National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike- Invitation For Pre-Qualification For Projects Execution (2 Lots)

DEADLINE: 30TH APRIL, 2025
NATIONAL ROOT CROPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, UMUDIKE
(FEDERAL MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY)
KM 8 IKOT EKPENE ROAD, PMB 7006 UMUAHIA, ABIA STATE, NIGERIA.
INVITATION FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION FOR PROJECTS EXECUTION

(1) INTRODUCTION
The National Root Crops Research Institute is one of the leading institutions in the country that trains middle-level manpower in the area of agriculture. The Institute is desirous of carrying out its capital projects under the 2024 budget. In compliance with the Public Procurement Act 2007, the Institute wishes to invite interested, qualified, reputable and eligible contractors with relevant experiences to submit prequalification documents for the Procurement and Execution of the under listed Projects.

(2) SCOPE: WORKS

(3) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Prospective bidders should submit the following documents:

(a) Evidence of Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) including Form CAC 1.1 or CAC2 and CAC7; Business Name is also acceptable for Consultancy Services;

(b) Evidence of Company’s Income Tax Clearance Certificate (or Personal Income Tax Clearance Certificates of all the partners in case of Business Name) for the last three (3) years valid till 31st December, 2025;

(c) Evidence of Pension Clearance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2025 (this requirement is only applicable to bidders whose number of staff is 15 and above);

(d) Evidence of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2025 (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);

(e) Evidence of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Clearance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2025;

(f) Evidence of Registration on the National Database of Federal Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers by submission of Interim Registration Report (IRR) expiring on 31/12/2025 or valid Certificate issued by BPP;

(g) Evidence of Firm’s registration with relevant regulatory professional body(ies) such as COREN, etc.;

(h) Sworn Affidavit:

• disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committees of the National Root Crops Research Institute or the Bureau of Public Procurement 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 Country for any criminal offence relating to fraud or financial impropriety or criminal misrepresentation or falsification of facts relating to any matter;
• that the Company is not in receivership, the subject of any form of insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings or the subject of any form of winding up petition or proceedings;

(i) Company’s Audited Accounts for the last three (3) years – 2022, 2023 & 2024;

(j) Reference Letter from a reputable Commercial Bank in Nigeria, indicating willingness to provide credit facility for the execution of the project when needed;

(k) Company’s Profile with the Curriculum Vitae of Key Staff to be deployed for the project, including copies of their Academic/Professional qualifications such as COREN, etc.;

(l) Verifiable documentary evidence of at least three (3) similar jobs (in size, nature & complexity) executed in the last five (5) years including Letters of Awards, Valuation Certificates, Job Completion Certificates and Photographs of the projects;

(m) Works: List of Plants/Equipment with proof of Ownership/Lease Agreement;

(n) For Joint Venture/Partnership, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) indicating Lead Partner should be provided, (CAC, Tax Clearance Certificate, Pension Clearance Certificate, ITF Compliance Certificate, NSITF Clearance Certificate, IRR & Sworn Affidavit are compulsory for each JV partner);

Note: Alldocuments for submission must be transmitted with a Covering/ Forwarding letter under the Company/Firm’s letter Head Paper bearing amongst others, the Registration Number (RC) as issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Contact Address, Telephone Number (preferably GSM No.) and e-mail address. The Letterhead Paper must bear the Names and Nationalities of the Directors of the Company at the bottom of the page, duly signed by the authorised officer of the firm.

(4) SUBMISSION OF PREQUALIFICATION DOCUMENTS
Prospective bidders are to submit bid for each of the Lot desired, two (2) hard copies of the technical bids in sealed envelopes and clearly marked as “Prequalification Bid”. The sealed envelope shall be addressed to Executive Director/CEO, National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, Abia State and clearly marked with the name of the project and the Lot number. Furthermore, the reverse of each sealed envelope should bear the name and address of the bidder and drop in the designated Tender Box at NRCRI Headquarters, Umudike Abia State not later than 12:00 noon on Wednesday, 30 April, 2025.

(5) OPENING OF PREQUALIFICATION DOCUMENTS
The prequalification bids will be opened immediately after the deadline for submission at 12:00 noon Wednesday, 30 April, 2025 at the NRCRI Conference Room, NRCRI Headquarters Umudike Abia State in the presence of bidders or their representatives. Please, ensure that you sign the Bid Submission Register in the office of the Procurement Unit, as the Institute will not be held liable for misplaced or wrongly submitted bids. For further enquires contact the Procurement Unit.

(6) GENERAL INFORMATION
(a) Bids must be in English Language and signed by an official authorised by the bidder;

(b) Bids submitted after the deadline for submission would be returned un-opened;

(c) Applicants should not bid for more than two (2) Lots;

(d) All costs will be borne by the bidders;

(e) The prequalification 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;

(f) Only pre-qualified bidders at technical evaluation will be invited at a later date for financial bids submission;

(g) NRCRI is under no Obligation whatsoever to select contractor from submissions received if none meets the requirements for the project;

(h) Any submission of bidding document other than one given shall be disqualified;

(i) This advertisement shall not be construed as a commitment on the part of NRCRI nor shall it entitle responding companies to seek any indemnity from NRCRI by virtue of such companies having responded to the advertisement;

(j) Duplicate bids of a LOT by a company shall be rejected except a written notification is made before the Bid opening date and addressed to Executive-Director/CEO through Head Procurement Unit with the above address. In the case of notification, the second bid shall be clearly labeled as Corrected Bid;

(k) Failure to comply with the above automatically disqualify the tenderer;

(l) The National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike is not bound to accordance with Section 28 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

Signed:
Executive-Director/CEO
NRCRI, UMUDIKE