Section 1 – General Information

Section 2 – Scope of Procurement

1. Introduction to Offerors:

CNFA is an international agricultural development organization that specializes in the design and implementation of sustainable, enterprise-based agricultural initiatives. CNFA implements the Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Wunguke Activity, a USAID-funded $28M five-year (January 2023-January 2028) initiative with the objective to increase incomes and improve nutritional outcomes by sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and strengthening domestic consumption of and markets for safe, nutritious food products (raw and processed).

The activity applies a market systems development (MSD) approach to facilitate changes in business relationships and behaviors in market systems of key value chains of nutritious food products, from the production to consumption stage and strengthen private-sector engagement through co-investments and partnerships to improve agricultural productivity, markets, farmer incomes, and nutrition. Hinga Wunguke has four complementary Intermediate Results (IRs) referred to as activity components: 1) Sustainably Increase Agricultural Productivity; 2) Access to Finance for Farmers and Agribusinesses Increased, 3) Improve Producers’ Market and Nutrition Outcomes, and 4) Strengthen the Enabling Environment to Foster Market Driven Agriculture.  

Hinga Wunguke is focusing its interventions in the USAID Feed the Future Zone of Influence (ZOI), namely: Bugesera, Burera, Gakenke, Gatsibo, Karongi, Kayonza, Ngoma, Nyabihu, Nyamagabe, Nyamasheke, Ngororero, Rubavu, and Rutsiro. The Activity works with public and private sector actors in rural, urban, and peri-urban areas across the country relevant for a well-functioning food system in the prioritized agricultural value chains (maize, beans (HIB, french beans, dry & shelled beans), soybean, irish potato, peas (dry & green), potato (OFSP), carrot, tomato, mango, avocado, peas, and passion fruit). 

Hinga Wunguke is seeking a firm with experience training and supporting millers to obtain Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (RWANDA FDA) certification for Fortified Whole Grain (FWG) maize flour production (premise, product, and Good Manufacturing Practice-GMP). The selected service provider/firm will accompany a Hinga Wunguke grantee to comply with RWANDA FDA and Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) standards to produce FWG maize flour and obtain required certification.

2. Scope of Work

2.1 Background and Rationale: 

Malnutrition is still prevalent in Rwanda. This is especially true in the following Hinga Wunguke target districts, which have stunting rates of more than 37% of the country's average of 33% (DHS 2019-2020): Nyamasheke, Ngororero, Nyabihu, Rubavu, Rutsiro, Burera and Ngoma. In FY2024, Hinga Wunguke conducted a Consumer Preference and Consumption Study that showed that availability and affordability are the key factors influencing the consumption of targeted nutritious value chains such as maize-fortified products. Subsequently, Hinga Wunguke identified maize miller grantees interested in diversifying their business model into production of a healthier alternative to refined maize: fortified whole grain (FWG) maize.

The identified market actor is a private company established in February 2018, in Gakenke District, the company initially began as a maize trading company. In October 2018, this company underwent a transformative shift and established a maize processing unit, to provide market for farmers in Gakenke district and neighboring districts and reduce post-harvest losses. Moving from refined maize to FWG maize, the company is investing in a new processing line dedicated to this initiatitive and supplying isntitutional and retail buyers in the region. To comply with RWANDA FDA requirements to process and sell FWG on the market, the actor requires capacity building support in sourcing quality maize from farmers, quality testing, manufacturing the FWG, fortifification, and sale to buyer.

2.2 Assignment Objectives:

2.2.1. Overall objective: The selected offeror will accompany one Hinga Wunguke grantee to comply with required RWANDA FDA and RSB standards and obtain certification to produce and sell FWG maize flour on the Rwandan market. Hinga Wunguke is seeking a firm to provide technical assistance and accompaniment support to the grantee throughout the product, premises and GMP certification process.

The sourcing quality maize, production to the distribution cycle through technical assistance (i.g: assessment of company’s needs, preparation, plan development, training and coaching of company’s leaders and staffs ect…). This will involve the development of product, premise and GMP plan, training of specific staff and accompaniement  support to the maize miller to implement the plan and achieve certification. The successful offeror will also provide technical assistance to the miller to respond to and comply with inspection feedback from RWANDA FDA  or RSB if certification is not obtained from the first inspection.  

