TERMS of REFERENCE International Featured Standard (IFS) Consultancy Nergeta Ltd

Transcription

1 TERMS of REFERENCE International Featured Standard (IFS) Consultancy Nergeta Ltd USAID/Georgia s Restoring Efficiency to Agriculture Production (REAP), is a five- year, $19.5 million program that is designed to increase income and employment in rural areas by delivering firm-level investment and technical assistance to expand the operation of existing smallholder farmers and rural enterprises. The project facilitates the entry of new agribusinesses and input suppliers, including machinery service providers, storage facilities, sorting/grading centers, and small and medium scale processors to improve the availability of high-quality inputs and services, and strengthen markets for agricultural goods and services. Established in 2009, Nergeta is a producer, collector and exporter of high quality kiwi based in Zughdidi, Georgia. A global gap certified producer, Nergeta owns and operates a cold store and pack house and in 2015, received International Featured Standard Certification. Recognized for their high quality kiwi, Nergeta began exporting Georgian kiwifruit to Germany in early REAP and Nergeta Ltd. are seeking an experienced consultant to provide a tailored consultancy that will assist Nergeta in implementing IFS at their pack house through improving their standard operating procedures, training staff in appropriate IFS compliance and developing detailed internal audit procedures and controls. Through the utilization of IFS to effectively and efficiently operate the pack house, Nergeta will demonstrate their commitment to internationally recognized food safety and management standards that will result in increased sales, reduced postharvest losses and greater capacity to buy kiwis from smallholder farmers. Consultants are invited to respond to the Terms of Reference (TOR) in accordance with the sections below. Section I: General Information I.1. Application Deadline I.2. Language and Submission of Offers I.3. Written Questions and Clarifications I.4. Source of Funding and Regulations I.5. Validity Period I.6. Terms and Conditions of the RFP I.7. Content and Format of Proposals I.8. Evaluation and Basis for Award Section II: Scope of Work and technical information II.1. Detailed Scope of Work II.2. Deliverables Schedule

2 Section I. General Information I.I. Application Deadline Applicant s CV, technical approach and budget must be submitted to the attention of Malkhaz Bregadze at mbregadze@georgiareap.org no later than 18:00 (Tbilisi, Georgia) on January 18, Please indicate IFS Consultancy-Nergeta in the subject line. Consultants are responsible for ensuring that their offers are received in accordance with the instructions stated herein. Late offers may be considered at the discretion of CNFA. CNFA cannot guarantee that late offers will be considered. I.2. Language and Submission of Offers Applicant s CV, technical approach, and budget must be submitted electronically and in English only. Please see application form in Section II. I.3. Written Questions and Clarifications All questions or clarifications regarding this TOR must be in writing and submitted to Malkhaz Bregadze at mbregadze@georgiareap.org no later January 11, Questions and requests for clarification, and the responses thereto, will be circulated to all individuals who have submitted questions to this TOR. Only written answers from CNFA will be considered official and carry weight in the subsequent evaluation. Any answers received outside the official channel, whether received verbally or in writing, from employees or representatives of CNFA, the REAP project, Nergeta, or any other party will not be considered official responses regarding this TOR. I.4. Source of Funding and Regulations The selected consultant will receive a contract jointly financed by USAID though REAP and Nergeta. The schedule of payment will be deliverable based and will be negotiated by REAP, Nergeta and the selected consultant. Any contract will be subject to U.S. Government and USAID regulations. I.5. Validity Period Consultant s proposed budget for implementation must remain valid for 90 calendar days after the proposed deadline. I.6. Terms and Conditions of the TOR REAP may reject any or all offers or not award a contract under this TOR if such action is in the best interest of REAP and Nergeta. REAP and Nergeta may also reserve the right to conduct negotiations once a successful consultant is identified, or to make an award without conducting negotiations based solely on the written proposal if it decides it is in its best interest to do so. By submitting a response to this request, consultants understand that USAID is NOT a party to this solicitation. Consultants agree that any protest to this request for proposals must be presented in writing with a full explanation of the consultants concerns to CNFA s REAP project for consideration. USAID will not consider protests made to USAID under USAID-financed projects. At its sole discretion, CNFA will make a final decision on the protest at CNFA Home Office level. I.7. Content and Format of Proposals Offerors are required to submit the following documents to be considered for this TOR:

3 A) Recent curriculum vitae including contact details of three references; B) Completed application form (please see Section II); C) Detailed budget (please see budget template in Section II) I.8. Evaluation and Basis for Selection REAP and Nergeta will jointly review submitted CVs, proposed approach and budget. A consultant will be chosen who represents the best value to REAP and Nergeta. I.9. Period of Performance This assignment described in the scope of work is envisioned to begin in February/March and to be completed by the end of April. Start and completion dates will be finalized by REAP, Nergeta and the selected consultant.

