request for proposals - hiiraan - sesame_radio broadcast rfp.pdfsesame and banana) but is...

Somalia Growth, Enterprise, Employment & Livelihoods (GEEL) Project

Somalia Growth, Enterprise, Employment & Livelihoods Project – [email protected]

Request for Proposals

For the design, organization and implementation of a series of weekly radio broadcasts –

Codka Beeraleyda (The Farmer’s Voice)

Contracting Entity:

USAID/GEEL Project

International Resources Group Ltd.



Acronyms

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

CO USAID Contracting Officer

COP Chief of Party

COR USAID Contracting Officer’s Representative

CV Curriculum Vitae

FAR Federal Acquisition Regulations

M&E Monitoring and Evaluation

NICRA Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

NGO Nongovernmental organization

RFP Request for Proposals

STTA Short-Term Technical Assistance

U.S. United States

USAID U.S. Agency for International Development

USG U.S. Government

VAT Value Added Tax



Table of Contents

Acronyms...................................................................................................................................................................... 2

Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................................................... 3

1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 4

1.1 Project Background ................................................................................................................................. 4

1.2 Sesame Value Chain Background ......................................................................................................... 4

1.3 Sesame Value Chain Goals..................................................................................................................... 5

1.4 Activity Objectives ................................................................................................................................... 5

2. Statement of Work ........................................................................................................................................... 6

2.1 Activity Description ....................................................................................................................................... 6

2.2 Activity Tasks ................................................................................................................................................... 7

2.3 Activity Deliverables ...................................................................................................................................... 8

2.4 Anticipated Timeframe .................................................................................................................................. 8

3. Instructions to Offerors .................................................................................................................................. 8

3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 8

3.2 Proposal Deadline .................................................................................................................................... 8

3.3 Submission of Offers ............................................................................................................................... 8

3.4 Requirements ............................................................................................................................................ 8

3.4.1 Eligibility ................................................................................................................................................. 9

3.4.2 Required Documents.......................................................................................................................... 9

3.4.3 Deadlines and Validity of Proposal................................................................................................ 10

3.4.4 Evaluation and Basis for Award ..................................................................................................... 10

3.4.5 Budget Outline ................................................................................................................................... 10

Annex 1: Cover Letter ....................................................................................................................................... 11

Annex 2: Proprietary Information Certification .......................................................................................... 12



1. Introduction

1.1 Project Background Growth, Enterprise, Employment & Livelihoods (GEEL) is 5-year development project designed to

promote and facilitate inclusive economic growth in Puntland, Somaliland and other existing and

emerging federal states. The project is currently focusing on the agricultural sector (dairy, fisheries,

sesame and banana) but is anticipated to expand in the future into other sectors of the economy.

It will also seek to strengthen the business enabling environment through improving access to

finance, policy and regulation, and business development services. Particular focus will be given to

increase the participation of women and youth in the economy as entrepreneurs, employers, and

employees.

1.2 Sesame Value Chain Background Somalia is estimated to have produced 90,000 tons of sesame in 2014, making it the 8th largest

producer in Africa behind Sudan, Tanzania, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, South Sudan and

Uganda. It is further ranked 11th in Africa in terms of land under sesame cultivation with an

estimated 83,610 Ha of sesame planted in 2014.

Estimates also suggest Somalia is the 7th largest exporter in Africa, exporting 36,319 tons in 2013,

although this volume only represents 3.5% of all African exports (3.2% in terms of value). Larger

exporters comprise Ethiopia, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Tanzania and Ghana.

Sesame is therefore an important domestic and export crop, one that is gaining significant growth.

Production has reportedly grown three-fold in the last ten years.

However, significant challenges remain for Somalia to produce and export at volumes similar to its

neighbors in the region. Sudan produces 8 times more than Somalia, and Ethiopia currently exports

6 times more than Somalia.

These challenges include:

1) Lack of ongoing research into high yielding varieties best suited to Somalia’s agro-climatic

conditions in the different growing regions of the country;

2) Outdated and rudimentary agricultural practices that contribute to poor germination, low

yields and poor quality;

3) Poor quality or limited agricultural inputs (seeds, pesticides, fertilizers);

4) Limited availability of information (on prices) and accessibility to extension services

(including provision of mechanization)

5) Limited processing and color sorting capacity;

GEEL has begun to address a number of these challenges in the first year of the project, but

acknowledges that efforts need to be continued and sustained over a significant period of time to

demonstrate transformative change in the value chain. During the 2016 Hagai season GEEL worked

with local partners to trial 5 new varieties of sesame (Humera, Abasena, Setit and varieties from

Yemen and Nigeria) in three locations in Somalia (Afgoye, Luuq and Jowhar). The results of these

initial trials will become clear in October 2016. Simultaneously, GEEL worked with local partners to

establish four demonstration plots (Afgoye, Luuq, Jowhar and Balad) to demonstrate good

agricultural practices (relating to land preparation, planting, thinning/weeding, irrigation, fertilizer



application, and harvesting) through training to 960 farmers.

