Recruitment of a Firm to provide grant support and Business development services to Food System Resilience Program’s Matching Grant Scheme for Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION THROUGH QCBS)

Country: Republic of Sierra Leone

Name of Project: The West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP-2)

Project ID: P178132

Assignment Title: Recruitment of a Firm to provide grant support and Business development services to Food System Resilience Program’s Matching Grant Scheme for Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Reference No.: SL-MAFS-426168-CS-QCBS

EOI Issued Date: 4th June,2024

EOI Closing Date: 3rd July, 2024

The Government of Sierra Leone through Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP-2) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for Consulting Services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include to provide grant support and Business development services to Food System Resilience Program’s Matching Grant Scheme for Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Activities entailed in this assignment will range from to support PMU in grant administration and provision of Business Development Services to FSRP Cohort 1 SMEs in the Growth Facility Window to increase investment, revenue and compete in regional trade. The implementation period for the assignment is Eight (8) Months and is expected to Commence in August 2024.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) and expression of interest document for the assignment can be found at the following website: www.mafs.gov.sl Or can be obtained via email to [email protected]/[email protected] or the address given below.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MOHS) through Food Security and Resilience Program 2 (FSRP-2) now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested Consultants must provide specific information (academic/ professional certificates and updated CVs) which demonstrate that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience required Skills and specialized techniques to perform the Services.

The shortlisting and selection criteria for the firm shall be based on the following minimum qualification and experience:

• A Minimum of Five (5)-Ten(10) years proven experience in in managing Matching-grant Funds, Accelerator programs and similar projects for growth-oriented Agribusinesses or related asignment.

• Proven ability to develop a formidable team of recognized experts to implement the Project with strong technical capacity in SME development, Agribusiness enterprise development, financial services and Entrepreneurship. The team must consist of a Team Leader/Manager, Investment/ Finance Expert, Sales and Marketing Expert, in addition to other relevant consultants that the firm might deem necessary in carrying out the assignment.

• Demonstrated capacity to foster linkages with leading local and international partners, deliver Business development advisory services with expertise in Agric specific areas and facilitate access to finance and investment packages for growth-oriented Agribusinesses.

• Proven experience in at least three similar Projects funded by Government and Donor Agencies. Understanding of World Bank Procedures and executing similar projects in the region is an added advantage.

Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated July 2016 and revised in November 2017, August 2018, and November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours i.e., 0900 to 1700 hours.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in sealed envelopes marked with the assignment title or by e-mail to the address below by 4:00 pm local time on Wednesday 3rd July 2024

Attn:

Project Manager/Procurement Specialist

The West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP-2)

Project Management Unit

(Ground Floor – Youyi Building) Freetown, Sierra Leone

Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected]