Forests Sourcebook - HCV Resource Network

(direct and indirect) and usage patterns and processes, as
well as a description of the data requirements and data
sources. If the FMIS development is to coincide with management
process changes, the links between the FMIS project
and process change initiative should be clearly delineated.
Detailed Design—Phase II. The main tasks of this phase
of the work are to
a) develop the detailed design specifications for the FMIS;
b) review and analyze existing FMIS and support technologies
in relation to the specifications;
c) review possible methods for the development of the
FMIS (adapting existing technologies, developing components
“from scratch” using in-house or external
expertise) 1 ;
d) recommend (with justification) the preferred development
method (which may well include a combination of
the above);
e) estimate the human resources requirements (including
commitment from client personnel), time, and cost of
the installed FMIS; and,
f) consolidate the above information into a document that
outlines the critical elements of the Development and
Implementation TOR.
In principle, it should not be the task of this consultant
to recommend the specific development environment or
database and support technologies to be used because the
design specifications and the context description (especially
those related to local IT capabilities) should be clear enough
that any inappropriate technologies would not be proposed
or, if proposed, would not be chosen. However, the design
consultant should develop a draft Development and Implementation
TOR that recommends the software development,
quality assurance, and project management standards
and protocols that should be used by the developer, including
those that facilitate future system evolution and compatibility
with other national and international forestry and
environmental systems.
Development and Implementation—Phase III. The following
is a list of issues that would likely need to be
addressed in the Development and Implementation TOR:
■
Software design specifications and performance criteria,
including those related to specific functionalities;
national and international data standards that must be
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followed (such as European numerical data standards);
reports to be produced; spatial visualization and modeling
capabilities; data entry protocols; security and access;
description of users (including working language) and
usage patterns (including multiuser and web-enabled
capabilities); integration among FMIS components;
interfaces and integration with existing or proposed
non-FMIS systems; minimum data auditing and data
recovery; and back-up and archiving requirements.
Characteristics of software technologies to be employed,
including recommendations concerning which elements
should be built from scratch and which should be adapted
from existing technologies. This should also address
issues concerning the flexibility and resiliency of any system
being proposed, including its degree of adherence to
“plug-n-play” principles and open source 2 standards.
Hardware specifications (including those related to operating
environment, health, and ergonomics) and rules
and regulations that govern hardware acquisition.
Description of data preparation work required, including
(as appropriate) data migration and conversion;
preparation of base and thematic maps; forest and land
recharacterization; and acquisition, analysis, and incorporation
of remote sensing imagery and data.
Description of the current forest management and IT
knowledge of proposed users and internal IT support
personnel, and the level that is desired. This means that,
where appropriate, the TOR must specify the education
and training required to use the system to maximize the
benefits, not simply train people about “which buttons to
push.”
Minimum requirements related to implementation and
training, technical and user documentation, and system
support.
Minimum software and project management quality
assurance protocols to be employed.
Description of the minimum level of long-term support
that will be required to be provided by the development
and implementation contractors.
Description of the commitment from the clients with
respect to the engagement of its people in the development,
testing, implementation, and training processes.
Evaluation Criteria
Tender documents should be evaluated according to the
quality of the tender in relation to the requirements of the
TOR and then according to the following criteria:
NOTE 7.2: ESTABLISHING FOREST MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS 271