MEDRC Announces 2012 Scholarship Fund for Students from the Middle East and North Africa Application - Deadline is 30 June

2012-05-16T00:00:00Z

The Program

The MEDRC Scholarship Program offers graduate students from the MENA region the opportunity to study at universities from around the world while participating in a MEDRC research project. Through this approach, it is expected that students will gain skills that will make a long-term contribution to the further development of desalination in their respective countries. The Program also aims to increase cross-cultural understanding by stimulating international exchange.

University Partnerships

The core and strength of the program is its growing circle of university partners. Universities that have participated in this program include: University of Florida, University of Ottawa, UNESCO-IHE, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Nottingham, Illinois Institute of Technology University of Angers, University of Calabria, University of Hull, University of Roma La Sapienza, Technische Universität München, University of Complutense of Madrid, K.U. Leuven, American University of Beirut.

Eligibility Criteria

The general criteria for eligibility of a MEDRC scholarship award are as follows:

Applicants must be nationals from a MENA country holding the equivalent of a B.Sc or M.Sc.
Applicants must obtain acceptance from a relevant university to be eligible for a MEDRC scholarship.
Applicants must demonstrate a desire to contribute to their country’s advancement in the field of desalination.
Thesis should be directly related to a desalination topic representing an immediate need or addressing a specific problem in the MENA region.
In order to promote cooperation among institutions, preference will be given where partnership in the research project is also likely to develop between a regional university and a non-regional university.

How to Apply

Applicant should apply directly to an eligible university offering RO or Thermal desalination based coursework. The applicant has to directly contact a professor to agree on a research topic in desalination.
The professor should submit a pre-proposal to MEDRC. The pre-proposal should clearly outline the role of the student and meet MEDRC project proposal guidelines. MEDRC will reply within a month on whether or not the pre-proposal merits a full proposal submission. If the full proposal is accepted, the student becomes eligible for a scholarship. The student then proceeds with formalities to get admission from the university unless, otherwise currently enrolled.
Deadline for applications is June 30th, 2012.

Remarks

Since the number of scholarships given each year is limited, selection will be made on a competitive basis.
Fair distribution of scholarship funds across the MENA region will play an important role in the final selection process.

For more info contact us at info@medrc.org.om

ENPI — Clima South: support to climate change mitigation and adaptation in the ENPI South region; EuropeAid/132702/C/SER/Multi

2012-05-15T00:00:00Z

The overall objective of the programme is to enhance regional cooperation, between the EU and itsMediterranean neighbours (EU–South) and among ENP partners themselves (South–South) on climate changemitigation and adaptation, mainly through capacity development and information sharing.

In particular, it aims at supporting the transition of ENP South countries towards low carbon development and climate resilience, in a context of sustainable and democratic development.The project, whose duration is 48 months, will focus on building capacity and supporting regional exchanges and cooperation efforts of ENP South partner countries in order to make the transition towards a low carbon development.

Activities will include support in:

— identifying, designing and formulating mitigation actions that are appropriate at national level, as well asencouraging the adoption of low emission development strategies on the basis of accurate and up-to-datemeasurement, reporting and verification systems,
— improving the use and sharing of data on climate science and economic development trends in a way thatcan enhance the capacity of beneficiary countries to elaborate well-targeted adaptation strategies, furtherincrease climate resilience, and mainstream climate change adaptation into other policies,
— strengthening the capacity of institutions in charge of climate change in order to better position themselves atboth national (in their relationships with other Governmental institutions) and international level (for the purposeof enhancing their participation in the climate negotiations).

The project will also support access to and sharing of information, best practices and legislation on climatechange at regional level. Close coordination with other ongoing projects, including 'Paving the way for theMediterranean solar plan', is expected.

Provisional timetable

Provisional date of invitation to tender: 2.7.2012.

Provisional commencement date of the contract: 1.10.2012.

Initial period of implementation of tasks: Duration in months: 48.

Application:

Deadline for receipt of applications: 18.6.2012 (16:00), Central European Time.

Any application received after this deadline will not be considered.

Application format and details to be provided: Applications must be submitted using the standard application form, the format and instructions of which mustbe strictly observed. The application form is available at the following Internet address: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work/procedures/implementation/services/index_en.htm

Any additional documentation (brochure, letter, etc.) sent with an application will not be taken intoconsideration.

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DETAILS

B-Brussels: ENPI — Clima South: support to climate change mitigation and adaptation in the ENPI South region

2012/S 88-143395

Location: Mediterranean partners — Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia

Service procurement notice

Common procurement vocabulary (CPV):

Main object:

90712000 Environmental planning — FG14 For technical uses

Additional object(s):

90711500 Environmental monitoring other than for construction — FA04 For training purposes

90731700 Carbon dioxide monitoring services — FG14 For technical uses

72224000 Project management consultancy services

80540000 Environmental training services — FG14 For technical uses

1.Publication reference:EuropeAid/132702/C/SER/Multi.
2.Procedure:Restricted.
3.Programme:ENPI.
4.Financing:Budget line.
5.Contracting authority:

European Union, represented by the European Commission, on behalf of and for the account of the beneficiary country, Brussels, BELGIUM.