4 Section II. Scope of Work and Technical Information II.1. Scope of Work Background: Established in 2009, Nergeta operates a 20+ hectare global certified kiwifruit orchard. In addition, Nergeta owns a pack house in close proximity to the orchard and a cold store 3 kms away. Nergeta currently employs approximately 20 workers, with additional help hired according to seasonal needs. Daily operations are run by an experienced, English speaking manager, with experience implementing global gap certification. Nergeta is currently recruiting for an internal compliance manager, who will be hired prior to the beginning of the consultancy. Nergeta s long term business strategy involves the increased production, collection and export of high quality kiwifruit to mainstream European retailers. In 2015, Nergeta successfully obtained International Featured Standard Certification and began exporting kiwifruit to the EU. Nergeta now seeks to streamline the integration of IFS throughout their postharvest processes, which will result in increased, sales, reduced postharvest losses and greater capacity to buy kiwis from smallholder farmers. Objectives: The objective of this consultancy is to provide a tailored technical consultancy to Nergeta that will improve their ability to operate their packinghouse in accordance with IFS certification. The selected consultant will be responsible for analyzing and improving upon Nergeta s existing standard operating procedures (SOPs), developing IFS manuals, and training Nergeta s compliance manager in record keeping, internal audit and HACCP. Principle Duties and Responsibilities: The selected consultant will work closely with Nergeta s compliance manager and management team to complete the following tasks: Gap analysis of Nergeta s current operations against IFS accepted practices. o The consultant will analyze and evaluate Nergeta s existing processes and practices against IFS accepted standards. This gap analysis will serve as a baseline assessment tool and will help identify areas for improvement. Provide detailed recommendations on improvement of Nergeta s existing SOPs. o The consultant, in active collaboration with Nergeta s management and staff, will develop detailed recommendations for an action plan for Nergeta to improve their food safety and processing procedures to operate in full compliance of IFS. These recommendations are likely to cover senior management responsibility; quality management system and food safety; resources management; the process of planning and production; measurements, analysis, improvement; food defense and external inspections. Advise Nergeta on additional SOPs. o The consultant will work with Nergeta s compliance manager and management team to add new SOPs to Nergeta s operations that will improve their efficiencies and compliance with IFS. Staff training.

5 o The consultant will provide on the job training to Nergeta s compliance manager and management team in SOP creation, record creating and keeping, HACCP systems and internal audit. Provide draft IFS manual. o The consultant will provide a draft manual that can be used for Nergeta s operations to meet and continue to evolve with IFS standards. Meetings Related to Conducting the Work: The consultant shall meet, but is not limited to, the following individuals or groups of individuals in order to fully understand and perform the work specified under this consultancy: Hans Gutbrod, Cofounder & Chair Konstantine Vekua, Co-Founder & Director Giga Japava, Cofounder & Operations Director TBD, Nergeta Compliance Manager David Shervashidze, REAP Technical Assistance Team Lead Malkhaz Bregadze, REAP Agriculture Technology Specialist Deliverables: In accordance with the consultancy, the consultant shall present the following deliverables: Trip Report containing overall findings, recommendations and additional SOPs for Nergeta; and, Trained compliance manager in SOP creation, record creating and keeping, HACCP systems and internal audit

6 II.2. Application Form In addition to submitting a recent CV and three references, applicants must complete the following application form and budget template (found in II.3) Application Form Consultant Name: Contact Information (mailing address, telephone, ): Contact person for this action (name, position, mobile no, ): Total Amount Requested (in USD, VAT excluded): Partner(s) (if applicable): Duration of the project: Summary of Proposed Approach (Maximum Word Limit: 500 Words):

7 II.3 Budget Instructions Applicants must submit a budget for the project (in USD) that reflects all costs associated with fulfilling the scope of work. Applicants budgets should be broken out by line item. A budget template may be found below. Budget Template Description Units Unit Rate (USD) # of Units Total Cost (USD) I. Gross Labor Costs Day 0.00 II. International Travel Costs 1 Airfare Ticket 0.00 III. Accommodation Day 0.00 IV. Meals and Incidentals Day 0.00 V. Miscellaneous TOTAL BUDGET REQUEST REAP and Nergeta will arrange for in-country transportation of the selected consultant.