Request for Expression of Interest in Respect of a General Feasibility Study for the Rubber Outgrowers Project in Southern States (ROPSS) at Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Request for Expression of Interest in Respect of a General Feasibility Study for the Rubber Outgrowers Project in Southern States (ROPSS)
1.0 Introduction
The Federal Government of Nigeria has received a Project Preparatory Grant from the French Development Agency (AFD) and intends to apply part of it to finance the feasibility studies of Rubber Out-Growers Project in Southern States (ROPSS) targeted at developing maximum of 30,000 hectares of rubber outgrowers plantation in four (4) participating States namely Ondo, Ogun, Edo and Delta States. The project is aimed at contributing to the alleviation of rural poverty and to the improvement of livelihood in rural areas. This general feasibility study will be conducted in parallel and in close coordination with another separate study focusing on “Land access/environmental and social assessment”. It will also be guided by the agro-economic proposals and technical options to be provided by the Technical Operator.
2.0 Description of the Project
The proposed project is aimed at promoting the development of rubber value chain within the framework of contractual partnerships between beneficiary farmers and a Technical Operator (RENL).
The Technical Operator is a private firm established in 2006 and whose shareholders are SIPH and the four participating States (Delta State, Edo State, Ogun State and Ondo State). It is currently operating four industrial plantations in the four partner States for a total amount of 15,500 ha and owns an operational rubber processing facility in Araromi in Ondo State. The programme will therefore leverage on existing partnerships between the Technical Operator and the participating States.
An agreement specifying the terms of the mandate of the Technical Operator will be signed with the participating States. In order to achieve the overall objectives of the project, four components are suggested:
- An agricultural credit scheme to enable farmers to have access to quality inputs (planting materials, fertilizers, others and, labour): the Project will provide funds for the development of a maximum of 30,000 hectares within the participating states. Funds will be used for the purchase of fertilizers and other production inputs. Funds allocated under this component will be in the mainly in form of credit to be administered by a commercial bank on the order of the participating State, it is expected that the outgrowers will benefit of one digit interest rate loan in local currency, in line with Government Policy;
- A technical support component for small holders; this technical support consists in helping to get land tenure instrument, and delivering required planting materials, inputs and related extension services to each of the participating outgrowers;
- A rubber sector support component that may consist in a support to the structuration of rubber sector and the extension services to be provided to farmers during the tapping phase;
- A project implementation management component including support for a Federal Project Coordination Unit (FPCU) and State Project Implementation Units (SPIU). At federal level, this component will consist among others in:
- Overall project financial management,
- Follow-up, monitoring and evaluation of the project,
- Project auditing and
- Implementation of the rubber sector support component. At state level, this component will consist in: i) Project financial management ii) Monitoring of project progress; and iii) Selection of the commercial bank that will grant the loans to the selected out growers.
3.0 Scope of the General Feasibility Study to be Undertaken
Specific tasks:
- Description of the Nigerian rubber sector and market;
- Determination of Rubber outgrowers selection criteria;
- Design of the agricultural credit scheme;
- Design a rubber sector support component;
- Development of the project implementation management component of the project;
- Design the Monitoring and Evaluation framework
- Evaluation of the project costs and financing plan
- Conduct of the project financial and economic analysis
- Collection of beneficiary States’ public sector finance and governance indicators
- Demand assessment
- Risks and impacts assessment Coordination responsibilities:
- Communicate with RENL and the Consultant in charge of the land access/environmental and social assessment in the course of its assignment;
- Undertake with RENL a critical review of RENL’s agro-economic proposals and technical options;
- Consolidate the information provided by RENL and the Consultant in charge of the land access/environmental and social assessment in the course of its mission;
- Issue an inception report, consolidated mid-term, draft final and final reports.
- Pre-Requisite
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development now invites Consultants to express their interests in providing the services. Interested Consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (profile, description of similar assignments, experience under similar conditions and environment, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). Consultants may enter into proven partnership to enhance their qualifications.
Study Team:
- This study will be performed by a team of consultants to be led by an international Team Leader who should meet at least all the following skills and expertise: Agro-economist, with University or post-university certificate; at least 15 years of professional experience in designing projects and project implementation arrangements; compulsory and large experience in rubber smallholders projects; experience in financial and economic analysis of projects; experience in Africa and possibly in other rubber producing countries; Experience in AFD funded projects, specially AFD funded projects; proficiency in English.
- This team will also include national consultants with all other relevant These national Consultants will have university or post-university certificates, with at least l0years of professional experience in their field of expertise. Timeframe:
- The total volume needed for this study is estimated to 150 man days of which at least 75 man days should be performed by the international expert.
5.0 Important Information
- Pre-qualification is free.
- The Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development will prepare a short list of about six candidates to be pre-selected on the basis of the expressions of interest received.
- Only those short listed candidates will be sent a Request for Proposals (technical and financial) in respect of this service.
6.0 Submission of Documents
- Two hard copies and a soft copy of completed pre-qualification documents have to be submitted in a sealed envelope and clearly marked “RUBBER OUTGROWERS PROJECT IN SOUTHERN STATES (ROPSS)-GENERALFEASIBILITY STUDY” to the following address;
Office number FDA C112, Tree Crops Unit, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FCDA Abuja
- The name and mailing address of the Applicant Company shall be clearly marked on the envelope(s). All the information requested shall be provided in English language by all applicants.
- Submission must NOT be later than 4pm local time on Friday, 12th December, 2014, Bid documents would be opened on Tuesday, 16th December, 2014
For further information and / or clarification, please contact the following officials:
B.C Ukattah (AD TCI), emyukattah@yahoo.com, +2348035999310
Mohammed Abubakar, mohammedokabubakar@yahoo.com, +2348033119573
Signed
Permanent Secretary,
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