6.Nature of contract:Fee-based.
7.Contract description:The overall objective of the programme is to enhance regional cooperation, between the EU and its Mediterranean neighbours (EU–South) and among ENP partners themselves (South–South) on climate change mitigation and adaptation, mainly through capacity development and information sharing. In particular, it aims at supporting the transition of ENP South countries towards low carbon development and climate resilience, in a context of sustainable and democratic development.
The project, whose duration is 48 months, will focus on building capacity and supporting regional exchanges and cooperation efforts of ENP South partner countries in order to make the transition towards a low carbon development. Activities will include support in:
— identifying, designing and formulating mitigation actions that are appropriate at national level, as well as encouraging the adoption of low emission development strategies on the basis of accurate and up-to-date measurement, reporting and verification systems,
— improving the use and sharing of data on climate science and economic development trends in a way that can enhance the capacity of beneficiary countries to elaborate well-targeted adaptation strategies, further increase climate resilience, and mainstream climate change adaptation into other policies,
— strengthening the capacity of institutions in charge of climate change in order to better position themselves at both national (in their relationships with other Governmental institutions) and international level (for the purpose of enhancing their participation in the climate negotiations).
The project will also support access to and sharing of information, best practices and legislation on climate change at regional level. Close coordination with other ongoing projects, including 'Paving the way for the Mediterranean solar plan', is expected.
8.Numbers and titles of lots:The contract is divided into lots: No, 1 lot only.
9.Budget:Maximum budget: 5 000 000 EUR.
10.Scope for additional services:The contracting authority may, at its own discretion, extend the project in duration and/or scope, subject to the availability of funding, up to a maximum not exceeding the length and value of the initial contract. Any extension of the contract would be subject to satisfactory performance by the contractor.

Conditions of participation

11.Eligibility:Participation is open to all legal persons (participating either individually or in a grouping (consortium) of candidates) which are established in a Member State of the European Union or in a country or territory of the regions covered and/or authorised by the specific instruments applicable to the programme under which the contract is financed (see also item 29 below). Participation is also open to international organisations. The participation of natural persons is governed by the specific instruments applicable to the programme under which the contract is financed.
12.Candidature:All eligible natural and legal persons (as per item 11 above) or groupings of such persons (consortia) may apply.
A consortium may be a permanent, legally-established grouping or a grouping which has been constituted informally for a specific tender procedure. All members of a consortium (i.e., the leader and all other members) are jointly and severally liable to the contracting authority.
The participation of an ineligible natural or legal person (as per item 11) will result in the automatic exclusion of that person. In particular, if that ineligible person belongs to a consortium, the whole consortium will be excluded.
13.Number of applications:No more than 1 application can be submitted by a natural or legal person whatever the form of participation (as an individual legal entity or as leader or member of a consortium submitting an application). In the event that a natural or legal person submits more than 1 application, all applications in which that person has participated will be excluded.
14.Shortlist alliances prohibited:Any tenders received from tenderers having a different composition than the ones on the application forms will be excluded from this restricted tender procedure, unless prior approval from the contracting authority has been obtained — see PRAG 2.4.3. Shortlisted candidates may not form alliances or subcontract to each other for the contract in question.
15.Grounds for exclusion:As part of the application form, candidates must submit a signed declaration, included in the standard application form, to the effect that they are not in any of the exclusion situations listed in Section 2.3.3 of the 'Practical Guide to contract procedures for EU external actions'.
16.Subcontracting:Subcontracting is allowed.
Maximum percentage of the contract value which may be subcontracted: 40 %.
17.Number of candidates to be shortlisted:On the basis of the applications received, at least 4 and at most 8 candidates will be invited to submit detailed tenders for this contract. If the number of eligible candidates meeting the selection criteria is less than the minimum of 4, the contracting authority may invite the candidates who satisfy the criteria to submit a tender.

Provisional timetable

18.Provisional date of invitation to tender:2.7.2012.
19.Provisional commencement date of the contract:1.10.2012.
20.Initial period of implementation of tasks:Duration in months: 48.