In this coming Deyr season, GEEL will continue sesame trials in Afgoye and Jowhar, and

continue/expand the demonstration plots and training to Afgoye, Jowhar, Balad, Luuq, Baydhabo,

and Beledweyne.

While GEEL believes that these practical training courses will be beneficial to farmers, we

acknowledge that bringing large number of farmers together at the same time is logistically

challenging, a potential security risk and expensive. We also acknowledge that the training courses

do not reach all those farmers that may be interested in growing sesame or increasing their

production of sesame. It further excludes farmers growing other crops of value to the domestic

and export economies.

One proven way of informing and educating farmers is through the use of radio programs. When

well-planned and designed, broadcast engagingly and entertainingly, radio programs have the

ability to provide information on improved farming methods, improved seeds, crop rotation,

timely planting, better harvesting methods, soil conservation, marketing, post-harvest handling,

and equipment use and repair. Radio programs can divulge information on global and local

agricultural issues and best practices by interviewing experts and practitioners, engage listeners in

focus group discussions, provide data from research and information on the activities of

development partners. They can also highlight success stories from farmers in the region and focus

on challenges encountered.

Through utilizing SMS technology together with radio broadcasts, it is also possible to gather

information on the number of listeners, the number of farmers that have improved their

techniques as a result of engaging in the program and increases in yields.

1.3 Sesame Value Chain Goals GEEL’s overall goals for Somalia’s sesame value chain are as follows:

1) Maximize the production and yield of high quality sesame in all sesame growing regions of

Somalia;

2) Increase the unit value, export value and export volumes of Somali sesame;

3) Increase employment throughout the value chain, particularly for women and youth;

1.4 Activity Objectives The objectives of this specific activity are as follows:

1) Educate farmers and agricultural producers in the sesame growing areas of Somalia on

appropriate farming technologies and techniques;

2) Provide market information to enable farmers and traders to make informed decisions on

where and when to sell their produce;

3) Create a platform for key value chain actors to discuss challenges they face and potential

solutions;

4) Inform farmers on the results of trials and demonstration plots and training courses being

organized by GEEL;

5) Collect data on production, yields and use of improved technologies and techniques, for

monitoring and evaluation purposes;

6) Create a platform for potential input suppliers to advertise their products and services.



2. Statement of Work

2.1 Activity Description GEEL wishes to fund and support a series of 20 weekly half-hour radio broadcasts entitled Farmer’s

Voice (Codka Beeraleyda), broadcast in Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, Lower Juba, Hiraan, Gedo

and Bay regions, between September 30, 2016 and February 24, 2017. The broadcasts will coincide

with the Deyr Season, which occurs roughly from October 15 to December 15 each year. The first

broadcast should be approximately two weeks before the start of the Deyr Season.

The radio broadcasts should be informative and entertaining and include expert opinions, focus

group discussions, farmer discussions, call-ins and other similar features.

A suggested outline of topics for each week is summarized below (this is subject to change

following discussion with the service provider):

Episode Activity Date

1 General overview of sesame production in Somalia Sept. 30, 2016

2 Soil Nutrients

Sesame planting time

Methods of land preparation

Oct. 07, 2016

3 Planting densities

Seed and variety selection

Different sesame varieties grown in Somalia

Yield potential of the local varieties vs improved varieties

Oct 14, 2016

4 Pre-sowing irrigation

Methods of irrigation

Sesame water requirement

Oct 21, 2016

5 Pests associated with seedlings

Pre-sowing fertilizer application

Oct. 28, 2016

6 Thinning and gap filling

Drainage and water logging

Nov. 04, 2016

7 Intercropping vs mono-cropping

Controlling pests and disease incidence

Webworm damage to sesame

Nov. 11, 2016

8 Health benefits of sesame oil

Sesame nutritional value

Nov. 18, 2016

9 Rain-fed vs irrigated sesame

Hagai vs Deyr sesame

Dec. 02, 2016

10 Effect of wind, sun and humidity on sesame growth Dec. 09, 2016

11 Benefits of producers’ associations Dec. 16, 2016

12 Input availability and affordability

Benefits of extension services

Dec. 23, 2016

13 Loan and leasing agencies

Cooperatives vs individual farmers

Dec. 30, 2016

14 Role of the development partners

Government role in sesame production

Jan. 06, 2017



15 Appropriate harvest time

Harvest methods

Stalking, thrashing, cleaning and packaging

Jan. 13, 2017

16 Marketing and storage

Transporting challenges

Jan. 27, 2017

17 Processing sesame for oil

Oil Content of different sesame varieties

Sesame cake, its uses and nutritious values

Feb 03, 2017

18 Sesame seed processing for export

Cleaning, de-hulling and color sorting

Feb.10. 2017

19 World markets and trade agreements

Export promotion

Feb. 17, 2017

20 Export quality requirements Feb. 24, 2017

2.2 Activity Tasks GEEL seeks a service provider who can manage all aspects of devising, planning, organizing and

implementing the radio broadcasts.

