REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

RFP No.:

SNV/RFP/009/2019

OPENING DATE:

June 11, /2019

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CLOSING DATE:

June 28, 2019

CLOSING TIME:

DESCRIPTION:

5:00 PM, Kigali time

HortInvest second application window Investment and Innovation Fund

FUNDED BY:

Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

IMPLEMENTED BY:

SNV in partnership with IDH, Agriterra, Holland Greentech, and Wageningen University and Research

CURRENCY OF BUDGET:

Rwandan Francs or Euros

POINT OF CONTACT:

rwandaprocurement@snv.org

 

ETHICAL AND BUSINESS CONDUCT REQUIREMENTS 

SNV is committed to integrity in procurement, and only selects suppliers based on objective business criteria such as price and technical merit.

SNV does not tolerate fraud, collusion among offerors, falsified proposals/bids, bribery, or kickbacks. Any firm or individual violating these standards will be disqualified from this procurement, barred from future procurement opportunities, and may be reported to both the Office of the Inspector General.

Employees and agents of SNV are strictly prohibited from asking for or accepting any money, fee, commission, credit, gift, gratuity, object of value or compensation from current or potential vendors or suppliers in exchange for or as a reward for business. Employees and agents engaging in this conduct are subject to termination and will be reported to the Office of the Inspector General. In addition, SNV will inform the Office of the Inspector General of any supplier offers of money, fee, commission, credit, gift, gratuity, object of value, or compensation to obtain business.

Offerors responding to this RFP must include the following as part of the proposal submission:

  • Disclose any close, familial, or financial relationships with SNV or project staff. For example, if an offeror’s cousin is employed by the project, the offeror must state this.
  • Disclose any family or financial relationship with other offerors submitting proposals. For example, if the offeror’s father owns a company that is submitting another proposal, the offeror must state this.
  • Certify that the prices in the offer have been arrived at independently, without any consultation, communication, or agreement with any other offeror or competitor for the purpose of restricting competition.
  • Certify that all information in the proposal and all supporting documentation are authentic and accurate.
  • Certify understanding and agreement to SNV’ prohibitions against fraud, bribery and kickbacks.

Section 1: Instructions to Applicants

The HortInvest project in Rwanda is opening the second window of its Investment and Innovation Fund (IIF) on June 3rd. With this fund, HortInvest is able to co-invest with companies and cooperatives that want to invest in business cases and innovations in fruit and vegetable value chains in Rwanda.

The HortInvest project

The HortInvest project aims to increase farmers’ incomes, grow the relative contribution of the horticultural sector to the economy of Rwanda, and improve the food and nutrition security of households. The project covers six target districts in Rwanda. The project particularly focuses on fruit and vegetable value chains for domestic, regional and international markets. Key target groups are small and medium-sized farmers, farmer cooperatives, and companies.

Section 2: Objectives of the assignment

The IIF is an important instrument for the HortInvest project to support companies and farmer cooperatives to mobilize private sector investment and promote innovations in the production and marketing of fruits and vegetables. These companies and cooperatives are encouraged to develop innovative business cases that are inclusive of small and medium-sized farmers. The nature of the business cases may vary, as all kinds of activities along the value chain may be included. The size of the business cases will also vary. The co-investment by the IIF fund can range between €50,000 and €300,000, up to a total of 50% of the total business case budget. The remainder of the necessary investments will need to be provided by the leading company, cooperative or other private sector partners in the business case.

At this time, companies and cooperatives are invited to send in concept notes to the HortInvest team. The format to develop concept notes can be downloaded here. The deadline for sending in concept notes is June 28th, 2019.

When approved, companies/cooperatives are required to develop a full proposal. The HortInvest team is able to answer questions and provide feedback to companies and cooperatives as they develop their concept notes. Please send your completed concept note to kdevries@snv.org or ask for more information.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their proposals and budgets are received by the Gikuriro Programme in accordance with the instructions, terms, and conditions described in this RFP.  Failure to adhere with instructions described in this RFP may lead to disqualification of an offer from consideration.

This is a Request for Proposals only. Issuance of this RFP does not in any way obligate the project to make an award or pay for costs incurred by potential offerors in the preparation and submission of an offer.

Section 3: Applicants Checklist

Applicants interested in support from the HortInvest IIF should submit a completed concept note to rwandaprocurement@snv.org June 28th, 2019, @5: 00 PM, Kigali time.

The concept note format can be downloaded at http://www.snv.org/update/new-application-window-hortinvest-investment-and-innovation-fund

Section 4: Expected outcomes

Innovation project and business case proposals of good quality that are market driven propositions and that contribute to achieving the objectives of HortInvest may be selected to develop a full proposal. Note however that this is a very competitive process and most concept notes are likely to be rejected.

Section 5: Scope of Work

For activities supported through the HortInvest IIF, development impact and private sector driven activities are meant to be mutually beneficial.

