DEADLINE: 9TH MARCH, 2026
INSTITUTE FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, SAMARU
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY
P.M.B. 1044, ZARIA, NIGERIA
INVITATION FOR PRE-QUALIFICATIONS OF THE 2025 INTERVENTION ON NATIONAL POVERTY REDUCTION WITH GROWTH STRATEGY (NPRGS) PROJECT
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria is an Agricultural Research Institute under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. The Institute has National mandate for the genetic improvement of maize, cowpea, sorghum, cotton, sunflower, Jatropha, Castor, Oat and groundnut together with research into their respective agronomy and plant health. Irrigation engineering and irrigated crop production; mechanization of crop production and post-harvest research. The Federal Government of Nigeria has allocated funds for Intervention Projects on National Poverty Reduction with Growth strategy (NPRGS) for the year 2025 to Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for the execution of Projects (Goods, Works and Services). The Institute therefore invites interested, competent and reputable Contractors to bid for the Projects under the 2025 NPRGS Intervention Projects.
2.0 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT (GOODS AND WORKS)
The Scope of the project is as follows:
LOT NO NPRGS PROJECT TITLE: EXPAND IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR CLUSTERS OF SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN THE NORTH-WEST ZONE PRE-QUALIFICATION CATEGORY A – GOODS LOT A1 PROVISION OF AGRICULTURAL MECHANISMS TO SUPPORT IRRIGATION PROGRAMME ACROSS SELECTED LOCATIONS LOT A2 PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY OF FARM INPUTS AND MACHINES FOR IRRIGATED CROP PRODUCTION IN SELECTED LGA’S, NORTHWEST CATEGORY B – WORKS LOT B1 PROVISION OF WATER-SMART IRRIGATION GREENHOUSE FOR EXPANSION OF THE IRRIGATION PROGRAMME IN THE NORTHWEST REGION LOT B2 PROVISION OF WATER SUPPLY AND DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEMS FOR CLUSTER OF SMALL HOLDER FARMERS TO IMPROVE IRRIGATION FARMING IN SELECTED LOCATIONS LOT B3 PROVISION OF SOLAR WATER PUMPS AND DRILLING OF TUBEWELLS FOR IRRIGATION PROGRAMME EXPANSION IN SELECTED LGA’S LOT B4 CONSTRUCTION OF STORAGE FACILITIES TO PREVENT POST HARVEST LOSSES FOR FARMERS IN SELECT LOCATIONS IN THE NORTHWEST (LOTS 1-10) LOT B5 ORGANIC FERTILIZER PRODUCTION LINE TO ENHANCE FOOD SECURITY IN KEBBI STATE (MULTIPLE LOTS)
The Scopes of the above-listed projects are detailed in the Standard Bid documents.
3.0 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The Institute for Agricultural Research in compliance with the PPA 2007 and will carry out Pre-qualification of Companies who respond to this advertisement based on the following requirements:
a. Evidence of Certificate of Incorporation issued by Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) including Form CAC1, or CAC2 and CAC3, with evidence of Company of Annual Returns to CAC for the immediate past 3 years (2022, 2023 & 2024). Business name with Form BN1 is also acceptable for 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 (2022, 2023 & 2024) 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 31st December, 2025 or valid Certificate issued by BPP.
g. Sworn Affidavit:
- Disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committees of the Institute for Agricultural Research Samaru Zaria 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 the company is not bankrupt, in receivership or under liquidation or involved in any litigation which can potentially affect the company’s ability to effectively discharge their responsibility if engaged.
- That none of the Company’s Directors has been convicted of procurement fraud in any Country.
h. Company’s Audited Accounts for the last three (3) years – (2022, 2023 & 2024);
i. Reference Letter from a reputable Commercial Bank in Nigeria, indicating willingness to provide credit facility for the execution of the project when needed.
j. Company’s Profile with the Curriculum Vitae of Key Staff to be deployed for the project, including copies of their Academic/Professional qualifications (in case of construction: COREN, QSRBN, ARCON, CORBON etc.).
k. 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.
l. Works: List of Plants/Equipment with proof of Ownership/Lease Agreement.
m. Services: Evidence of Firm’s current registration with relevant regulatory professional body(ies) such as CMD for Training etc.
n. For Supply of Equipment: Letter of Authorisation as representative of the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
o. For Joint Venture/Partnership, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) 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).
p. All documents 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 authorized officer of the firm.
4.0 SUBMISSION OF PRE-QUALIFICATION
Interested firms are to submit two (2) bound of Technical Bid Documents separated by dividers and arranged as indicated above. The documents should be submitted in a sealed envelope and addressed to The Executive Director/ Chairman, Tenders Board, Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University and clearly marked with the name of the project and the lot number. Furthermore, the reverse of each sealed envelope should have the name and address of the bidder and drop in the designated Tender Box located in Room 2 Ground floor, Security Unit, IAR/ABU Zaria not later than 12:00noon, on Monday, 9th March, 2026.
5.0 OPENING OF PRE-QUALIFICATIONS
The pre-qualification documents will be opened immediately after the deadline for submission at 12:00noon on Monday, 9th March, 2026 in the Conference Hall of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Please, ensure that you sign the Bid Submission Register in the office of The Secretary, Tenders Board, Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, as the Institute will not be held liable for misplaced or wrongly submitted bids. For further enquiries, please contact the Secretary, Tenders Board, IAR on e-mail: procurement@iar.gov.ng.
6.0 GENERAL INFORMATION
a. Prequalification/Bids must be in English Language and signed by an official authorised by the bidder.
b. Prequalification/Bids submitted after the deadline for submission would be returned un-opened.
c. Bidders should not bid for more than One (1) Lots.
d. Bidders must have specific relevant experience related to the lot they are bidding.
e. All costs will be borne by the bidders.
f. Bid documents can also be collected in soft copies and Bidders can submit through Post (Courier Services)
g. Goods & Works: Only pre-qualified bidders at technical evaluation will be invited later for collection of bids documents and financial bids opening.
h. Services: Only shortlisted firms will be invited at a later for collection of Request for Proposal (RfP).
i. Pre-qualification: Only pre-qualified bidders at technical evaluation will be invited for collection of tender documents after payment of a non-refundable tender fee of N10,000.00 per Lot, paid into the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria’s, Remita account in any Commercial Bank in Nigeria. IAR GIFMIS CODE: 1008797
j. All Financial Submission pages must be duly initialled.
k. The Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria is not bound to pre-qualify/shortlist any bidder and reserves the right to annul the Procurement process at any time in the public interest without incurring any liabilities in accordance with Section 28 of the Public Procurement Act 2007.
SIGNED
MANAGEMENT