Selection and award criteria

21.Selection criteria:Same criteria for legal and natural person.
The following selection criteria will be applied to candidates. In the case of applications submitted by a consortium, these selection criteria will be applied to the consortium as a whole:
1) Economic and financial capacity of candidate:
In the case of the applicant being a public body equivalent information should be provided:
1. the annual average turnover of the candidate (i.e. the consortium as a whole in the case of an application from a consortium) must have exceeded 2 000 000 EUR in 2008 (column '2 years before last year' in the application form), 2009 (column 'year before last year' in the application form) and 2010 (column 'last year' in the application form). Please adapt the table in the application form accordingly.
2) Professional capacity of candidate:
1. at least 5 permanent staff currently work for the candidate (i.e. the consortium as a whole in the case of an application from a consortium) in the fields related to this contract (as described in Section 7).
3) Technical capacity of candidate:
1. the candidate has implemented at least 2 international projects with a budget of at least 1 000 000 EUR each in the requested fields of expertise, including the type of activities mentioned in Section 7. One of the 2 projects should have been implemented in at least 2 different countries of the ENP South region (regional relevance).
Projects used as reference for this criterion must have been implemented in the past 3 years. However, the candidate may refer to a part of a project where the contract is still ongoing or was partially implemented before June 2009, but then only the part which has been successfully completed since June 2009 may be used as reference and the candidate needs to be able to submit documentary evidence of this part's successful completion (e.g. a statement from the entity which ordered or purchased the service). The applicant is requested to indicate in the application form (Section 6) the amount of the budget implemented (costs incurred) between June 2009 and June 2012.
An economic operator may, where appropriate and for a particular contract, rely on the capacities of other entities, regardless of the legal nature of the links which it has with them. Some examples of when it may not be considered appropriate by the contracting authority are when the tenderers rely in majority on the capacities of other entities or when they rely on key criteria. If the candidate relies on other entities it must in that case prove to the contracting authority that it will have at its disposal the resources necessary for performance of the contract, for example by producing an undertaking on the part of those entities to place those resources at its disposal. Such entities, for instance the parent company of the economic operator, must respect the same rules of eligibility and notably that of nationality, as the economic operator. Furthermore, the data for this third entity for the relevant selection criterion should be included in the tender in a separate document. Proof of the capacity will also have to be furnished when requested by the contracting authority.
If more than 8 eligible candidates meet the above selection criteria, the relative strengths and weaknesses of the applications of these candidates must be re-examined to identify the 8 best applications for the tender procedure. The only factor which will be taken into consideration during this re-examination is:
the number of projects, implemented in the ENP South countries, which fulfil the technical criterion mentioned above.
22.Award criteria:Best value for money.

Application

23.Deadline for receipt of applications:18.6.2012 (16:00), Central European Time.
Any application received after this deadline will not be considered.
24.Application format and details to be provided:

Applications must be submitted using the standard application form, the format and instructions of which must be strictly observed. The application form is available at the following Internet address:http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/work/procedures/implementation/services/index_en.htm

Any additional documentation (brochure, letter, etc.) sent with an application will not be taken into consideration.
25.How applications may be submitted:Applications must be submitted exclusively to the contracting authority in the following language: English
— either by recorded delivery (official postal service) to:
European Commission, Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation — EuropeAid, Finance, Contracts and Audit Unit, EuropeAid F.5, EuropeAid/132702/C/SER/MULTI, J-54 03/231, 1049 Brussels, BELGIUM,
— or hand delivered (including courier services) directly to the contracting authority in return for a signed and dated receipt to:
For the attention of: European Commission, Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation — EuropeAid, Unit F.5, EuropeAid/132702/C/SER/MULTI, Office J-54 03/231, avenue du Bourget 1, 1140 Brussels, BELGIUM.
NB: This department is open from 8:00 to 17:00 from Monday to Thursday and from 8:00 to 16:00 on Friday; it is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Commission holidays.
Opening hours: 9:00–17:00, CET, Monday–Thursday; 9:00–16:00, CET, Friday.
As in abovementioned address.
The contract title and the publication reference (see item 1 above) must be clearly marked on the envelope containing the application and must always be mentioned in all subsequent correspondence with the contracting authority.
Applications submitted by any other means will not be considered.
26.Alteration or withdrawal of applications:Candidates may alter or withdraw their applications by written notification prior to the deadline for submission of applications. No applications may be altered after this deadline.
Any such notification of alteration or withdrawal shall be prepared and submitted in accordance with item 25.
The outer envelope (and the relevant inner envelope if used) must be marked 'Alteration' or 'Withdrawal' as appropriate.
27.Operational language:All written communications for this tender procedure and contract must be in English.
28.Date of publication of contract forecast notice:14.3.2012.

Notice number in OJ: 2012/S 51-081965.

29.Legal basis:Regulation (EC) No 1638/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24.10.2006 laying down general provisions establishing a European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument.
30.Additional information31.Date of dispatch of this notice:26.4.2012.

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MEDRC Announces 2012 Scholarship Fund for Students from the Middle East and North Africa Application - Deadline is 30 June

ENPI — Clima South: support to climate change mitigation and adaptation in the ENPI South region; EuropeAid/132702/C/SER/Multi