2.2.2. Specific Objectives: This technical assistance will help the identified miller to comply with and obtain food safety and quality control certification (product, premise, GMP) required to sell FWG maize products in Rwanda. Specifically, the service provider will support the maize miller to achieve the following:

• Premise certification
• Fortified Whole Grain (FWG) maize’s appropriate equipment and product certification (including premix)
• Recruitment of required personnel for FWG production (Operators)
• Training and coaching of leaders and staffs in food safety and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Development of manufacturing process controls and documentation
• Product Storage, packaging and labelling
• S-Mark acquisition processeses
• Supporting the miller to address and comply with RWANDA FDA  or RSF inspection feedback

3. Tasks

• Premise assessment for Rwanda FDA premise registration: The service provider will inspect the new premises to verify its compliance with RWANDA FDA certification requirements. This will include assessment of architectural site plan, process flowchart of the product, analyze qualification of responsible technicians.
• To assess capacity needs, conduct training to actor’s staffs and establish the continuing periodic refreshers: The service provide will develop Food Safety Prerequisites Manual(FSPM), Product validated formulation, quality manual/laboratory manual and offer training of staff on Food safety and Good Manufacturing practices of fortified whole grain maize flour production and develop the continuing period refreshers for the staff.
• To follow-up and coach market actor : The service provider will establish a coaching plan and evaluate/coach the progress of the company in order to comply with GMP in their new processing line of fortified whole grain maize flour.

4. Product registration processes:

• Assist and coach actor in premise license application and obtention
• Assist and coach actor in conducting product laboratory testing (pre-testing) for preparation Rwanda FDA inspection
• Assist and coach in preparation of product laboratory testing by Rwanda FDA
• Assist and coach in registration of food Product certification from Rwanda FDA
• Assist and coach in GMP inspection from  Rwanda FDA
• Assist and coach in GMP licensing from Rwanda FDA
• Accompany the company in all meetings with Rwanda FDA and if needed play the liaison role to ensure the company progress well to meet Rwanda FDA  requirements

5. S-Mark Acquisition Processes from Rwanda Standards Board (RSB)

• Assist and coach actor in preparation of audit of  the production line in accordance with Rwanda Standards Board (RSB)requirements
• Assist in applying  S-Mark certificate

6. Prepare, submit and present Reports to Hinga Wunguke team: The service provider will submit the following reports to both parties:

• Inception report will be presented, submitted and approved by both parties
• Monthly Progress report (reporting template will be submitted by Hinga Wunguke) will be submitted at the end of each month.
• Quarterly Lessons learned and proposed solutions for the next quarter will be presented, submitted and approved by both parties.
• Final report at the end of contract will be presented, submitted and approved by both parties. Hinga Wunguke may invite other nutrition stakeholders in a learning session (i.e: Learning workshop).

2.4 Deliverables and Schedule:

The service provider will contribute to key activities as follows: 

The overall allocation of the work to be done by the service provider (individual or firm) will be managed by the Hinga Wunguke Market Access and Nutrition Development Director.

Section 3 – Evaluation Methodology and Criteria

Evaluation Criteria: CNFA will use a Weighted Trade-Off Analysis, Including Cost Criteria evaluation methodology for this solicitation. Weighted Trade-Off Analysis selects the offeror providing the best overall value to CNFA, considering both financial and technical factors, according to the assigned weights provided in the evaluation criteria. The Chief of Party will assign the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) to assess the offer acceptability in accordance with the following criteria: 

Only best-scored applicant will be contacted for further negotiations.

Section 4 – Offer Format Instructions

The service provider offers in response to this solicitation must comply with the following instructions:

Submissions will be accepted in the following language(s): English.

• Include the following in the footer of the offer document:
• Company name
• Solicitation Number
• Page Numbers
• Offer in the format provided in Annex 1, Parts 1 and 2

Section 5 – Complete Offer

A complete offer must include the following documents:

• Completed Annex 1 – Offer Template
• Trade license (if applicable)
• Background, Work Plan and Budget as outlined in Annex 1, Parts 1 and 2
• CV resume of the proposed Team to work on assignment

Section 6 – CNFA Terms and Conditions

Ethical and Business Conduct: CNFA is committed to integrity in procurement, and only selects offerors based on objective business criteria such as price and technical merit. CNFA does not tolerate fraud, collusion among offerors, falsified proposals/bids, bribery, or kickbacks. Any organization or individual violating these standards will be disqualified from this solicitation, barred from future procurement opportunities, and may be reported to both CNFA’s Client – as applicable – and the appropriate Office of the Inspector General.

