Implementation of Growth Enhancement Support (GES) for Delivery of Inputs to Nigerian Farmers under ATA

Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
FCDA Secretariat, Area 11, Garki, Abuja

The Federal Government of Nigeria pursuant to its Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) intends to engage additional platform operators for the smooth and efficient implementation of the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme throughout the Country.

2. Accordingly, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development invites qualified, interested and eligible consultants: to tender for the Procurement of the following Consultancy Services under the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme
(GES):
                 

Lot	Additional Item	Location
1	Procurement of technology platform providers for implementation of GES	As indicated in terms of reference.
2	Procurement of additional supply chain managers for implementation of GES	As indicated in terms of reference.

3. General Qualification Criteria and Tender Requirements
In order to be considered, interested companies, which must he Nigerian companies, should submit tenders/hid documents accompanied with the following:

1. Evidence of registration with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and Forms: C07;
2. Provide detailed Company Profile;
3. Detailed evidence of compliance with Pensions Act:
4. Company Audited Accounts for last 3 years:
5. Detailed copy of current Tax Clearance Certificate (2009 -2011) verifiable from Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS):
6. Evidence of Contribution to Industrial Training Fund (ITD)
7. Evidence of VAF Registration & past VAT remittances;
8. Letter of Financial Capability & Banking support;
9. Evidence of payment of non- refundable Tender Fee of N10,000.00 only for the Goods and Works in favour of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;
10. Evidence of 2-3 similar jobs previously executed or currently being executed (including letters of award. completion certificates, payment);
11. Any other document(s) to support the qualification and tender documents as may be contained in the Standard Bidding Documents;

4. Terms of Reference for Technology Platform Providers:

• Provide and operate on c-wallet technology platform that can support the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) programme which will integrate into the core (IFS platform;
• Provide and operate dedicated access channels on SMS/USSD/IVR/, which farmers will use to access the service and communicate in at least 6 Nigerian languages across all networks. This also includes operating farmer help lines.
• Provide and implement training materials regarding how the platform works and how ii will be used in the assigned territory to the provider. In addition to implement a TOT for the parallel organizations that are providing field operations;
• Implement the technologies at redemption centers and coordinate the c-wallet reconciliation and reporting processes.
• Operate the technology in either of the following clusters of states
• Package A; (Kogi, Kwara, Borno, Gombe, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina, Abia, Enugu, Akwalbom, Bayelsa, Ogun States) Package B; Niger, Plateau, Yobe, Kebbi, Zamfara, Ebonyi, Imo, Cross-River, Rivers, Ekiti, Osun States)

5. Specific Qualifications and Requirements of Technology Providers
The GES Programme interfaces with the telecoms, banking and Agricultural sectors, As a result providers of the technology services are expected to:
i. Comply with all Nigeria Communications Commission regulations regarding licensing of operators of various schemes that uses telecom networks in Nigeria. At minimum, providers are expected to have a value added services licenses and wireless application network agreements with mobile networks and a WASPAN operating certificate.

ii. Comply with all Central Bank of Nigeria regulations regarding mobile transactions as per the regulatory framework for mobile transactions in Nigeria. At minimum, providers are expected to be holders of either a provisional or operating mobile payment license issued by the CBN.

iii. Demonstrate evidence of a history and capacity to handle large number of mobile transactions (e.g. 500,000 transactions annually). Providers are expected to show proof of actual transactions they are processing.

iv. Demonstrate evidence of the, capacity to manage risks associated with projects of this nature.

v. Holding of provisional or operating mobile payment license from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN will be of advantage.

6 Terms of Reference for Supply Chain Managers

• Plan, Organize and coordinate the delivery of Agro-inputs to selected sites in participating States 11) and in some cases, value chain
• Conduct surveys to map potential distribution sites and mapping sites, and quantity of inputs from participating suppliers o Local Government Level under GES as well as linking Agro-Dealers to input supply companies.
• Identify and develop redemption points in conjunction with each participating states (11) at L.G.A level.
• Assist suppliers in Agro-dealer selection to staff redemption sites
• Communicate deliver delays/ product shortages to stake holders i.e. FMA&RD, State, Technology service providers, Agro-dealers and suppliers
• Track input supplied viz-a-viz the sales, evaluate suppliers and provide FMASRD performance reviews.
• Train State officials and new suppliers to understand the role of Agro-dealers in private sector led Market i.e. voucher distribution, input sales monitoring and farmers’ sensitization

7. Specific Qualifications and Requirements of Technology Providers

1. Company Field Presence and work experience in the Country: Actual experience in the six geo-political zones handling logistics, trainings and or monitoring:
2. Organizational staffing: Field presence and organizational staffing structure with expertise in logistics: training: monitoring and evaluation, and: agricultural knowledge (i.e. agribusiness. Agri-marketing, agronomy, etc...);
3. Private Sector Advisory Services: Experience in providing consultancy services to private sector companies (.i.e. developing a distribution network, just-in-time delivery, planning. marketing. etc...);
4. Each Company applying should provide CVs of the primary employees working full-time with the organization. Documentation with background on major projects handled over the last 5 years should be included with the application.

8. Collection of Tender Documents
Qualified Companies shall on application collect tender documents from the office of the:
Director, Procurement Department
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Area 11, Carki, Abuja

9. Submission of Tender Documents
The completed tender, Pre-qualification documents must he submitted in three (3) copies each; including one (1) original and two (2) copies Each tender should have two (2) separate sealed envelopes clearly marked “Technical” and “Financial” and both scaled in a third envelope marked with the appropriate project title, Company Name and lot number at the top right hand corner of each of the three envelopes and delivered to the address below

The Secretary;
Ministerial Tenders Board;
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;
Ground Floor, Room 213;
FCDA Secretariat, Area 11, Garki Abuja.

10. Closing Date
12.00 noon Monday 22nd October 2012.

11. Opening of Bids
Technical bids will be opened publicly at 100pm on 22’ October 2012, at the Agriculture Research Council of Nigeria, Mabushi, Abuja after the close of the submission, hut only qualified bidders, relevant NGOs and CSOs will be invited to witness the opening of the financial bids documents.

11. Please Note:
i. Contravention of the conditions in Paragraph 3(i to xv) could lead to disqualification of bid. On no account should bidders combine technical and financial bids in the same envelope.

ii. Late submission of bids will be rejected.

iii. Bidders are free to hid for both lots, hut shall not he offered more than one lots for award of contract;
iv. Any Bid above 100 million Naira must be accompanied with Bid Security of 2% of Bid Price;

v. All the requirements staled in paragraph 3(i - xvi) shall be enclosed in the Technical Envelopes.

Signed:
Dr Ezekiel O. Oyemomi
Permanent Secretary