Technoserve
Request for Proposal for Study of Informal Markets for Nutritious Foods
1.0 Introduction
TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries.
We are a nonprofit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets.
Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places can generate income, jobs and wealth for their families and communities.
With more than four decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.
For more information visit: www.technoserve.org
2.0 Background
Solutions for African Food Enterprises (SAFE) is a four-year program implemented in Kenya, Malawi and Zambia, through a partnership of USAID, TechnoServe (TNS) and Partners in Food Solutions (PFS).
SAFE seeks to increase competitiveness of the African food processing sector to expand availability of affordable and nutritious foods.
Through Partners in Food Solutions (PFS), Solutions for African Food Enterprises (SAFE) will:
a. Harness the global technical expertise of skilled volunteer employees at General Mills, Cargill, Royal DSM (DSM), and Buhler.
b. Facilitate the transfer of technology and knowledge between these volunteers and their world- class facilities to African processors.
SAFE aims to:
a. Enhance capacity of food processors by providing demand-driven technology transfer and business advisory services through customized capacity building to selected processors, as well as sector-wide training seminars;
b. Create sustainable linkages at the value chain/sector level, including links with new retail markets, food aid buyers and financial institutions;
c. Build the local environment for sustained processor growth through working with local universities and food processor associations;
d. Implement a learning agenda by generating ongoing learning to inform the evidence base for SAFE implementation, as well as other programs.
3.0 General Requirements and Scope of Work
3.1. Objectives
Some experiences with SGBs (Small and Growing Businesses) have shown that despite producing / processing nutritious foods, they prefer selling through the medium sized and large supermarket chains since they are deemed to be more profitable and easy to access.
SAFE high level goal is a reduced poverty and improved nutrition status among the poor and vulnerable households.
However our interventions have not increased the availability and access of nutritious foods, particularly in markets characterized by higher levels of food insecure among the consumer population.
We are thus looking for a firm/individual who has the requisite skills and experience to carry out the assignment of helping us and our supported processors understand how and what it takes to make nutritious foods ( fortified maize flour and blended flours) available and accessible to the vulnerable populations profitably.
3.2. Scope of work
The Consultant / Institution will be expected to:
I. Get a deep understanding of the Kenya maize and blended flours’ informal markets ( shops, kiosks, neighbourhood minimarkets, etc) specifically looking at ;
a. What characterizes these markets
b. The formal and informal supply chains.
c. Identify specific Business Processes for these markets.
d. The business models that supply the lower income groups.
e. The cost builders at this level of markets.
f. Identify any supply/distribution inefficiencies which can be eliminated
b. The formal and informal supply chains.
c. Identify specific Business Processes for these markets.
d. The business models that supply the lower income groups.
e. The cost builders at this level of markets.
f. Identify any supply/distribution inefficiencies which can be eliminated
II. Identify viable business propositions for flour processors targeting the informal markets by answering the following.
a. Is there a business case for supplying products to low end markets in comparison with high end/formal markets?
b. Why do companies avoid these markets and prefer other markets e.g. Supply through supermarket chains?
c. What would attract them to such markets? is it communication?
b. Why do companies avoid these markets and prefer other markets e.g. Supply through supermarket chains?
c. What would attract them to such markets? is it communication?
III. Map markets in specific urban poor areas including; Kibera, Mathare and Mukuru slums, and rural poor areas including lower Eastern and North Rift regions.
IV. Develop generic strategies for market penetration with fortified and blended flours.
V. Conduct a pilot with selected millers as a learning case.
4.0 Requirements
Submitted Proposals should include:
4.1. Statement of Competence
a. Profile of the lead consultant and/or the organization.
b. Profiles of resource persons.
c. Reference of similar studies carried out
b. Profiles of resource persons.
c. Reference of similar studies carried out
4.2. Methodology
a. Primary and secondary research.
b. Pilot with selected millers to test generic strategies.
c. Please note that the study materials/reports/design/ownership/copyright and original source files must remain with TechnoServe and that all work product created as part of this engagement will be the sole property of TechnoServe.
b. Pilot with selected millers to test generic strategies.
c. Please note that the study materials/reports/design/ownership/copyright and original source files must remain with TechnoServe and that all work product created as part of this engagement will be the sole property of TechnoServe.
4.3. Timeline and Financial Proposal
a. Number of days and costs for the entire study.
b. Contain detailed breakdown of cost in Kenya shillings including Professional fees, Administration, logistics, Transport, Accommodation and all applicable taxes
c. Provide requested payment terms and conditions.
b. Contain detailed breakdown of cost in Kenya shillings including Professional fees, Administration, logistics, Transport, Accommodation and all applicable taxes
c. Provide requested payment terms and conditions.
5.0 Project Outcomes
a. Detailed final market study report in Ms word.
b. A generic strategy framework that can be adopted by all processors to reach the low end markets.
c. Presentation of the study findings during a workshop to be attended by stakeholders.
b. A generic strategy framework that can be adopted by all processors to reach the low end markets.
c. Presentation of the study findings during a workshop to be attended by stakeholders.