Employees and agents of CNFA 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 CNFA’s Client – as applicable – and the appropriate Office of the Inspector General. In addition, CNFA will further inform these agencies of any Offerors’ offers of money, fee, commission, credit, gift, gratuity, object of value or compensation to obtain business. Please contact the designated Point of Contact on the Solicitation Cover Page with any questions or concerns regarding the above information or to report any potential violations. Potential violations may also be reported directly to CNFA’s Fraud Hotline in writing via email at FraudHotline@cnfa.org or you may make an anonymous report by phone, text, or WhatsApp to the CNFA Global Fraud Hotline at 202-991-0943.

Terms and Conditions: This Solicitation is subject to CNFA’s standard terms and conditions. Any resultant award will be governed by these terms and conditions; a copy of the full terms and conditions is available upon request. Please note the following terms and conditions will apply:

• CNFA’s standard payment terms are 30 calendar days after receipt and acceptance of any commodities or deliverables. Payment will only be issued to the entity submitting the offer in response to this Solicitation and identified in the resulting award; payment will not be issued to a third party.
• No commodities or servicesmay be supplied that are manufactured or assembled in, shipped from, transported through, or otherwise involving any of the following countries: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria.
• Any international air or ocean transportation or shipping carried out under any award resulting from this Solicitation must take place on U.S.-flag carriers/vessels unless otherwise approved by CNFA.
• United States law prohibits transactions with, and the provision of resources and support to, individuals and organizations associated with terrorism. The selected offeror under any award resulting from this Solicitation must ensure compliance with these laws.
• United States law prohibits engaging in any activities related to Trafficking in Persons. The selected offeror under any award resulting from this Solicitation must ensure compliance with these laws.
• The title to any goods/services supplied under any award resulting from this Solicitation shall pass to CNFA following delivery and acceptance of the goods by CNFA. The risk of loss, injury, or destruction of the goods shall be borne by the offeror until the title passes to CNFA.
• The offeror is prohibited from providing certain telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as a critical technology as part of any system, produced by the following covered companies, and their subsidiaries and affiliates, in the performance of any resulting award: Huawei Technologies Company; ZTE Corporation; Hytera Communications Corporation; Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company; Dahua Technology Company; and any other company as determined by the United States Government. The offeror certifies it will not provide covered telecommunications equipment or services to CNFA in performance of the award. If covered telecommunications equipment or services are offered, the offeror must disclose it.

Disclaimers:Issuance of this Solicitation does not in any way obligate CNFA, its project(s), or its client(s) to make an award or pay for costs incurred by potential offerors in the preparation and submission of an offer. In addition:

• Offerors are responsible for ensuring their offers are received by CNFA in accordance with the instructions, terms, and conditions described in this Solicitation; failure to adhere to instructions may lead to disqualification.
• CNFA may cancel the Solicitation and not award at any time.
• CNFA may reject any or all responses received.
• Issuance of the Solicitation does not constitute award commitment by CNFA.
• CNFA reserves the right to disqualify any offer based on offeror failure to follow the Solicitation instructions.
• CNFA will not compensate offerors for response to the Solicitation.
• CNFA reserves the right to issue an award based on initial evaluation of offers without further discussion.
• CNFA may negotiate with offerors for their best and final offer and/or request clarifications from any offeror prior to award.
• CNFA reserves the right to increase or decrease its order for quantities or units with the selected offeror.
• CNFA may reissue the Solicitation or issue formal amendments revising the original Solicitation specifications and evaluation criteria before or after receipt of proposals.
• CNFA may modify the specifications without issuing a formal notice to all offerors when the revisions are immaterial to the scope of the Solicitation.
• CNFA may choose to award only part of the activities in the Solicitation, or issue multiple awards, if in the best interest of CNFA.
• CNFA reserves the right to waive minor offer deficiencies that can be corrected prior to award determination to promote competition.
• Offerors understand that CNFA’s Client(s) is not a party to this Solicitation and the offeror agrees that any protest hereunder must be presented – in writing with full explanations – to CNFA for consideration. CNFA’s Client(s) will not consider protests regarding procurements carried out by CNFA. CNFA, at its sole discretion, will make a final decision on any protest for this procurement.

