RFP For Conducting Commodity Price Dara Collection at Corus International

RFP For Conducting Commodity Price Dara Collection at Corus International

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR CONDUCTING COMMODITY PRICE DATA COLLECTION

RFP #:TZ-2025-0219

Contract Type: Fixed Price Contract

Issuance Date: 19th February 2025

Deadline for questions/requests for clarifications: 25th February 2025

Deadline for response to Questions/ Clarification: 28th February 2025

Final deadline to submit applications: 5th March 2025

Anticipated Award Date:  March 2025

RFP Contents and Attachments:

1. Background
2. General Requirements and SoW
3. Instructions to Bidders

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Consultancy for joint project Pre-Monetization Commodity Price Collection

Expected start date: Mid-March 2025

Subject: Request for Proposal to conduct a single pre-monetization price study for commodities sold under the, five-year, Food For Progress USDA-funded Kuku Biashara project in Tanzania.

1. Background

1.1 Lutheran World Relief / Corus International

Corus International is the parent of a family of world-class organizations working to deliver the holistic, lasting solutions needed to end extreme poverty once and for all. We are a global leader in international development, with 150 years of combined experience across our brands. Our nonprofit and for-profit subsidiaries include IMA World Health and its fundraising brand Corus World Health, Lutheran World Relief, CGA Technologies, Ground Up Investing, and Farmers Market Brands. Our more than 800 employees around the globe are experts in their fields and dedicated to helping the world’s most vulnerable people break the cycle of poverty and lead healthy lives. Further details about the organization can be found at: https://corusinternational.org. 

1.2 Background

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) will complete a sale of USDA Food For Progress (FFPr) program commodities in early 2025. Currently, LWR plans to sell Hard Red Winter Wheat in the East African region. The revenue generated from the commodity sale will then be used to fund a poultry project in Tanzania. 

LWR requires data to be collected on current market data in the Tanzania market on the three potential commodities to be sold to create pre-monetization / baseline price data prior to the regional sale. Therefore, with this RFP, LWR is recruiting a third-party consultant or firm to conduct Pre-Monetization Commodity Price Collection in February 2025 based on the time of the sale.

2. General Requirements & Scope of Work

The objective of this consultancy is to assess the current market price of the chosen commodities prior to any monetization sale.

The data collection should seek to address the following key questions. The selected consultant or firm may refine these questions or propose new or alternative questions.

2.1 Market Context 

• What is the current market price for the selected commodities and have there been any significant fluctuations during the 30 days before the sale of the commodities planned for early 2025. 
• Data will be collected through both field and desk reviews by field surveys, visiting local markets to spot-check prices, and online research. Data should be uploaded directly through a digital platform to avoid paper documents. The digital platform may be proprietary software or a common database, but the data must be available to LWR. This should include price data based on the quantity sold and include the following markets: 
  • Farmgate price: farmer supplying (see below)
  • Local Market: end user who consumes the commodity
  • Intermediary Market: Value chain buyer (potentially an agro-dealer or commodity consolidator purchasing larger quantities to be sold at the local market or processed.
  • International Market: price for importation into Tanzania.
• Are there any substitute commodities for the selected commodities, and what are these and their prices?
• Market context – how the commodity is produced, consumed/processed, traded, marketed generally in the context of Tanzania. What is the structure of the local market? Is it competitive or dominated by a few players? Does this affect pricing? This would also include a discussion of relevant countries or regional policies and regulations that impact on the market dynamics of the commodity. 

Prices (local – ideally farm gate prices if the commodity or substitute commodity is produced there or wholesale prices if the commodity is a processed product) and international) –if prices are in the local currency, there should be some discussion about the local currency vs the U.S. dollar over the time period. 

2.2 Deliverables

1. With inputs from LWR, the Consultant will produce a detailed work plan that includes: a description of the data collection methodology and approach, and a timeline for the data collection, specific locations where data collection will occur, commodities and substitute commodities to be tracker, and also include the list of staff/experts and/or relevant stakeholders in the sector to interview/survey as well as the list of potential sources for secondary research.
2. Develop the tools and digital data collection platform required for data collection (surveys, etc.) and present them to LWR for feedback, followed by making changes, and LWR’s approval, 
3. Conduct the data collection, addressing the objectives and responding to the questions in the scope of work, and develop and present a summary of preliminary findings.  The document should include a table of content and main preliminary findings. 
4. Following the Parties’ feedback on the preliminary summary of findings, the consultant will produce a) a final, detailed report in high-quality English. This report will be a 2-3-page stand-alone report describing the data collection design, key findings, data collection and interview list, other relevant considerations, and including all evidence, receipts, published records, etc. which confirm the price date.
5. Provide LWR with access to the online data collection platform.

The overall level of effort required to complete these deliverables is estimated at approximately 30 days.

