Agricultural Research Council Of Nigeria (ARCN)- Invitation To Tender And Expression Of Interest For 2024 Capital Projects (85 Lots)

DEADLINE: 4TH & 18TH MARCH, 2024
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF NIGERIA (ARCN)
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH HOUSE
PLOT 223D CADASTRAL ZONE B6 MABUSHI, ABUJA
INVITATION TO TENDER AND EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR 2024 CAPITAL PROJECTS

1. INTRODUCTION
The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) was established with the statutory mandate of coordinating, supervising and regulating Agricultural Research, Training and Extension activities of National Agricultural Research Institute (NARIs) and the Federal Colleges of Agricultural (FCAs) under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMA&RD).

In compliance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 the ARCN wishes to bring to the attention of the public for her intention to carry out the following procurement activities in the Council as provided for in the 2024 Approved Capital Budget Appropriation.

In view of the above, bids are hereby invited from interested and reputable contractors with relevant experience and good track records in respect of the following projects

2. SCOPE OF SERVICES/GOODS/WORKS

CATEGORY A: CONSULTANCY SERVICES

3. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
i. Evidence of certificate of Incorporation issued by Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) including Forms CAC 1.1 or CAC2 and CAC7.
Business name is also acceptable for services;
ii. Evidence of Company’s Income Tax Clearance Certificates ( or Personal Income Tax Clearance Certificate for all the partners in case of Business name)the last three (3) years valid till 31st December 2024; with minimum average annual turnover of N500 million for category C;
iii. Evidence of Pension Clearance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2024 (this requirement is only applicable to bidders whose number of staff is 15 and above).
iv. Evidence of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2024 (this requirement is only applicable to bidders whose number of staff is 5 and above or the bidder’s annual turnover is N50m and above);
v. Evidence of current Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2024
vi. Evidence of Registration on the National Database of Federal Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers by submission of Interim Registration Report (IRR) expiring on 31/12/2024 or valid Certificate issued by BPP;
vii. Sworn affidavit:

• disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committees of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria or Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) is a former or present Director, shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder and to confirm that all information presented in its bid are true and correct in all particulars;
• That no director has been convicted in any county for any criminal offence relating to fraud impropriety or criminal misrepresentation of falsification of facts relating to any matter.
• That the company is not in receivership, the subject of any form or bankruptcy proceedings of the subject of any form of winding up petition or proceeding

viii. Reference letter from a reputable commercial bank indicating willingness to provide credit facility for the execution of the project when needed;
ix. Company’s profile with the curriculum Vitae of key staff to be deployed for the project, including copies of their academic/professional qualification for construction/rehabilitation/renovation, works civil Engr/Arc/QS/COREN, QSRBN, ARCON, CORBON etc and for Training/Empowerment HND/BSC and MSC in the field of Agriculture or related field of the training;
x. Verifiable documentary evidence of at least three (3) similar jobs executed in the last five (5) years including letters of awards, valuation certificates, job completion certificates and photographs of the projects;
xi. Works: list of plants/equipment with proof of ownership/lease agreement
xii. For training programme: evidence of registration with Centre for Management Development (CMD)
xiii. For supply of equipment: letter of authorization as representative of the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)
xiv. Electricity jobs: Evidence of current licence issued by Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA)
xv. For ICT: evidence of firm’s registration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and computer professionals Registration Council of Nigeria
xvi. Payment of grant: CBN’s current payment solution service provider licence
xvii. All documents for submission must be submitted with a Covering/Forwarding letter under the Company’s letter head paper bearing
amongst others, the Registration Number (RC) as issued by the CAC, Contact Address, Telephone Number (preferably GSM No) fax and email address. The letter head paper must bear the Names and Nationalities of the Directors of the company at the bottom of the page, duly signed by the authorized officer of the firm.
Note: any project with a bid price up to N500 million will require minimum average annual turnover of at least N2, 000,000,000.00 in the
last three (3) years.

4. COLLECTION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS (GOOD AND WORKS)
Interested companies are to collect the Standard Bidding Documents (SBD) from the Head of Procurement, 2nd floor room 313, on evidence of payment of a non-refundable tender fee of N10,000 per lot, paid into the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria’s Remita account in any reputable commercials of Nigeria.

5. SUBMISSION OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)
Interested firms are to submit two (2) bound of Expression of interest (EOI) documents separated by dividers and arranged as indicated above, and clearly marked with the names of the project and lot number. Furthermore, the reverse of each sealed should bear the name and address of the bidder and drop in the designated Tender Box not later than 12:00 noon on Monday, 4th March, 2024.

6. SUBMISSION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS (GOOD AND WORKS)
Original and two (2) copies of Technical and Financial bids are to be submitted in two (2) separate envelopes. Envelopes for the Technical and Financial bids shall be duly marked “Technical bid” and “Financial Bid” respectively. The two (2) envelops shall then be enclosed in one single outer envelope and forwarded in sealed envelopes, marked on the top left-hand corner boldly written “Project
name and Lot Number”. The inner and outer envelope shall;
i. Bear the name and address of the contractor, (inner envelope)
ii. Be addressed to the client at the address specified (inner and outer envelopes)
iii. Bear the name of the project (inner and outer envelopes) and
iv. Bear a statement “Do not open with the technical bid: (inner financial envelope)
The documents are to be dropped in tender box in the office of the Head of Procurement, 2nd floor room 313, Agricultural Research House Mabushi, Abuja. ARCN not later than 12:00 noon on Monday, 18th March, 2024.

7. OPENING OF EOI AND PRE-QUALIFICATION DOCUMENTS
The EOI and Technical bids will be opened immediately after the deadlines for submission at 12:00 noon on Monday, 4th March, 2024 and 12:00 noon on Monday, 18th March, 2024, respectively, at the Mallam Adamu Bello Auditorium 1st floor Agricultural Research House Mabushi, Abuja. ARCN will not be held liable for misplaced or wrongly submitted bids. For further enquiries, please contact: office of the Head of Procurement, ARCN.

8. GENERAL INFORMATION
i. Bids must be in English Language and signed by an official authorized by the bidder;
ii. The council will not be responsible for any cost or expenses incurred by any interested party in connection with any response to this invitation and/or preparation or submission in response to an enquiry.
iii. This advertisement shall not be construed as a commitment on the part of the Council to award any or all the above listed projects.
iv. Late submission shall not be returned un-opened;
v. Bidders should not bid for more than two (2) lots, violation is automatic disqualification;
vi. Bids for different lots should be submitted differently. Lump submission will be returned un-opened.
vii. Sworn affidavit must be original, sworn for the purpose of this advertisement and must be as stated above;
viii. Original letters or other reference collected from third party for the purpose of this advertisement should be addressed to the Executive Secretary.
ix. Company representatives other than Directors signing or representing the company in this process including during tender opening must be introduced in a letter addressed to the ARCN tenders board duly signed by registered Director of the company.
x. The EOIs/Technical bids will be opened in the presence of bidders or their representatives, CSOs, in the areas of Anti-Corruption and Transparency and private Professional bodies; and will be covered by video recording’ invitation link will be sent to bidder who chooses to join the bid opening online.
xi. Bids documents can also be collected in soft copies and bidders can submit through Post (Courier Services)
xii. Goods & work: Only pre-qualified bidders at technical evaluation will be invited at later date for virtual financial bids opening, while the financial bids of un-successful bidders will be returned un-opened;
xiii. Services: Only shortlisted firms will be invited at a later date for collection of Request for Proposals
xiv. The ARCN is not bound to prequalify /shortlist any bidder and reserves the right to annul the procurement process at any time without incurring any liabilities in accordance with section 28 of the Public Procurement ACT 2007

SIGNED
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF NIGERIA
PLOT 223D, CADASTRAL ZONE B6 MABUSHI
ABUJA.