Request for Proposals
SEAF is seeking a qualified consultant to conduct a third-party midterm evaluation for a U.S. Department of Agriculture (Food for Progress) funded project based in Tanzania. Please see application instructions below and full Terms of Reference here.
*** Please see full Terms of Reference, linked to bottom of this post***
| Project Name: | KASI Agriventures |
| Project Location: | Tanzania |
| Funding Source: | United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food for Progress |
| Implementing Partner: | Small Enterprise Assistance Funds |
| Duration: | June-August 2019 |
Profile of Evaluation Team
The lead evaluator should have the following skills and qualifications:
- Master’s in Business Administration, International development, Statistics, Agribusiness or other related field;
- Experience in evaluating donor-funded international development projects is required;
- At lease 3 years proven experience in conducting similar Evaluation in SMEs and/or agribusiness related programs;
- Strong knowledge of USDA rules and regulations regarding evaluation is preferred;
- Demonstrated ability to ensure gender integration in evaluation design and implementation;
- Excellent computer skills, with necessary knowledge on analytical software like SPSS is required;
- Strong technical and analytical capabilities and demonstrated ability to collect, analyze and interpret data;
- Experience working in multi-cultural settings, including both rural and urban areas;
- Fluency in English and Swahili language;
- Knowledge on SMEs in Tanzania is an added advantage.
How to Apply
A) General Instructions
Please use the following as a guideline to format and submit your proposal:
- Deadline: A completed proposal with all necessary documents is due no later than 5pm (17:00) Eastern Standard Time, on May 28, 2019. Proposals will not be considered if they are incomplete, late and/or contain information other than that which is outlined below.
- Submission Guidelines: SEAF will only accept applications submitted via email. Please submit your applications to Renalda Swai at rswai@seaf.com. Proposal documents should be attachments in this email (see Guidelines on Documents). Please use subject line: Midterm Evaluation Proposal. If you have any questions prior to submission, please contact Renalda Swai at rswai@seaf.com. All answers provided to submitted questions will be included in our “Frequently Asked Questions” page (coming soon).
- Guidelines on Documents: The application should consist of four separate documents. (1) Cover Letter, (2) Proposal Narrative, and (3) Proposal Budget (See link for Budget template here.)
- Language, Font Size & Presentation Style: All proposal documents must be written in English. The font type must be Times New Roman in a 12-point font size. The proposal Narrative must not exceed ten (10) pages. Applications that do not follow these guidelines will not be considered.
- SEAF will only accept one proposal per service provider. If more than one proposal is submitted, all proposals might be excluded.
- SEAF reserves the right to review proposals and make an award decision without discussion with the applicants.
- A person authorized to legally bind the company and/or organization must sign the cover letter of the proposal.
- SEAF is not obligated to make an award or pay for any costs incurred by the applicant in preparing the proposal in response to this RFP.
- Code of Conduct:
- Applicants submitting their Evaluation proposals are committing to working in a professional, objective and impartial manner, while keeping SEAF and KASI’s best interests in mind at all times. Proposals will not be considered if the applicant is considered to have a conflict of interest, including but not limited to:
- Conflicts with other assignments or their own interests, and/or act without consideration for future work; and
- Ownership of and/or involvement in one or more potential project portfolio companies, whether it be full-time or partial.
- SEAF has a zero tolerance policy for entities that have engaged in, or are engaging in, illegal or unethical activities, including but not limited to:
- Any form of fraud, corruption, collusion, and obstruction;
- Having committed, attempted to commit, advocated, facilitated, or participated in terrorist acts, or plan on committing, advocating, facilitating, or participating in such acts as outline works in adherence to the “USDA FAS Terrorist Financing Certification for Food Aid Grant Agreements,”(See http://www.fas.usda.gov/sites/default/files/fas_food_assistance_programs_guidebook.pdf and http://www.un.org/en/terrorism/instruments.shtml);
- Having appeared on the master list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons, which list is maintained by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) (See https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/sdn-list/pages/default.aspx); and
- Is included in any supplementary information concerning prohibited individuals or entities that may be provided by Commodity Credit Corporation, United States Department of Agriculture or the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Sanctions Committee.
- Applicants submitting their Evaluation proposals are committing to working in a professional, objective and impartial manner, while keeping SEAF and KASI’s best interests in mind at all times. Proposals will not be considered if the applicant is considered to have a conflict of interest, including but not limited to:
B) Instruction for Completing Proposal Narrative
The applicant should provide a straightforward, concise delineation of how they intend to carry out and satisfy the requirements of the Midterm Evaluation TOR. The Proposal Narrative should not include contractual price information in order to allow for evaluation of the proposal strictly on its technical merit. The following sections should be include in the Proposal Narrative:
- Technical Approach: The Proposal Narrative should outline how the applicant has experience, understanding and the ability to perform the requirements outlined in the attached TOR.
- Methodologies: The Proposal should outline methodology(ies) to be used in Midterm evaluation including: sampling, data collection, analysis and reporting. This section should include an example of any past consulting project in working with proposed methodologies and results and/or findings of the assessment. This section should be between 3-5 pages in length.
