Request for Proposals (RfP)

Certification of agricultural products in the value chains of cabbage and green beans in Vanduzi, as well as maize, pigeon pea, and soybeans in Báruè, along with organic compost promoted by the SUSTAIN Pro Grant Scheme

Purpose: To ensure that the agricultural products mentioned obtain LOCALG.A.P. certification and connect farmers to markets that recognize and value this certification.

Request by IUCN Mozambique Country Office (MCO), Forest and Biodiversity Program, BIODEV 2023 phase II

Project reference: P03950 ,

RfP Reference: IUCN-24-08- PA04570-2

Welcome to this Procurement by IUCN. You are hereby invited to submit a Proposal. Please read the information and instructions carefully because non-compliance with the instructions may result in disqualification of your Proposal from this Procurement.

1. REǪUIREMENTS

   1. A detailed description of the services and/or goods to be provided can be found in Attachment 1.

2. CONTACT DETAILS

   1. During the course of this procurement, i.e. from the publication of this RfP to the award of a contract, you may not discuss this procurement with any IUCN employee or representative other than the following contact. You must address all correspondence and questions to the contact, including your Proposal.

3. PROCUREMENT TIMETABLE

   1. This timetable is indicative and may be changed by IUCN at any time. If IUCN decides that changes to any of the deadlines are necessary, we will publish this on our website and contact you directly if you have indicated your interest in this procurement (see Section 3.2).

09 April 2025 – Publication of the Request for Proposals

14 April 2025 – Deadline for expressions of interest

16 April 2025 – Deadline for submission of questions

18 April 2025 – Planned publication of responses to questions

25 April 2025 – Deadline for submission of Proposals to IUCN (Submission Deadline)

29 April 2025 – Clarification of Proposals

09 May 2025 – Planned date forcontract award

31 November 2025 – Expected contract startdate

1. Please email the IUCN contact to express your interest in submitting a Proposal by the deadline stated above. This will help IUCN to keep you updated regarding the procurement.

2. COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL

   1. Your Proposal must consist of the following four separate documents:
      • Signed Declaration of Undertaking (see Attachment 2)
      • Pre-Qualification Information (see Section 4.3 below)
      • Technical Proposal (see Section 4.4 below)
      • Financial Proposal (see Section 4.5 below)

Proposals must be prepared in English.

1. Your Proposal must be submitted by email to the IUCN Contact (see Section 2). The subject heading of the email shall be [RfP Reference – bidder name]. The bidder’s name is the name of the company/organization on whose behalf you are submitting the Proposal, or your own surname if you are bidding as a self-employed consultant. Your Proposal must be submitted in PDF format. You may submit multiple emails suitably annotated, e.g. Email 1 of 3, if attached files are too large to suit a single email transmission. You may not submit your Proposal by uploading it to a file- sharing tool.

IMPORTANT: Submitted documents must be password-protected so that they cannot be opened and read before the submission deadline. Please use the same password for all submitted documents. After the deadline has passed and within 12 hours, please send the password to the IUCN Contact. This will ensure a secure bid submission and opening process. Please DO NOT email the password before the deadline for Proposal submission.

1. Pre-Qualification Criteria

IUCN will use the following Pre-Qualification Criteria to determine whether you have the capacity to provide the required goods and/or services to IUCN. Please provide the necessary information in a single, separate document.

Pre-Qualification Criteria

1. 3 relevant references ofclients similar toIUCN / similar work

**2.**Confirm that you have all the necessary legal registrations to perform thework

3. State yourannual turnover for each of the past 3 years

1. Technical Proposal

The Technical Proposal must address each of the criteria stated below explicitly and separately, quoting the relevant criteria reference number (left-hand column).

Proposals in any other format will significantly increase the time it takes to evaluate, and such

Proposals may therefore be rejected at IUCN’s discretion.

Where CVs are requested, these must be of the individuals who will actually carry out the work

specified. The individuals you put forward may only be substituted with IUCN’s approval.

IUCN will evaluate Technical Proposals with regards to each of the following criteria and their relative importance:

Total Marks on Technical Evaluation is 100

1. Methodology and work plan

a)Clarity on the completeness of the tender (10%)

b)Clarity on the proposed approach, method and workplan (15%)

Relative weight – 25%

2.Qualifications and Experience of proposed consultants [If applicable add separate sub-criteria of specialisms required]

• Hold Certifications, Credentials, and be a member of Global GAP: Training and certifications in agricultural auditing, quality, and food safety. (5%)
• Proven Track Record: Experience in implementing agricultural certifications, preferably with small producers and cooperatives in the Zambeze valley region. (10%)
• Training and Capacity Building: Ability to develop and deliver training programs for farmers and agricultural technicians. (10%)
• Market Access Support: Experience in connecting certified producers to markets that require LOCALG.A.P. certification at National and regional (SADC) level (10%)

Relative Weight – 35%

3.Skills

• In-depth Knowledge of LOCALG.A.P.: Practical experience with the certification requirements and processes. (5%r)
• Good Agricultural Practices (GAP): Familiarity with international standards for sustainability and quality in agricultural production. (5%)
• Auditing and Compliance: Ability to conduct internal audits, prepare producers for external audits, and ensure compliance with established standards. (5%)
• Agricultural Value Chains: Understanding of production, processing, and commercialization of agricultural products, especially in sustainable contexts. (10%)

Relative Weight – 25%

4.Trackrecord

a) Quality and relevance of references provided (10) (Provide at least 3 references)

b) Proven history of meeting deadlines (5)

Relative Weight 15 %

1. Financial Proposal

   1. The Financial Proposal must be a fixed and firm price for the provision of the goods/services stated in the RfP in their entirety.

      1. Prices include all costs
      2. Applicable Goods and Services Taxes
      3. Currency of proposed rates and prices
      4. Breakdown of rates and prices

      Submitted rates and prices are deemed to include all costs, insurances, taxes (except VAT, see below), fees, expenses, liabilities, obligations, risk and other things necessary for the performance of the Terms of Reference or Specification of Requirements. IUCN will not accept charges beyond those clearly stated in the Financial Proposal. This includes applicable withholding taxes and similar. It is your responsibility to determine whether such taxes apply to your organization and to include them in your Financial Proposal.

      Proposal rates and prices shall be exclusive of Value Added Tax.

      All rates and prices submitted by Proposers shall be in [USD] currency.

      For information only, the price needs to be broken down as follows:

Description Quantity Unit Price Total Price

1.Detailed breakdown of professional fee ? ? ?

2.Logistical costs ? ? ?

TOTAL Costs (Detailed breakdown of professional fee and logistical costs)

1. Additional information not requested by IUCN should not be included in your Proposal and will not be considered in the evaluation.
   1. Your Proposal must remain valid and capable of acceptance by IUCN for a period of 90 calendar days following the submission deadline.
   2. Withdrawals and Changes

You may freely withdraw or change your Proposal at any time prior to the submission deadline by written notice to the IUCN Contact. However, in order to reduce the risk of fraud, no changes or withdrawals will be accepted after the submission deadline.

1. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

   1. Completeness

IUCN will firstly check your Proposal for completeness. Incomplete Proposals will not be considered further.

1. Pre-Ǫualification Criteria

Only Proposals that meet all of the pre-qualification criteria will be evaluated.

1. Technical Evaluation

   1. Scoring Method

      Your Proposal will be assigned a score from 0 to 10 for each of the technical evaluation criteria, such that ‘0’ is low and ‘10’ is high.

      1. Minimum Ǫuality Thresholds

Proposals that receive a score of ‘0’ for any of the criteria will not be considered further.

1. Technical Score

   Your score for each technical evaluation criterion will be multiplied with the respective relative weight (see Section 4.4) and these weighted scores added together to give your Proposal’s overall technical score.

   1. Financial Evaluation and Financial Scores

The financial evaluation will be based upon the full total price you submit. Your Financial Proposal will receive a score calculated by dividing the lowest Financial Proposal that has passed the minimum quality thresholds (see Section 5.3.2) by the total price of your Financial Proposal.

Thus, for example, if your Financial Proposal is for a total of CHF 100 and the lowest Financial Proposal is CHF 80, you will receive a financial score of 80/100 = 80%.

1. Total Score

Your Proposal’s total score will be calculated as the weighted sum of your technical score and your financial score.

The relative weights will be:

Technical: 70%

Financial: 30%

Thus, for example, if your technical score is 83% and your financial score is 77%, you will receive a total score of 83 * 70% + 77 * 30% = 58.1% + 23.1% = 81.2%.

Subject to the requirements in Sections 4 and 7, IUCN will award the contract to the bidder whose Proposal achieves the highest total score.