Annex 1 – Application Template

The following cover letter must be completed/signed by the offeror and submitted with the application:

PART 1 – COVER LETTER

To: Aaron Gatabazi, Procurement and Operations Manager

Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Wunguke

Reference: Solicitation no. [enter solicitation number] and

 Procurement Description: [enter as stated on cover page of this RFP]

To Whom It May Concern:

I, the undersigned, hereby provide the attached offer to perform all work required to complete the activities and requirements as described in the above-referenced Solicitation. Please find my offer attached.

I hereby acknowledge and agree to all terms, conditions, special provisions, and instructions included in the above-referenced Solicitation. I further certify that I am eligible to participate in this procurement under the terms of this solicitation and under the applicable regulations.

Furthermore, I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief:

• I have no close, familial, or financial relationships with any CNFA, its project staff members, or its client (as applicable).
• I have no close, familial, or financial relationships with any other offerors submitting proposals in response to the above-referenced Solicitation.
• I am not debarred, suspended, or otherwise considered ineligible for receiving US Government funds. I understand that CNFA will not make any award to an entity that is debarred, suspended, or considered ineligible by the US Government.
• The prices in my offer have been arrived at independently, without any consultation, communication, or agreement with any other offeror or competitor for the purpose of restricting competition.
• All information in my proposal and all supporting documentation is authentic and accurate.
• I understand and agree with CNFA’s prohibitions against fraud, bribery, and kickbacks.
• I understand and agree with CNFA’s prohibitions against funding or associating with individuals or organizations engaged in terrorism or trafficking in persons activities.

I hereby certify that the enclosed representations, certifications, and other statements are accurate, current, and complete: 

 PART 2 – Proposals

Offerors are instructed to complete this form and place it on the Offeror’s letterhead. Once completed, this form serves as the binding proposal in response to this solicitation and is valid for the period identified on the cover page of this Solicitation. Failure to submit the information required herein may lead to disqualification of the offer.

Technical Proposal

1.1. Background

A 2-page overview of the objectives of the assignment should be included in the proposal.

1.2 Prior experience

Maximum 1 page describing the firm’s’ relevant experience conducting assignments of a similar nature in Rwanda.

1.3. Work Plan

A 2-3 pages proposal/work plan should clearly outline how the SOW described in Section 2 will be completed, and a proposal for when the deliverables will be submitted within the period of performance. Please also be sure to answer the below questions:

• If there are the requirements to be provided by the client to facilitate the study.
• If Hinga Wunguke needs to avail the needed presented requirements if there is compelling justification, then please list it here.

The plan should explain the details of each activity, including those mentioned in the work plan for this work area. The schedule and the person responsible for each activity must be clearly indicated.

 1.4 CVs from Key Personnel of the Offeror

The service provider’s Team CVs should be attached as an annex to the proposal and should highlight the offeror’s experience in conducting similar assignment (s) in Rwanda. Demonstrated knowledge and awareness of food processing industry especially  in food fortification sector is required. The offeror is required to demonstrate strong experience in working with private sector especially around food processing and fortification.  

1.5 Total Size of the Submission

In sum, the offeror’s proposal should consist of a document which includes the Cover Letter, a 2-page background section, a 2-page Methodology and Work Plan section, and a 10-page (maximum) CV as an annex, as well as a 1–2-page Cost Proposal with references, as described in this section and in section 2 below.

Cost Proposal

 2.1. Budget

 Within the submission, the firm is instructed to complete the below financial proposal table. The financial proposal should be presented in RWF for Rwandan nationals or currency of country of residence/incorporation for international consultants. CNFA reserves the right to negotiate the proposed budget or request clarification at its discretion.

Budget 

Note: Withholding taxes are not applicable taxes to be added on total amount, they are therefore included in the consultant’s fees.

Deliverables Completion schedule (Please refer to section 2.4): 

References

Offerors are instructed to complete the boxes highlighted in gray: 

Tax Considerations

Offerors are made aware of CNFA’s tax status in Rwanda. CNFA is VAT tax exempt, but Offerors are required to submit both prices before tax and with taxes.  Offers submitted must comply with these tax considerations.

Bank Account

Offerors are instructed to complete boxes highlighted in gray: