Request for Proposal – Commodity Monetization Services

 

In advance of a potential new funding opportunity, Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (“SEAF”) is seeking a qualified monetization agent to carry out market analysis and develop and execute a monetization strategy for a U.S. Department of Agriculture (Food for Progress) funded project.

 

Project Name:	Proposal for and Implementation of Commodity Monetization Services
Organization:	Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (SEAF)

 

Introduction

SEAF is a global fund management company headquartered in Washington, DC that invests in small and medium-sized enterprises in emerging and frontier markets. SEAF seeks financial returns as well as impact on economic and social development and provides technical assistance to improve the performance of the enterprises. SEAF has more than 30 years of experience with 40 funds in over 30 countries. SEAF also supports 13 Centers for Entrepreneurship and Development (CEED) around the world (www.ceed-global.org), providing training, mentoring, professional networks and global access to entrepreneur-run businesses. For more about SEAF, see www.seaf.com.

 

Background

SEAF will pursue a USDA FY 2020 Food for Progress award for the country of Colombia. SEAF seeks to hire a monetization agent (sales agent) to complete a market analysis and a commodity monetization plan, as well as execution of the monetization plan. SEAF will use the monetization strategy developed in its proposal for FY 2020 Food for Progress award. If SEAF’s proposal is selected, the monetization agent selected under this RFP will complete the remainder of the scope of work by executing the monetization plan.

For more details on the project, please review the Notice of Funding Opportunity from USDA here.

 

Scope of Work and Deliverables

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*Please Note: Deliverable 2 is contingent upon USDA selecting SEAF for the FY2020 Food for Progress award.

 

Criteria for Selection

Evaluation of the RFP will be based on the following weights and points:

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Submission Guidelines

Please use the following as a guideline to format and submit your proposal:

1)  Deadlines:

1. 2020. Questions: Please submit any questions regarding this RFP to procurement@seaf.com no later than 5pm (17:00) Eastern Daylight Time on June 3, 2020.
   2021. Completed Proposal: A completed proposal with all necessary documents is due no later than 5pm (17:00) Eastern Daylight Time on June 12, 2020. Proposals will not be considered if they are incomplete, late and/or contain information other than that which is outlined below.

 

2) Proposal Submission Email Guidelines: SEAF will only accept applications submitted via email. Please submit your applications to procurement@seaf.com. Proposal documents should be attachments in the email (see Guidelines on Documents). Please use the subject line: USDA FFP FY2020 Monetization Agent Proposal.

 

3) Guidelines on Documents: The application should consist of four separate documents. (1) Cover Letter, (2) Proposal Narrative, and (3) Proposal Budget.

 

4) 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.

 

Terms and Conditions

• 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:
  1. Applicants submitting their proposals are committing to working in a professional, objective and impartial manner, while keeping SEAF 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 portfolio companies, whether it be full-time or partial.
  2. 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.