- Company Credentials and Capabilities: The proposal should include:
- General: Include one (1) page on the company’s history, including company location, company size, area(s) of work, and general client project size/location/sector. Please note if the entity has done any relevant evaluation(s) for other USDA Food For Progress (FFPr) Projects, USAID Feed the Future (FtF) projects, and/or other USDA Projects.
- Specialties: An explanation of any specialties that would support the requirements of the Terms of Reference.
- Team Background and Qualifications: Include the backgrounds and proposed roles/responsibilities of the individual(s) employed by the company who would work to address different tasks under Terms of Reference. Resumes for proposed team member(s) should be included as appendices.
- References and Current Work: Provide at least two (2) references from projects that have been completed in the past four (4) years. SEAF will contact references for verification and feedback. A list of ALL current and past contracts and sub-contracts should be included as an Appendix and will not count towards the page limit.
C) Instructions for Completing Proposal Budget
The applicant should follow the format of the Budget Template Sample. Each line item should be carefully considered and reflect in-country prices. The maximum amount should not exceed USD 100,000 but competitive budgets will receive a higher score.
- Prices: All prices should be quoted in US Dollars (USD).
- Salaries: Include a salary of all anticipated job positions for the project Midterm Evaluation. The employees MUST have a direct function to the project. Additional information includes duration of assignment and daily rate.
- Travel and Transportation: Include all anticipated transportation costs, with cost reasoning and anticipated timing of use. Please note, SEAF will only pay for travel/lodging arrangements during data collection exercise.
- Per Diem: In line with SEAF’s travel policy, the U.S. Government per diem rates for lodging and M&IE are treated as the maximum amount for which the consultant may be reimbursed. Any reimbursement and/or payment will be based upon actual SEAF may request copies of receipts, boarding passes, and other supporting documentation as proof of expenses. The U.S. Department of State Standardized Regulations may be accessed through (https://aoprals.state.gov/web920/per_diem.asp).
- Other Costs: Cost and explanation to any additional anticipated costs.
About the Implementing Organization
A) Project Description
KASI Agriventures is a five-year program, which commenced on 1 October 2014 and is expected to end on 31 December 2020. The program is implemented in Tanzania by the Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (SEAF), with financial support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program invests in agribusinesses in three key sectors including (i) poultry feed production, (ii) horticulture processing, and (iii) SME (Small and Medium-Size Enterprise) Lending. The program has established a Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development (CEED), through which SEAF provides technical assistance and training to agribusiness SMEs, including investees, and communities where the program operates. Currently, the program covers Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mbeya, Rukwa and Costal regions of Tanzania.
B) Program Goal
KASI Agriventures’ program goal is to contribute towards achievement of USDA’s Strategic Objectives: (1) Increased Agricultural Productivity and (2) Expanded Trade of Agricultural Products (into domestic, regional, and international markets). Specifically, KASI Agriventures works to strengthen the agricultural sector in Tanzania by adding value to agribusiness investees and their supply chain of smallholder farmers in order to increase agricultural productivity and expand the trade of agricultural products. The project aims to help investees’ to access new markets and increase revenues, which in turn creates jobs in their communities.
C) Program Activities
The following are KASI Agriventures project activities:
- To increase poultry feed production capacity through an investment into small and medium-sized poultry feed producer;
- To increase horticultural processing capacity through an investment into a small and medium-sized fruit, vegetable, and/or spice processing facility;
- To enhance agricultural finance using a lease-to-own lending mechanism through an investment in a finance company that provides equipment leasing finance or working capital to agribusiness SMEs, to increase affordability of farm equipment and to increase availability of working capital loans to farmers;
- To establish a Center for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development (CEED) to provide technical assistance to poultry feed producers, fruit/vegetable/spice processors, and other agribusiness SMEs as well as their suppliers and/or customers;
- To expand trade of agricultural products through a mentorship program between international corporations and fruit/vegetable/spice processor(s), aimed at bringing the fruit/vegetable/spice processor(s) products up to international standards; and thus increase access to international markets.
Criteria for the Review of Applications
SEAF will evaluate all proposals based on the following criteria. The relative weight accorded to each factor is expressed in points, with 100 points possible. Please remember that only complete applications, received by the designated date and time, will be evaluated.
Criteria Rate
Technical Approach:
Clearly articulated objectives in the proposal expressing an
understanding of the evaluation requirements outlined in
the Terms of Reference 30
Well-defined roadmap to achieve the evaluation objectives
Appropriate staffing, timing, sequencing, and resourcing
of the evaluation
Methodologies:
Alignment of methodologies used for Midterm Evaluation
with methodologies used during baseline survey 20
Methodologies effectively address evaluation objectives
and evaluation questions as outlined in the Terms of Reference
Company Credentials and Capabilities: 3 parts
General: company’s history, specifically relevant area(s) of 10
work, and general client project size/location/sector: including
client testimonials
Specialties: An explanation of any specialties that would support 10
the requirements of the Terms of Reference
Team Background and Qualifications: Expertise and relevant 20
qualifications of team members
Budget and Value:
Applicants will be evaluated on the cost efficiency for 10
implementing their proposal
Total 100
Confidentiality
The proposal review and evaluation will be managed confidentially and will only be circulated internally at SEAF and to the members of the evaluation panel. Proposals not selected for the award will also be notified via email. Proposals selected for further consideration will be contacted accordingly.
Links to More Information
Frequently Asked Questions (coming soon)