MOSSMAN BOTANIC GARDEN CREATION PROJECT

Transcription

1 MOSSMAN BOTANIC GARDEN CREATION PROJECT INVITATION TO TENDER BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PLAN August 2015

2 Company ADDRESS Mossman Botanic Gardens, P.O. Box 1235, Mossman, Queensland Thursday, 13 August 2015 Dear INVITATION TO TENDER MOSSMAN BOTANIC GARDENS CREATION The Board of Mossman Botanic Gardens would like to invite you to submit a tender for the Mossman Botanic Gardens Creation Business Development Plan contract. Our requirements and the process for tendering are explained in this Invitation to Tender (ITT), which consists of the following sections: 1. This letter an invitation to tender, 2. An introduction to the Mossman Botanic Gardens Creation Stage 2 project, 3. Scope of the tender, 4. Further information on requirements, conditions, evaluation criteria and available budget for the tender process, 5. An acknowledgement of tender for you to complete and return. A second invitation to tender is available for the development of the Master Plan. Potential contractors are encouraged to consider both tender documents. If contracts are awarded to two separate consultants then it will be necessary to work closely together. Mossman Botanic Gardens seeks innovative tenders with local participation and input where possible. We are available to discuss any questions you may have, or further information you require, and would suggest a phone call to Rebecca Pearse (project manager of the tender process) in the first instance. Please return the acknowledgement of this letter and notice of your decision to tender. Your tender must be received by the 14 th September 2015 according to the Conditions of Tendering. Yours sincerely, John Sullivan Chairman of the Mossman Botanic Garden s Board Rebecca Pearse Project Manager - Mossman Botanic Garden Tender Process Telephone rebecca@argonavis.com.au

3 2. INTRODUCTION TO MOSSMAN BOTANIC GARDENS The Mossman Botanic Gardens (MBG) project is a grass roots community project that originated in Six founding members took the project from its inception through to the development and completion of Mossman Botanic Gardens Stage One. This was achieved by the development of a Business Plan finalized in April The Business Plan set out the mission and vision of MBG and identified 50 acres of cane land for sale. This land had the advantages of being in the historic heart of Mossman, adjacent to existing amenities and bounded on two sides by a forested creek. The business plan also outlined the design, potential facilities, objectives, community benefits and support, economic opportunities and the business case for the MBG. On the strength of this plan the Commonwealth committed $1.4m to the project through the Community Development Grants Programme (Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development). In January 2015 the majority of this funding was used to purchase the 50 acre block of land that had been identified. The remaining sum has been carefully allocated to MBG Creation - Stage 2. As a consequence of this program Mossman Botanic Garden Inc. has been established with charitable status. The Funding Agreement between MBG and the Commonwealth of Australia details milestones from the signing of the agreement (10th June 2015) until the final payment on the 12th August The milestones include developing the key road map documents that will lead to the financial raise and implementation of the MBG. The MBG Creation Stage Two will lead to a shovel ready project by April The vision of MBG is a world class botanic garden and research station for Australia's wet tropics an important part of the regional community providing local jobs, investment and business opportunities a community recreational facility developed from grass roots community engagement fostering pride and achievement a tourist attraction and rainforest arboretum that cultivates, conserves and showcases significant plants, ecosystems and products of Australia s World Heritage wet tropics horticultural, educational and conservation support of scientific research facilities such as the Australian Tropical Herbarium situated at JCU when developed, MBG will demonstrate that rainforests are a vital ecosystem, with cultural, environmental and economic relevance Mossman is the traditional home to the Kuku Yalanji people and this project will support and foster their connection to the land and become a learning resource. For the aboriginal people of the wet tropics region the rainforest is closely interwoven with their spiritual beliefs, knowledge systems, relationships and economic use including food, medicine and tools. Natural features like plants, fruits, animals, mountains, rivers and seasons are key as they symbolise the dreamtime, lore, stories and meaning of the land. As an educational resource the MBG would be a unique aboriginal teaching facility placed to service the schools and communities of Cape York and the wet tropics in the first instance, but also have global relevance.

