1. Copy of valid individual/firm’s registration certificate.
2. Financial proposal along with experience and competence relevant to the assignment, including copies of assignments of similar nature carried out in past, if any.
3. Nationality Identity Card copy of the key personnel for the assignment.
4. List of current assignment at hand.

Reference from agencies if similar assignment were carried out in the past.

Download here..TOR

The National Biodiversity Centre, Serbithang is pleased to invite sealed bids from eligible supplier for the supply of lab. Equipment for PGR & National Herbarium program, under NBC, Serbithang.

The tender documents can be downloaded from the link provided below:

Last date of submission: not later than 11am on 31/8/2018

Opening date: 11:30am on 31/8/2018

For detail, contact: 02-351417/350268

SBD for Goods. PGR & National Hebarium

Organizers: SSSA University, NBC, ARDC Wengkhar, ARDCSS Khangma, FMCL Norzinthang

In the face of the emerging challenge of climate change and in the quest to understand the traditional maize diversity of Bhutan, the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) and the Scuola Superiore Sant Anna University in Italy, in collaboration with the Agriculture and Research Development Centre (ARDC) in Wengkhar and Khangma and the Farm Machinery Corporation Limited (FMCL), Norzinthang, initiated phenotypic diversity studies of maize genetic resources of Bhutan since April 2018.

A total of 142 maize landraces – traditional maize varieties that were grown by our farmers for centuries, were collected by NBC from 17 Dzongkhags and grown together in one field in Norzinthang, Trashigang since April 2018. By the last week of July, majority of the varieties had reached late maturity stage and were ready for assessment.

A farmers’ field day was organized on 3rd August 2018 to evaluate the different varieties with participation by farmers, agriculture extension staff and researchers, providing a forum for interaction between different stakeholders and encouraging the integration of farmers’ traditional knowledge into advanced genetic approaches in order to assess maize diversity in Bhutan.

The farmers and Agriculture Extension staff from 5 gewogs of Trashigang and Trashiyangtsi, along with six researchers from NBC, ARDC, Wengkhar and Khangma carried out evaluation of the field crop on the FMCL farm in Norzinthang in Trashigang.

The field day provided a rare opportunity for participants to observe and compare 142 local maize landraces all in one field at one time. Participants identified maize landraces with preferred traits for consumption, sale, research and development.  The field day also promoted awareness on the importance of agro-biodiversity to the communities.

This collaborative project will continue till all the landraces are harvested with detailed information recorded for further analysis, interpretation and conclusion. The maize landraces will be characterized at DNA level through DNA sequencing. The collective data generated will be assessed to generate comprehensive information on the characterization of Bhutanese maize diversity for the first time in the country in order to guide policy as well as research and development on maize.

During the month of June 2018, the Bhutan Biodiversity Portal teamed up with WWF Bhutan to run the Busy Butterfly BioBlitz. The results were spectacular:

• 1130 observations (compared with 401 during the same period last year).
• 476 butterfly observations submitted.

The judges delighted in reviewing all your beautiful butterfly photographs.

A special congratulations to Mr. Kado Rinchen of Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environmental Research who took out first prize in both categories.

Champion Observers – Most number of observations submitted during BioBlitz

Best Photograph
First – Mr. Kado Rinchen (Prize: Set of five fabulous Bhutan field guides, WWF cap)

 Lime butterfly      Photo credit: Mr. Kado Rinche

Mr. Kado Rinchen submitted six photographs which made our shortlist, but this exquisite photograph was our favourite. One of our judges reflected that she chose this winning photograph “… keeping in mind the timing to get that unique position, the clarity of the picture including the antennae and the legs, the story it conveys, and the overall focus”.

Second – Mr. Tshulthrim Drukpa Wangyel (Prize: Kaadoo: Explore Bhutan Wilderness, WWF cap)

Long-banded Silverline    Photo credit: Mr. Tshulthrim Drukpa Wangyel

Third – Mr. Rinzin Wangchuk (Prize: Set of five fabulous Bhutan field guides, WWF cap)

Krishna Peacock    Photo credit: Mr. Rinzin Wangchuk

The National Biodiversity Centre, Serbithang would like to invite air fare quotation from the eligible ticketing agent for the following sectors, as per the itinerary provided below:

Type of Class:

Economy (5)

Business (1)

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. All bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked as “Quotation for Air Ticket” to the Program Director, National Biodiversity Centre, MoAF latest by 16^th August, 2018 on/before 11.00 Hrs and will be opened at 11:30 Hrs on the same day.
2. Airline and seats must be confirmed while submitting the quotation and submit confirmed itineraries.
3. The validation of fares and availability of seats should be as per the details mentioned above.
4. The successful bidder should submit the photocopy of every air ticket along with their invoices for payment.
5. Unconditional quotations like an increase of fares or changes of airlines at the time of travel are not accepted, and shall result in forfeiting of EMD.
6. The quoted air fare has to be valid for 3 weeks.
7. Tender documents should contain a photocopy of valid trade license issued by Ministry of Economic Affairs.
8. Tenders should be accompanied with a lump sum amount of Nu.5000/-only as earnest money in the form of demand draft/cash warrant (company cheque not acceptable) issued in favour of the Program Director, National Biodiversity Centre.
9. The earnest money of the lowest evaluated bidder shall be retained with the Centre as performance security deposit and will be returned only after the delivery of the air tickets mentioned in the supply order for the above sector.
10. The route should be shortest possible with appropriate duration for transits, if any, reasonable boarding timing and in a reliable and safe airline.
11. The purchaser reserves every right to reject the bids if it is found not responsive.
12. The decision of tender committee will be final and binding without any clarification and justification.

Evaluation of bids will be based on fare as well as the availability of confirmed seats, suitability of travel timing and reputation of the airline for safety reason.