Development impact

  • Activities should benefit farmers in one or more of the six target districts of Karongi, Muhanga, Ngororero, Nyabihu, Rubavu, and Rutsiro
    • for proposed activities targeting long distance export markets, a maximum of 50% of beneficiaries (i.e. workers and/or farmers) can be from other districts in Rwanda
  • There should be a positive impact on horticulture sector development and improved food and nutrition security in the six target districts;
  • Activities should be in or related to one or more fruit (including banana) and vegetable (including potato) value chains;
  • Women and youth (i.e. persons of 30 years old or younger) should explicitly be included to benefit from proposed activities.
  • While activities should have a significant development impact, they should also not displace other activities and only be possible through the support from the IIF (Additionality).

Business Viability

  • Activities should be market driven. Domestic, regional export, and long-distance export target markets are eligible;
  • Activities should be private sector-led (i.e. by a company with a positive equity position and profit/loss account or a registered cooperative). The IIF is meant to attract private investment to the six target districts;
  • Activities should be innovative in terms of adding new technology, PMC (product-market-combinations) or business concept in the six target districts
  • Only activities of which there is a realistic potential for operational and financial feasibility and long term sustainability will be supported;
  • All partners in a proposal should significantly benefit;
  • Where possible, activities led by companies should also benefit cooperatives;
  • HortInvest can co-invest a maximum of 50% of the total budget of the activities.
  • A minimum of 60% of the own contribution should be in money that will be spent on project activities. A maximum of 40% of the own contribution of the applicant can be in-kind.

The IIF may support innovation projects (with a co-investment from the IIF between 10,000 and 50,000 Euro) and business cases (with a co-investment from the IIF between 50,000 and 300,000 Euro).

Section 4: Required skills/experience

The applicant (a company or a cooperative) and its partners (if any) should have relevant experience and the required capacities to successfully implement the proposed activities. This can be explained in the designated space in the concept note format.

Section 5: Duration

This RFP is open until June 28, 2019.

Selection by HortInvest of concept notes that will be invited to develop a full proposal is expected to be finalized by August 19, 2019

Proposed activities can take 6 to 18 months in total and are likely to start early in 2020.

Section 6: Coordination and supervision

The applicant (ie a company or a cooperative) will perform activities in coordination with the HortInvest program team Leader and Business Case Development Advisor

Section 7: Mode of application

All applicants should complete the concept note format and send it to rwandaprocurement@snv.org by Friday, June 28, 2019, at 5:00 PM, Kigali Time.

 Section 8: Similar experience

Should be explained in the designated space in the concept note

Section 9: Selection criteria

Proposals shall be evaluated against the following criteria:

  • The quality of the proposal
  • The relevant experience of the applicant and its partners
  • Impact in the six target districts of HortInvest (Karongi, Muhanga, Ngororero, Nyabihu, Rubavu, and Rutsiro
  • Inclusion of one or more HortInvest focus crops (ie fruits (including banana) and vegetables (including potato)
  • To what extent are the activities private sector driven?
  • To what extent are key horticulture issue addressed?
  • The inclusion of women and youth
  • Nutrition impact
  • The extent to which an included farmer benefits
  • The number of farmers that benefit
  • To what extent are cooperatives are included?
  • To what extent are the proposed activities innovative?
  • To what extent are the activities market driven?
  • Value for co-investment
  • Official documents for the company or cooperative

Criteria

Points

Technical proposal

30

Key competencies

20

Similar experience

20

The indicative budget for the assignment

30

TOTAL

100

HortInvest is not liable for any cost incurred during preparation, submission, or negotiation of the award/contract. All submitted documentation and/or materials shall become and remain the property of HortInvest and shall be handled in confidentiality.

Section 10: Applications

The Applicants must fully meet all requirements of this RFP and are requested to submit their concept note no later than Friday, June 28, 2019 @5:00 PM, Kigali time by email to rwandaprocurement@snv.org.  Subject line: “HortInvest second application window Investment and Innovation Fund’ ’Submissions received after this time will not be opened nor accepted.

Section 11: Eligibility

Applicants that are allowed to submit a concept note are either a company or a cooperative. Other types of organizations (e.g. NGOs, knowledge and research institutes, government institutions, foundations, religious organizations, etc.) can be partners in a concept note, but cannot be the lead applicant or submit a proposal by themselves.

Section 12: Proposals notification of intent to enter into a contract

HortInvest shall inform all applicants whether or not they will be invited to develop a full proposal. The process of negotiating and signing a contract with the successful applicant(s) is expected to take place after November 2019.

Please note that the release of this RFP does not necessitate that an applicant is awarded.

HortInvest reserves the right to:

  • Conduct negotiations with and/or request clarifications from any offeror prior to award.
  • Cancel this RFP at any time.

Section 13: an Anticipated period of performance

Proposed activities can take 6 to 18 months in total and are likely to start early in 2020.

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