4 3. SCOPE 3.1 Background & Objectives The MBG Creation Stage 2 project milestones are stipulated in the Funding Agreement between Mossman Botanic Garden Inc. and the Commonwealth of Australia. These project milestones include Procurement process to engage consultants to complete the Business Development Plan and Master Plan (14/8/15) Engage consultants to complete a community engagement strategy, capital raising strategy, marketing and promotional material (12/12/15) The official opening must take place before the project completion date which is the 29th April Requirements In order for Mossman Botanic Gardens to progress to the next stage (Stage Three Implementation of Mossman Botanic Gardens) it requires completion of: 1. Master Plan: the design, components, requirements, planning issues 2. Business Development Report: the business plan to support the project. 3. A Community Engagement Strategy: how the MBG will engage with the community 4. A Capital Raising Strategy to fund the implementation of MBG Stage Three 5. Marketing and Promotional Material plan to assist the capital raise, collaboration with other partners and community engagement This ITT is for the Business Development Plan which will include the Capital Raising Strategy and Marketing and Promotional material. A separate ITT is available for the Master Plan which will include the Community Engagement Strategy. Business Development Plan Requirements The Business Development Plan will consist of a o Business Development Report o Capital Raising Strategy o Marketing and Promotional Material Review existing information including the existing Business Plan; MBG Board Review and Consultation with Master Planning Consultants; Conceptual development of project and implementation strategy; Define requirements, functions and operational aspects of botanic gardens; Conduct a comprehensive market analysis and present findings and recommendations including products and services; Develop a comprehensive costing of the Master Plan; Market research/ comparative studies; Identify income generating activities; Develop a marketing strategy plan and target markets;

5 Develop Funding source models and product mixes; Identify potential partner/clients and conduct workshops; Establish goals, strengths/weakness, financial parameters, & priorities; Generation of interest in the project for capital raising; Draft Business Plan and Initial Financial Model for Board review; Develop a financial forecast model for years 1, 2, 3 and 5; Deliver Business Plan and Strategies for development; Development of a Capital Raising Strategy for each stage of development to completion; Investor pipeline management from establishing leads to contract negotiations; Development of effective corporate structure and governance structure for the organisation proposed to operate the gardens in the long term; Strengths and weaknesses, their strategic implications and possible responses; Prioritised range of realistic and achievable strategies to give effect to the goals and objectives so determined; Key performance indicators against which to measure project development and delivery and measure progress.

6 4. FURTHER INFORMATION The timetable for the Mossman Botanic Garden tender process is shown below Event Date Advertise Tender 14th August 2015 ITT issued to bidders requesting document 21st August 2015 Deadline for Receipt of Tenders 14th September 2015 Approval of preferred supplier 28th September 2015 Contract completed by 12 th December 2015 Further information is available for parties who decide they wish to tender. This includes 1. Conditions of Tender - the terms and requirements that must be met in order to be considered for the project or contract. This will include technical qualifications, experience, licensing, legal or financial conditions that ought to be met in order to be eligible (Conditions). 2. Evaluation criteria: this outlines how the submission will be assessed and evaluated. Criteria include involvement of local expertise, value for money, references, performance and experience of similar projects. This will be adhered to and used as a guide when evaluating a tender submission (Evaluation criteria). 3. Conditions of Contract: the general or standard terms and conditions of the contract, with additions or alterations made when a winning tender is announced. This will include any non-standard terms and conditions which will be highlighted within the tender documents (Conditions of Contract). 4. The budget available for the contract (Budget). 5. A summary of the initial business plan (Initial Plan).

7 5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TENDER We have received your Invitation to Tender for Mossman Botanic Gardens Creation, Business development Plan and we: intend to submit a tender (Delete as appropriate) do not intend to submit a tender (Delete as appropriate) If you will not be submitting a tender, Mossman Botanic Gardens Inc. would like to understand why. We would be grateful to know your reasons: Company: Signed: Name: (please print) Contact Tel No: Contact Fax No: Date: Please return to Rebecca Pearse by (rebecca@argonavis.com.au)