1. EXPLANATION OF PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE

   1. IUCN is using the Open Procedure for this procurement. This means that the contracting opportunity is published on IUCN’s website and open to all interested parties to take part, subject to the conditions in Section 7 below.
   2. You are welcome to ask questions or seek clarification regarding this procurement. Please email the IUCN Contact (see Section 2), taking note of the deadline for submission of questions in Section 3.1.
   3. All Proposals must be received by the submission deadline in Section 3.1 above. Late Proposals will not be considered. All Proposals received by the submission deadline will be evaluated by a team of evaluators in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in this RfP. No other criteria will be used to evaluate Proposals. The contract will be awarded to the bidder whose Proposal received the highest Total Score. IUCN does, however, reserve the right to cancel the procurement and not award a contract at all.
   4. IUCN will contact the bidder with the highest-scoring Proposal to finalise the contract. We will contact unsuccessful bidders after the contract has been awarded and provide detailed feedback. The timetable in Section 3.1 gives an estimate of when we expect to have completed the contract award, but this date may change depending on how long the evaluation of Proposals takes.

2. CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THIS PROCUREMENT

   1. To participate in this procurement, you are required to submit a Proposal, which fully complies with the instructions in this RfP and the Attachments.
      1. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have submitted a complete and fully compliant Proposal.
      2. Any incomplete or incorrectly completed Proposal submission may be deemed non- compliant, and as a result you may be unable to proceed further in the procurement process.
      3. IUCN will query any obvious clerical errors in your Proposal and may, at IUCN’s sole discretion, allow you to correct these, but only if doing so could not be perceived as giving you an unfair advantage.
   2. In order to participate in this procurement, you must meet the following conditions:
      • Free of conflicts of interest
      • Registered on the relevant professional or trade register of the country in which you are established (or resident, if self-employed)
      • In full compliance with your obligations relating to payment of social security contributions and of all applicable taxes
      • Not been convicted of failing to comply with environmental regulatory requirements or other legal requirements relating to sustainability and environmental protection
      • Not bankrupt or being wound up
      • Never been guilty of an offence concerning your professional conduct
      • Not involved in fraud, corruption, a criminal organization, money laundering, terrorism, or any other illegal activity.

3. You must complete and sign the Declaration of Undertaking (see Attachment 2).

   1. If you are participating in this procurement as a member of a joint venture, or are using sub- contractors, submit a separate Declaration of Undertaking for each member of the joint venture and sub-contractor, and be clear in your Proposal which parts of the goods/services are provided by each partner or sub-contractor.
   2. Each bidder shall submit only one Proposal, either individually or as a partner in a joint venture. In case of joint venture, one company shall not be allowed to participate in two different joint ventures in the same procurement nor shall a company be allowed to submit a Proposal both on its behalf and as part of a joint venture for the same procurement. A bidder who submits or participates in more than one Proposal (other than as a subcontractor or in cases of alternatives that have been permitted or requested) shall cause all the Proposals with the bidder’s participation to be disqualified.
   3. By taking part in this procurement, you accept the conditions set out in this RfP, including the following:
      • It is unacceptable to give or offer any gift or consideration to an employee or other representative of IUCN as a reward or inducement in relation to the awarding of a contract. Such action will give IUCN the right to exclude you from this and any future procurements, and to terminate any contract that may have been signed with you.
      • Any attempt to obtain information from an employee or other representative of IUCN concerning another bidder will result in disqualification.
      • Any price fixing or collusion with other bidders in relation to this procurement shall give IUCN the right to exclude you and any other involved bidder(s) from this and any future procurements and may constitute a criminal offence.

4. CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION

   1. IUCN follows the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The information you submit to IUCN as part of this procurement will be treated as confidential and shared only as required to evaluate your Proposal in line with the procedure explained in this RfP, and for the maintenance of a clear audit trail. For audit purposes, IUCN is required to retain your Proposal in its entirety for 10 years after then end of the resulting contract and make this available to internal and external auditors and donors as and when requested.
   2. In the Declaration of Undertaking (Attachment 2) you need to give IUCN express permission to use the information you submit in this way, including personal data that forms part of your Proposal. Where you include personal data of your employees (e.g. CVs) in your Proposal, you need to have written permission from those individuals to share this information with IUCN, and for IUCN to use this information as indicated in 8.1. Without these permissions, IUCN will not be able to consider your Proposal.

5. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

If you have a complaint or concern regarding the propriety of how a competitive process is or has been executed, then please contact procurement@iucn.org. Such complaints or concerns will be treated as confidential and are not considered in breach of the above restrictions on communication (Section 2.1).

1. CONTRACT

The contract will be based on IUCN’s template in Attachment 3, the terms of which are not negotiable. They may, however, be amended by IUCN to reflect particular requirements from the donor funding this particular procurement

1. ABOUT IUCN

IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organizations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organizations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.

Headquartered in Switzerland, IUCN Secretariat comprises around 1,000 staff with offices in more than 50 countries.

Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,300 Member organizations and some 10,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.

IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous people’s organizations and others can

work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.

Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.

www.iucn.org https://twitter.com/IUCN/

1. ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1 Specification of Requirements / Terms of Reference

Title: certification of agricultural products in the value chains of cabbage and green beans in Vanduzi, as well as maize, pigeon pea, and soybeans in Báruè, along with organic compost promoted by the SUSTAIN Pro Grant Scheme

Objective of the Consultancy

This consultancy has the following objective:

1. To ensure that the mentioned agricultural products obtain LOCALG.A.P. certification and connect farmers to markets that recognize and value this certification.

Background

Project Reference: P03950

Donor reference: DR03950.02

About IUCN

IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.

Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 15,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.

IUCN provides a neutral space in which diverse stakeholders including governments, NGOs, scientists, businesses, local communities, indigenous people organisations and others can work together to forge and implement solutions to environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development.

Working with many partners and supporters, IUCN implements a large and diverse portfolio of conservation projects worldwide. Combining the latest science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, these projects work to reverse habitat loss, restore ecosystems and improve people’s well-being.

www.iucn.org

https://twitter.com/IUCN/

About the Project

SUSTAIN is based on the premise that learning and employing the right types of financial and technical incentives for integrated landscape management (ILM) and the delivery of nature-based solutions (NbS) on the ground, effectively contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation enhancing resilience of economies, people and nature. SUSTAIN’s vision is that ILM can play a critical role in halting biodiversity loss and reversing ecosystem degradation while contributing to sustainable and inclusive economic growth and equitable sharing of the benefits of ecosystems.

To deliver this vision, SUSTAIN will achieve the following outcomes:

• Enhanced sustainable and inclusive governance and management of natural resources;
• Integrated landscape management is implemented, and innovative nature-based solutions are scaled up to generate inclusive and sustainable business and livelihood opportunities, restoring land health; and
• Innovative and inclusive investment in healthy ecosystem, sustainable agribusinesses and value chains is catalysed. Promote partnerships for implement inclusive investment in healthy ecosystem, sustainable agribusinesses and value chains is catalysed

SUSTAIN Pro aims to catalyse investments in sustainable landscapes, promoting the transition from value chains that degrade ecosystems to models that integrate sustainability and sound natural resource management. To achieve this, it is essential to strengthen the capacity of economic actors in developing viable business plans where Nature-based Solutions (NbS) become economically attractive. The growing adoption of NbS and Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) will be driven by enhanced technical capacity, an enabling policy environment, and the availability of solid business models. This will facilitate increased public, private, and blended financing for NbS, ensuring a continuous flow of resources for ecosystem management and restoration.

In this context, IUCN intends to contract a consultancy firm to certify agricultural products within the value chains of cabbage and green beans in Vanduzi, as well as maize, Boer beans, and soya in Báruè, along with organic compost promoted under the SUSTAIN Pro grant scheme.

Approach and expected results

Expected results

Assessment

Conduct an initial assessment to evaluate the level of compliance of producers with LOCALG.A.P. requirements.

Approach and format

The consultant shall adopt a participatory approach, involving producers, agricultural technicians, and other key stakeholders. The methodology will include:

• Field visits for diagnosis and monitoring of the implementation of LOCALG.A.P. requirements.
• Training sessions and workshops on certification criteria and good agricultural practices.
• Mentorship and continuous technical support to ensure compliance with standards.
• Mediation with local markets, fostering direct connections between producers and buyers.

Coherence

1. Develop an action plan to ensure that producers meet the certification criteria.

Training

1. Train producers and technicians on the benefits, requirements, and processes of LOCALG.A.P.

Assistance and Empowerment

1. Support producers in implementing good agricultural practices and completing the required documentation.
2. Coordinate internal audits and provide support in preparation for the external audit

Synergies and partnerships

1. Facilitate the connection of certified producers with local and regional markets by identifying potential buyers and commercial partnerships

Scope & responsibility

This section presents the facilitation objectives and the facilitator’s responsibilities to prepare and conduct 2 local workshops.

