REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Consultancy to facilitate the re-formulation of egg fortified infant porridge flour and provision of product development technical assistance to PANOVITA Ltd

May 2024

Assignment Locations: Rwanda: Ngoma district at PANOVITA Ltd

Assignment Period: June- August 2024

Category: Animal Sourced Foods (ASF) Production

Type of contract: Individual Fixed Price Contract

I. Introduction

Land O'Lakes Venture37 is a nonprofit organization helping communities around the world build economies by strengthening agriculture from farm-to-fork, helping businesses grow, and linking farmers to markets. Since our start in 1981, we have been leveraging nearly 100 years of expertise in crop inputs, agricultural insights, dairy and animal nutrition from our close affiliate, Land O’Lakes, Inc., a farmer-owned agribusiness committed to fulfilling its purpose of feeding human progress.

Land O’Lakes Venture37 is the lead implementer of The USAID funded Feed the Future Rwanda Orora Wihaze in partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Market Share Associates (MSA), The Manoff Group (TMG) now John Snow, Inc. (JSI), and Urunana Development Communications operating to deliver an innovative market systems development approach empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises. The goal of Orora Wihaze is to sustainably increase access to, availability and consumption of Animal Source Foods through the development of a profitable market. Implemented under a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) contract, the project works across 8 districts of Rwanda including Burera, Gakenke, Nyamagabe, Nyamasheke, Rutsiro, Ngororero, Kayonza and Ngoma Districts

II. Background

Rwanda’s agriculture transformation agenda is based on the implementation of the national flagship agriculture strategy known as Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation PSTA 4 sets out ambitious targets to turn around the agriculture sector and transform it into a knowledge-based, value-creating sector that continues to contribute to the national economy and ensures food and nutrition security by 2024. To achieve this, the sector needs to develop new tools, new technologies, and new products with the potential to remove critical production constraints, and to forge new partnerships with regional and international stakeholders in the food systems to reach the goals of PSTA 4.

In Ngoma District, stunted children were at 33.7 % and wasting at 3.6 % among those ones aged between 6-59 months compared to the national level where stunting was at 32.7 % and wasting at 0.7%. Socio-economic factors associated with under nutrition identified were child, gender, water treatment, hand washing practices, and sanitation facility. Feeding practices in infant and young child, feeding the child before six months, breastfeeding, dietary diversity (vegetables, beans, fruits and fishes) are associated with under nutrition among children aged between 6-59 months.

Orora Wihaze partnered with PANOVITA Company, to implement market solutions designed to reduce malnutrition among children by introducing technology to produce egg fortified porridge flour in Ngoma district and beyond. During the initial testing of the first sample of the egg fortified flour by an accredited laboratory, the results indicated that improvements need to be made in order to comply with safety and quality standards in line with WHO standards and conventionally approved formula for infant/children fortified flour.

With this background, Orora Wihaze under its partnership with PANOVITA seeks to hire technical expertise to support the review and standardisation of egg fortified flour for infant porridge formula and production processes.

Objective of the assignment

The objective of this assignment is to provide technical support to PANOVITA in re-formulating and developing processing guidelines for the egg fortified flour for infants and children porridge. This assignment will entail conducting a rapid assessment for PANOVITA processing system, analysing various steps undertaken as part of the baby porridge flour production, developing the new baby porridge formula and related production guidelines, providing guidance during the testing and validation of the new formula with the overall purpose of ensuring that PANOVITA meets the quality and required standards for infant and young children egg fortified porridge formula.

IV. The scope of work

The consultant/firm will undertake the following activities:

• Conducting a rapid assessment for PANOVITA baby porridge processing system.
• Conduct the review of the current formula, assess the gaps, and propose a suitable baby porridge formula.
• Develop guidelines for the preparation of baby porridge formula and specific guidance on quality control and safety standards.
• Provide training to PANOVITA technical production team on appropriate practices and safe handling during the re-formulation process.
• Provide technical guidance on the product packaging and labelling that complies with regulatory requirements.
• Provide coaching to PANOVITA production team in transitioning to the new processing procedure.
• Facilitate PANOVITA in the process of testing readiness for the new product formula.

V. Key Deliverables

The consultant/firm will deliver the following:

1. Inception report – including the assignment methodology and schedule of activities.
2. Company’s revised fortified infant and young children egg fortified porridge flour formula guidelines
3. Procedural guidelines (process and production map) for product development and quality management system
4. Training and coaching reports for PANOVITA leadership and technical team.
5. Final report for the assignment including all relevant materials (the new formula, processing map, etc)

VI. Duration of the assignment

This consultancy will be conducted in a period of two months, starting from June to August 2024.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR QUALIFIED CANDIDATES

Interested consultants or firms are encouraged to send their applications to ProcurementROW@landolakes.com not later than 26^th May 2024 Kigali time. The title of the email must include “Consultancy to facilitate the re-formulation of egg fortified infant porridge flour and provision of product development technical assistance to PANOVITA Ltd

The application email should attach a comprehensive 2-section technical proposal as one (1) document in pdf format: 

• A Proposal with (i) brief description of why the individual/firm considers themself as the most suitable for the assignment, (ii) a detailed clear methodology and assignment execution roadmap on how they will approach and complete the assignment, and (iii) a duly completed Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using consultant’s self-created template or a project-specific template where applicable. 
• The Proposal should also contain (iv) personal CV indicating education background/professional qualifications, all relevant experience, consultant contact details, (3) professional references and (v) a financial proposal.

7.1 Organizational arrangements 

Orora Wihaze will contract consultant/firm who will undertake the assignment as described in this ToR. The consultant/firm will report to: Intervention Portfolio Manager and Orora Wihaze Senior Nutrition Specialist with acquisition plus related remuneration handled by procurement department. The Consultant/firm will spearhead the assignment and will be responsible for the submission of the deliverables as requested. All deliverables submitted by the consultant/firm should be reviewed by the Intervention Portfolio Manager and approved by Senior Nutrition Specialist. 

Qualification and Experience Requirements

• Rwandan consultancy with master’s degree in food microbiology associated with experience in food safety and quality control.
• Proven experience working in food processing, especially in cereal and grain sector.
• Experience in conducting training for capacity building, both theoretical and practical. 
• Have a good understanding and working knowledge of plant management.
• Excellent communication skills in English and Kinyarwanda, both oral and written.

VIII. Intellectual Property

All information pertaining to this service as well as its outputs shall remain the property of PANOVTA Ltd. except for purposes of the assignment, the products shall not be disclosed to the public nor used without written permission of PANOVITA Ltd in agreement Orora Wihaze.

Evaluation criteria

The expert will be evaluated against the following criteria: 

• Quality of proposal 20%
• Experience and proven capabilities 20%
• Individual or Firm expert’s relevant knowledge, qualifications, and skills 40%
• Cost proposal 20%

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