The Government of Belize (GOB) has received a loan in the amount of US$ 7,000,000 from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the purpose of improving the enabling environment for private and public sector development through enhanced land security, effective land markets, and the promotion of a coherent land policy framework contributing to efficient use of land resources and sustainable development. The Land Management Program consists of four components: (i) national cadaster and property rights registration; (ii) expansion of land administration services; (iii) land use planning and development review; and (iv) land policy reform and institutional strengthening of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Industry (MNREI), which is the executing agency for the project.

The MNREI requires the services of a professional firm to conduct cadastral surveying and land tenure clarification for 15,000 rural parcels in three districts in Belize and 500 urban parcels in a pilot area of Belize City. The intent is to complete surveying and adjudication activities, as set forth in the Land Adjudication Act of 1992, in a systematic manner in order to bring three entire districts onto the land registry by the end of the 4-year execution period. The contractor will be responsible for the following activities:

• Work in close collaboration with the firm selected to implement a district and local level land tenure public awareness campaign
• Establishing an office in the district/work areas assigned for adjudication
• Publicizing statutory notice of the declaration of adjudication areas
• Collection of adjudication claims and applications for national estates leases
• Completion of an adjudication record and cadastral survey plan and digital data record for each parcel within a declared adjudication/survey area
• Preparation of the adjudication record for each parcel and the corresponding survey compilation plan, registry index maps and digital cadastral and adjudication databases
• Delivery of the final adjudication record, surveys and digital data bases to the Project Management Unit for incorporation into the Land Registry, Survey Department, Land Information Center and National Estates Office as required

The MNREI now invites eligible local and international firms/consortia from the IDB=s member countries to express, before 28 February 2002, their interest in providing the services. A shortlist of three to six firms will be selected and invited to submit technical proposals. Consulting firms seeking to be shortlisted are required to present evidence of their legal, technical and financial capacity as well as relevant experience in providing the range of services required.

It is anticipated that services provision begin in early August 2002. Firms shall be shortlisted based on the following criteria: general background, similar work done, prior experience in the country or similar country, references on completed projects, language proficiency, and utilization of local consultants.

Expressions of interest (two copies) must be delivered to the address below by 1000 hours (local time) on 15 March 2002.

Attn: Project Manager

Land Management Program

Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Industry.

Market Square. Belmopan, Belize.

Tel/Fax: (501-8) 22598, 20736