6.0 Terms and Conditions
a. The Request for Proposal is not and shall not be considered an offer by TechnoServe.
b. All responses must be received on or before the date and time indicated in the RFP. All late responses will be rejected.
c. All unresponsive responses will be rejected.
d. All proposals will be considered binding offers. Prices proposed must be valid for entire period provided by respondent.
e. All awards will be subject to TNS contractual terms and conditions and contingent on the availability of donor funding.
f. TNS reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal or cancel the solicitation process at anytime, and shall have no liability to the proposing organizations submitting proposals for such rejection or cancellation of the request for proposals.
g. TNS reserves the right to accept all or part of the proposal when award is provided.
h. All information provided by TNS in this RFP is offered in good faith. Individual items are subject to change at any time, and all bidders will be provided with notification of any changes.TNS is not responsible or liable for any use of the information submitted by bidders or for any claims asserted therefrom.
i. TNS reserves the right to require any bidder to enter into a non-disclosure agreement.
j. The bidders are solely obligated to pay for any costs, of any kind whatsoever, which may be incurred by bidder or any third parties, in connection with the Response.
All responses and supporting documentation shall become the property of TNS, subject to claims of confidentiality in respect of the response and supporting documentation, which have been clearly marked confidential by the bidder.
7.0 Form / Content of Response
All proposals shall:
a. Be in the English language.
b. Contain detailed cost breakdown in Kenya shillings as indicated in 4.3 b.
c. Include a contact name, email address, and telephone number to facilitate communication between TNS and the submitting organization.
b. Contain detailed cost breakdown in Kenya shillings as indicated in 4.3 b.
c. Include a contact name, email address, and telephone number to facilitate communication between TNS and the submitting organization.
8.0 Criteria for Selection
The evaluation of each response to this RFP will be based on the requirements set out in the solicitation and any addenda thereto.
At the sole discretion of TNS, the top proposals may be selected for follow-up questions or to provide an oral presentation.
The following weighting and points will be assigned to the proposal for evaluation purposes:
|
Expertise of Firm /
Organization / Individual
(20 Marks)
|
This
section should provide details regarding the management structure of the organization, organization capability/resources, and experience of organization/firm/individual, the list of projects/contracts both completed and ongoing in the past four years which are related or similar in nature to the requirement of this assignment, use the format of Table 1 below |
|
Proposed
Methodology, Approach and Implementation Plan–
(40 Marks)
|
This
section should demonstrate the proposers response to the scope of work (SOW) by identifying the specific components proposed, how the requirement shall be addressed, as specified, point by point; providing a detailed description of the essential performance characteristics proposed; demonstrating how the proposed methodology meets the specifications, while ensuring appropriateness of the approach to the local conditions of the small and growing food processors |
|
Key Personnel to
be engaged in the assignment
(20 Marks)
|
This section should include comprehensive
curriculum vitae (CVs), of key personnel (s) that will be assigned to provide the consultancy service, clearly defining the roles and responsibilities.CVs should establish competence and demonstrate qualifications in areas relevant to the SOW.
In
complying with this section, the proposer assures and confirms to TECHNOSERVE that the personnel being nominated are available for the contract on the dates proposed. |
|
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Total Points Available for
Technical – (80 marks)
Quotation Price and Cost – (20
marks)
Grand Total – (100 marks)
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Table 1: Clients Details
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No
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Client
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Name of project
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Contract Value
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Period of activity.
Year and Month |
Types of activities
under taken |
Status or Date
Completed |
Ref Contact Details
(Name, Phone, Email) |
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i
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ii
|
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|
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|
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iii
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
iv
|
|
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v
|
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9.0 Financial Evaluation (20 Marks)
The lowest price costs submitted will be allocated 20 marks.
All other bids will be awarded marks to the following formula: 20 x (Pm/P)
Where:
Pm = the lowest tendered offer
P =the specific supplier offer under consideration
P =the specific supplier offer under consideration
Technoserve reserves the right to award the contract to the organization whose proposal is deemed to be in the best interest of TNS and the Donor.
The Organization with the winning proposal will be notified in writing. Those who were not selected may or may not be notified, at the sole discretion of TNS.
Please note TNS will only consider financial proposal from firms who have technical capacity
10.0 Schedule of Events
a. Questions regarding this RFP may be addressed to kenyaprocurement@tns.org and safe-info@tns.org and must be received no later than 14th January 2016.
Responses to questions will be distributed to all interested parties no later than 18th January 2016.
b. Completed responses to the RFP with title clearly marked as “Study of informal markets for Nutritious foods” should be addressed to the email address below:
kenyaprocurement@tns.org
so as to be received on or before 25th January, 2016 at 12.00 Mid night East Africa Time.
Late submission will not be accepted.
End of RFP