Specifically, they will:

1) Identify, subcontract with and coordinate with Radio Stations in Lower Shabelle, Middle

Shabelle, Lower Juba, Hiraan, Gedo and Bay Regions to air live broadcasts as outlined in the

schedule provided above. Ideally, the broadcasts will be syndicated; broadcast at the same

time through the different radio stations.

2) Engage one or more agricultural experts to provide technical guidance in devising the radio

broadcasts.

3) Devise and plan each weekly radio broadcast on the themes outlined in the schedule

above. Broadcasts should utilize a range of features including: call ins; expert interviews;

discussion groups; reports from sesame trials and demonstration plots; interviews with

government representatives, lead farmers, NGOs and processors/exporters, etc. Various

parts of each broadcast (such as interviews and reports) can be pre-recorded. The

broadcasts should also include agricultural weather forecasts.

4) Coordinate a number of advertisements/announcements of the radio broadcasts in the

week prior to the broadcasts starting, and during the first month to encourage listeners to

listen in at the time the program is aired.

5) Together with GEEL, identify individuals and organizations to engage in the radio

broadcasts – agricultural experts, farmers, processors, exporters, government

representatives, NGOs and other donor projects. The service provider will be responsible

for arranging interviews and site visits to the trial plots and demonstration plots. GEEL will

provide background information, copies of training materials already developed and

contact details of individuals and organizations to engage.

6) Propose opportunities for using SMS-technology to gather information and feedback from

listeners, and to assist in collecting data (see below)

7) Devise a comprehensive system of collecting data. GEEL will want to know:

a. Number of listeners (per broadcast and station, if possible)

b. Age and gender of listeners

c. Number of listeners that have improved their agricultural or management practices

as a result of listening to the broadcasts



d. Number of listeners that have increased their yield as a result of employing

improved agricultural or management practices

e. Yields and production volumes of listeners

f. Feedback on the usefulness of the content, its relevance, areas for improvement

and interest in topics/crops for future radio broadcasts.

Data should be presented in graphic form (such as maps of listeners) and in tabular

form.

2.3 Activity Deliverables 1) 20 weekly half-hour radio broadcasts starting between 30 September, 2016 and 24

February 2017 (Broadcasts should be recorded)

2) Evaluation report to present all data collected

2.4 Anticipated Timeframe The radio broadcasts should be held weekly between 30 September 2016 and 24 February 2017.

3. Instructions to Offerors

3.1 Introduction Service providers interested in providing the services outlined above are invited to submit a

proposal according to instructions outlined below.

This RFP does not obligate IRG to execute a subcontract or purchase order nor does it commit IRG

to pay any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Furthermore, IRG

reserves the right to reject any and all offers, if such action is considered to be in the best

interest of IRG.

Unless otherwise stated, the periods named in this RFP shall be consecutive calendar days.

3.2 Proposal Deadline The deadline for receiving proposals is outlined in section 3.4.3. Offerors shall submit their

proposals electronically by email only to:

NAME: Thomas LeMense

TITLE: Acting Operations Manager

EMAIL: [email protected]

Offerors 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 IRG. IRG

cannot guarantee that late offers will be considered.

3.3 Submission of Offers The Offeror must submit the proposal electronically with up to 3 attachments (5 MB limit) per

email compatible with MS Word, MS Excel, readable format, or Adobe Portable Document

(PDF) format in a Microsoft XP environment. Offerors must not submit zipped files. Those

pages requiring original manual signatures should be scanned and sent in PDF format as an email

attachment.

3.4 Requirements To be determined responsive, an offer must include all of documents and sections included in

mailto:[email protected]



3.4.1 and 3.4.2 (see below).

3.4.1 Eligibility

IRG anticipates issuing one or more PURCHASE ORDERS to companies or organizations that have

the ability to complete the activity indicated in this RFP.

To be considered eligible for consideration in response to this solicitation, the following criteria are

considered essential.

1) Must be an organization registered in one of the following countries:

a. One of the developing countries listed at

http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1876/310maa.pdf

2) Firms operated as commercial companies or other organizations or enterprises (including

nonprofit organizations) in which foreign governments or their agents or agencies have a

controlling interest are not eligible as suppliers of commodities and services.