2.3 Required Skills & Experience

For the Pre-Monetization Commodity Price Collection, LWR, will select a consultant or multidisciplinary team that provides a deep knowledge of the local commodity markets in Tanzania. The successful bid will demonstrate capabilities in the following areas:

• Consultants or consulting firm should have at least 2 years of experience in conducting similar commodity price data collection from the local market end user to international importation sales based on price and quantity. Experience in conducting similar data collection in Tanzania is highly desired.
• Experience with direct digital data collection platforms and ability to present data in user-friendly ways.
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative data collection relevant to the study (e.g. agronomy, anthropology, economics, statistics, or related areas).
• Excellent English writing and communication skills, with special attention to research protocols, research documents and descriptive reports for a broad audience.
• Ability to communicate with people from different backgrounds and different levels of management and to work independently to meet deadlines.

2.4 Period of Performance

The period of performance of any contract resulting from this solicitation is anticipated to begin on or about February 2025 for a duration of approximately one month.  Proposals shall detail the estimated length of time required to accomplish all requirements, with detailed on individual activity implementation dates, as referenced in the Scope of Work.

3. Instructions to Bidders

3.1 Form and Content of Response

Candidates meeting the aforementioned criteria and interested in being considered for this consultancy should submit one Word document (with a maximum of 5 pages) with the following contents:

1. A cover letter.
2. Outline of the data collection design, methodology and general approach. 
3. Proposed work plan and timetable.
4. Description and location of commodity markets where data will be collected, including Hard Red Winter Wheat and two to three potential substitute commodities.
5. Detailed budget in U.S. dollars. It should detail expenditures on professional fees, travel, and any other expenditure required to conduct this evaluation (separate excel and not included in the page count). All proposed costs must be in accordance with the U.S. Government Cost Principles under

2 CFR 200 Subpart E (found at: 2 CFR 200 Subpart E)

1. CVs of the data collection team, outlining previous evaluation experience and accomplishments as it relates to demonstrating the skills and knowledge needed to fulfill the requirements of this RFP.  A detailed CV shall be attached in the case of independent consultants. (Not included in the 5-page limit)
2. Provide at least three verifiable references of similar services with a description of the product and/or service provided and dates.
3. If applicable, organizational chart of implementation unit.

All proposals shall also:

• Remain valid for a period of 90 days from submission.
• Be in the English language and 12-point font.
• Provide requested payment terms and conditions.
• Include a contact name, email address, and telephone number to facilitate communication between LWR and the submitting independent consultant/organization.
• If applicant is an organization, provide a brief outline of the organization and services offered as part of the cover letter, including:
  • Full legal name, jurisdiction of incorporation and address of the company
  • Full legal name and country of citizenry of company’s President and / or Chief Executive Officer
  • Year business was established

3.2 Criteria for Selection

The evaluation of each response to this RFP will be based on the criteria set out below. At the sole discretion of the Parties, the top proposals may be selected for follow-up questions.

• Technical proposal (Data Collection Approach/Methodology, including resourcing and deliverables; Quality of Work Plan, including timeline) – 35%
• Past performance and relevant experience – 35%
• Cost proposal – 30%

LWR reserves the right to award the contract to the consultant or firm whose proposal is deemed to be in the best interest of LWR and the Donor. The consultant or firm with the winning proposal will be notified in writing. Applicants who are not selected will also be notified.

LWR will not award a contract to any bidder where there is an indication of a lack of business integrity.

3.3 Terms and Conditions

1. The Request for Proposal is not and shall not be considered an offer by LWR.
2. All responses must be received on or before the date and time indicated above.  All late responses will be rejected.
3. All unresponsive responses will be rejected.
4. All proposals will be considered binding offers.  Prices proposed must be valid for the entire period provided by the respondent or required by RFP.
5. All awards will be subject to LWR contractual terms and conditions and contingent on the availability of donor funding.
6. LWR reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal or cancel the solicitation process at any time, and shall have no liability to the proposing organizations submitting proposals for such rejection or cancellation of the request for proposals.
7. LWR reserves the right to accept all or part of the proposal when award is provided.
8. All information provided by LWR in this RFP is offered in good faith. Individual items are subject to change at any time, and all bidders will be provided with notification of any changes. LWR is not responsible or liable for any use of the information submitted by bidders or for any claims asserted therefrom.
9. LWR reserves the right to require any bidder to enter into a non-disclosure agreement.
10. The bidders are solely obligated to pay for any costs, of any kind whatsoever, which may be incurred by the bidder or any third parties, in connection with the Response. All responses and supporting documentation shall become the property of LWR, subject to claims of confidentiality in respect of the response and supporting documentation, which have been clearly marked confidential by the bidder.
11. Bidders are required to identify and disclose any actual or potential Conflict of Interest.

We encourage all qualified individuals and organizations to apply. Candidates based in Tanzania are encouraged to apply. 

RFP For Conducting Commodity Price Dara Collection at Corus International

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTION(S): 

You are requested to submit signed and dated offers to the office specified in this solicitation at or before the exact time specified in this solicitation. Proposal can be submitted via email 

To be eligible, Bidders must provide full, accurate and complete information as required by this solicitation and its attachments, including any certifications attached. 

The proposal may be submitted on Bidder’s letterhead and signed by the authorized company officer.  

 All quotations must be submitted to: [email protected]