The consulting firm will be responsible for supporting agricultural producers in achieving LOCALG.A.P. certification by providing technical guidance, capacity building, and facilitating market linkages. The scope of work includes, but is not limited to:

1. Assessment & Planning
   • Conduct an initial diagnosis to evaluate producers’ current level of compliance with LOCALG.A.P. requirements.
   • Develop a tailored action plan to address gaps and ensure alignment with certification standards.
2. Capacity Building & Technical Support
   • Organize and deliver training sessions and workshops for producers and agricultural technicians on certification criteria, good agricultural practices, and documentation requirements.
   • Provide continuous mentorship and technical assistance to facilitate the adoption of best practices.
   • Guide producers in implementing record-keeping systems and maintaining compliance with certification norms.
3. Audit Preparation & Certification Readiness
   • Support producers in preparing for internal and external audits, ensuring all necessary documentation and practices are in place.
   • Conduct internal evaluations to assess readiness and recommend corrective actions.
4. Market Linkages & Business Development
   • Facilitate connections between certified producers and local, regional, and international markets.
   • Identify potential buyers and commercial partnerships to enhance market access for certified products.
5. Reporting & Monitoring
   • Provide periodic progress reports detailing achievements, challenges, and recommendations.
   • Ensure proper documentation of the certification process and impact assessment of the intervention.

The consulting firm will work in close coordination with project stakeholders and adopt a participatory approach to ensure sustainable improvements in certification compliance and market integration**.**

Duration of the Assignment

20 days from April 2025 to October 2025

Deliverables and Activities

The consultant will provide the following deliverables and carry out the following activities:

Deliverable/Activity

Inception report

Description

1. Methodology and Project Concept.
2. The approach the approach to be followed and chronogram

Estimated working days for completion – 2 days

Deadline- 30 April 2025

2.Initial diagnostic report on producers’ compliance with LOCALG.A.P.

a) Description of production story lines, main potential and gaps to be addressed for local GAP certification

Estimated working days – 3 days

Deadline -15 May 2025

3.Training modules for producers and technicians.

Description

Submit training modules and perform trainings for producers and technicians

Estimated working days – 5 days

Deadline – 15 June 2025

4.Report on internal audits and preparation for external audit.

Description

Perform of the internal audit and present the report

Estimated working days for completion- 5 days

Deadline – 20 April 2025

5. Market access plan, including identification of buyers and commercialization strategies.

Description

Perform market access and link the producers with this market.

Estimated working days for completion – 3 days

Deadline – 15 July 2025

6.Final report of the certification process

Description

Elaborate a final report describing all the process

Estimated working days for completion – 2 days

Deadline – 15th August 2025

Payment Schedule

The Timetable below summarises the chronological order of deliverables and indicates milestones at which IUCN will pay the Consultant.

Deliverable

Milestone payment

Submitted and approval of the inception report by 30 April 2025 – 10%

Detailed action plan to achieve certification and Training modules for producers and technicians. 15th May 2025 – 30%

Report on internal audits and preparation for external audit.15th June 2025 – 10%

Market access plan, including identification of buyers and commercialization strategies. 15th June 2025 – 10%

Market access plan, including identification of buyers and commercialization strategies 30th June 2025 – 40%

Skills and Experience

• The consultant must have the following skills, education and experience as a minimum:

Experience:

• Hold Certifications, Credentials, and be a member of Global GAP
• Proven Track Record: Experience in implementing agricultural certifications, preferably with small producers and cooperatives in the Zambeze valley region.
• Training and Capacity Building: Ability to develop and deliver training programs for farmers and agricultural technicians.
• Market Access Support: Experience in connecting certified producers to markets that require LOCALG.A.P. certification at National and regional (SADC) level

Skills:

• In-depth Knowledge of LOCALG.A.P.: Practical experience with the certification requirements and processes.
• Good Agricultural Practices (GAP): Familiarity with international standards for sustainability and quality in agricultural production.
• Auditing and Compliance: Ability to conduct internal audits, prepare producers for external audits, and ensure compliance with established standards.
• Agricultural Value Chains: Understanding of production, processing, and commercialization of agricultural products, especially in sustainable contexts.

Language:

• Fluency in Portuguese and working skills in English required.

Supervision and coordination

The consultant will report to and work under the supervision of SUSTAIN Pro project manager.

Budget – maximum USD 7,000

How to Apply:

1. Your Proposal must be submitted by email to tenders.mz@iucn.org