Cultivating New Frontiers In Agriculture (CNFA)- Request For Proposal For Engagement Of A Financial Audit Accountant / Accounting Firm

DEADLINE: 12TH MARCH, 2021
CULTIVATING NEW FRONTIERS IN AGRICULTURE (CNFA)
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
JOB TITLE: RFP: ENGAGEMENT OF A FINANCIAL AUDIT ACCOUNTANT/ACCOUNTING FIRM LOCATION: NG (PRIMARY)
CATEGORY: PROCUREMENT

Job Description

Section 1: Introduction, Technical Background and Scope of Work 

Introduction:
The Feed the Future Nigeria Agribusiness Activity (FTF) is a USAID program implemented by CNFA in Nigeria. The goal of the Feed the Future Nigeria Agribusiness Activity (FTF) project is to strengthen the enabling environment for agribusiness finance and investment.

Offerors are responsible for ensuring that their offers are received by CNFA in accordance with the instructions, terms, and conditions described in this RFP. Failure to adhere with instructions described in this RFP may lead to disqualification of an offer from consideration.

CNFA will consider proposals in response to this RFP from independent consultants and firms.

(1.2) Scope of Work:
Agribusiness Finance and Investment Components of the Feed the Future (FTF) Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity (the Activity) are responsible for facilitating finance and investment to agribusinesses along the five selected value chains. CNFA is collaborating with Thrive Agric, a Nigerian-based technology-driven agribusiness company, which provides finance to smallholder farmers via institutional investors and commercial debt financiers and provides access to premium markets for the farmers at harvest, leveraging a bespoke technology platform called the Agriculture Operating System (AOS).  As part of its activities, Thrive is looking to obtain a loan to support the implementation of its 2021 wet season farming activities as a Prime Anchor to support about 50,000 out grower farmers with inputs.

The Activity has continued extensive engagements with Thrive on how to support their future debt raise efforts and enable their access to various new loan facilities being sought. To apply for the loan facility to support their out-grower farmers program for the 2021 wet season, CNFA is seeking financial audit consultant/firm to audit their financials for the period of January to December 2020 based on the financial audit criteria needed by the financial institution.  This will enable the firm to meet the requirement to access loans for their activities. The deliverables (Audited Financials) from this support will enable Thrive Agric effectively meet a loan approval requirement checklist for the CBN’s ABP Fund to be sought through the bank.

(1.3) Period of Performance:
The period of performance for this task shall be 20 working days from the day contract is accepted and signed by the consultant. The activity is expected to begin in March 2021.

(1.4) Tasks:
If selected for award, The Consultant will be expected to carry-out the following task within the acceptable performance period.

(a) Collect all requisite data and information from Thrive Agric based on the criteria required by the financial institution.

(b) Review and audit current financial data

(c)   Conclude and present audited financial report in prescribed formats.

(1.5) Deliverables Schedule
At the end of the Assignment, the Consultant is expected to:

Submit a final audited financial report that is of sufficient quality and coverage to meet the due diligence scrutiny of the financial institutions, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), equity investors, and donor organizations, as applicable.

(2.1) Offer Deadline and Protocol:
Offers must be received no later than 5:00 PM, GMT, on March 12, 2021. Offers must be submitted by mail: operations@ag-invest.org.Please reference the RFP number in any response to this RFP. Offers received after the specified time and date will be considered late and will be considered only at the discretion of CNFA. The cover page of this solicitation summarizes the important dates of the solicitation process. Offerors must strictly follow the provided deadlines to be considered for award.

(2.2) Questions:
Questions regarding the technical or administrative requirements of this RFP may be submitted no later than 5:00 PM GMT on March 10, 2021 by email to Anthony Asabi at aasabi@ag-invest.org. Questions must be submitted in writing; phone calls will not be accepted. Questions and requests for clarification—and the responses thereto—that CNFA believes may be of interest to other offerors will be circulated to all RFP recipients who have indicated an interest in bidding.

Only the written answers issued by CNFA will be considered official and carry weight in the RFP process and subsequent evaluation. Any verbal information received from employees of CNFA or any other entity should not be considered as an official response to any questions regarding this RFP.

Application Submission
Offer Deadline and Protocol: Offers must be received no later than 5:00 PM, GMT, on March 12, 2021. Offers must be submitted by mail: operations@ag-invest.org

Please reference the RFP number in any response to this RFP. Offers received after the specified time and date will be considered late and will be considered only at the discretion of CNFA. The cover page of this solicitation summarizes the important dates of the solicitation process. Offerors must strictly follow the provided deadlines to be considered for award.

ATTACHMENT
RFP: Engagement of a financial audit accountant/accounting firm