3) Must provide relevant experience related to the activities described in this RFP.

Offerors are welcome, and are encouraged, to submit consortium proposals.

3.4.2 Required Documents

1) Cover Letter (see Annex 1 for template), which shall include the following information:

a. Name of the company or organization

b. Type of company or organization

c. Address

d. Telephone

e. Fax

f. E-mail

2) Proprietary Information Certification (see Annex 2): Offeror shall certify that they have

read and accepted the clauses contained therein that state that the information provided

by IRG in this RFP is proprietary information and cannot be shared with any other entities.

3) Technical Proposal: Demonstrating a clear understanding of the requirements of this RFP

and expanding significantly on the activities outlined in Section 2. The technical proposal

should include the approach that will be undertaken, brief biographies of the personnel

that will be managing the activities, and a detailed work plan/schedule. (Maximum 10

pages)

4) Corporate Capabilities, Experience, and Past Performance: This must include a description

of the company and organization, with appropriate reference to any parent company and

subsidiaries. Offerors must include details demonstrating their experience and technical

ability in implementing the activities described in section 2. Additionally, offerors must

include 3 past performance references of similar work (under contracts or subcontracts)

previously implemented as well as contact information for the companies for which such

work was completed. Contact information must include at a minimum: name of point of

contact who can speak to the offeror’s performance, name and address of the company for

which the work was performance, and email and phone number of the point of contact.

IRG reserves the right to check additional references not provided by an offeror. (Maximum

4 pages).

5) Cost Proposals: these may be accompanied by a narrative that explains the basis for the

estimate of each line item. Supporting information should be provided in sufficient detail

to allow for a complete analysis of each cost element or line item. IRG reserves the right to

request additional cost information if the evaluation committee has concerns of the

http://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1876/310maa.pdf



reasonableness, realism, or completeness of an offeror’s proposed cost. (Maximum 5

pages)

6) If it is an offeror’s regular practice to budget indirect rates, e.g. overhead, fringe, G&A,

administrative, or other rate, offerors must explain the rates and the rates’ base of

application in the budget narrative. IRG reserves the right to request additional

information to substantiate an offeror’s indirect rates.

3.4.3 Deadlines and Validity of Proposal

The following calendar summarizes important dates in the solicitation process. Offerors must

strictly follow these deadlines.

RFP published: Sunday 4 September 2016

Deadline for written questions: Wednesday 7 September 2016

Proposals Due: Thursday 15 September 2016

The dates above may be modified at the sole discretion of IRG. Any changes will be published in an

amendment to this RFP.

Offerors’ proposals must remain valid for 180 calendar days after the proposal deadline.

3.4.4 Evaluation and Basis for Award

This solicitation will be judged on a best-value analysis, with IRG evaluating Offeror’s proposals in

accordance with the following criteria:

1) Technical Approach – 40%

2) Corporate Capabilities, Experience, and Past Performance – 40%

3) Competitive price – 20%

3.4.5 Budget Outline

Offerors should submit clear budgets outlining in detail the costs associated with undertaking all

the activities outlined in Section 2.



Annex 1: Cover Letter

[Offeror: Insert date]

Mohamed Abdinoor

Chief of Party

USAID/GEEL Project


Reference: GEEL Request for Proposals

Subject: [Offeror: Insert name of your organization]’s Pricing Proposals

Dear NAME:

[Offeror: Insert name of your organization] is pleased to submit its proposal in regard to the above-

referenced request for proposals. For this purpose, we are pleased to provide the information

furnished below:

Name of Organization’s Representative: ____________________________________

Name of Offeror: ____________________________________

Type of Organization: ____________________________________

Address: ____________________________________

Address: ____________________________________

Telephone: ____________________________________

Fax: ____________________________________

Email: ____________________________________

As required by section I, I.7, we confirm that our proposal, including the pricing information

will remain valid for 180 calendar days after the proposal deadline.

Sincerely yours,

Signature

[Offeror: Insert name of your organization's representative] [Offeror: Insert name of your

organization]



Annex 2: Proprietary Information Certification

[Offeror: Insert date]

Mohamed Abdinoor

Chief of Party

USAID/GEEL Project


Reference: GEEL Request for Proposals

Subject: [Offeror: Insert name of your organization]’s Proprietary Information Certification

Dear COP NAME:

[Offeror: Insert name of your organization] certifies that it understands any information contained

in Section II of this RFP (to include the scope of work, required services, office locations and

numbers, and budget template), are considered proprietary information by International

Resources Group Ltd. and cannot be shared with any other entities, reproduced in any form, or

archived in any form after the 180 days of validity for this RFP.

Sincerely yours,

Signature

[Offeror: Insert name of your organization's representative] [Offeror: Insert name of your

organization]