National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT)- Request For Expression Of Interest (EOI) For Consultancy Services– 2021 Capital Projects (3 Lots)

DEADLINE: 27TH SEPTEMBER, 2021
NATIONAL HORTICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
(FEDERAL MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT)
IDI-ISHIN, JERICHO RESERVATION AREA, P.M.B. 5432, IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES – 2021 CAPITAL PROJECTS

(1.0) INTRODUCTION
National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan with the mandate to conduct research into genetic improvement, production, processing, storage, utilization and marketing of tropical fruits, vegetable, ornamentals, spices, other medicinal and aromatic plants of nutritional and economic importance.

The Institute is desirous of utilizing part of the funds under the Year 2021 Appropriation Act to procure Services in Delta State. Accordingly, the Institute invites qualified, interested and eligible Service Providers/Consultants to tender for Expression of interest (EOI).

(2.0) SCOPE OF PROJECTS

(3.0) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Prospective bidders are required to submit the following documents:

(i) Evidence of Certificate of Incorporation issued by Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) including, Memoranda & Articles of Association, Form CAC 1.1 or CAC 2 & 7 (Certify True Copy) or Business Name;

(ii) Evidence of Firm’s 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 2021;

(iii) Evidence of Pension Clearance Certificate valid till 31st December 2021 (applicable where number of staff is at least 15);

(iv) Evidence of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December 2021 (applicable where number of staff is at least 5 or at least N50m turnover);

(v) Evidence of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Clearance Certificate valid till 31st December 2021;

(vi) Evidence of Registration on the National Database of Federal Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers by submission of Interim Registration Report (IRR) expiring on 31/12/2021 or valid Certificate issued by BPP;

(vii) Reference Letter from a reputable Commercial Bank in Nigeria, indicating willingness to provide credit facility when needed.

(viii) Current Sworn Affidavit:

(1) Disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committees of the National Horticultural Research Institute or the Bureau of Public Procurement is a former or present Director, shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder and confirm that all information presented in its bid are true and correct in all particulars;

(2) That the company is not in receivership, insolvent or bankrupt;

(3) That the company does not have any Director who has ever been convicted in any court in Nigeria or any other country for criminal offense in relation to fraud or financial impropriety;

(ix) Company’s Audited Account for the last three (3) years (2018, 2019, and 2020), duly signed and sealed by relevant firm;

(x) Company’s Profile with the Curriculum Vitae of key staff to be deployed for the project including copies of their Academics/Professional qualifications.

(xi) Verifiable documentary evidence of at least three (3) similar jobs successfully executed in the last five (5) years including Letters of Awards, Valuation Certificates, and/or Job Completion Certificates and Photographs of the projects;

(xii) Evidence of Firm’s current registration/accreditation with Centre for Management Development (CMD);

(xiii) All documents for submission must be transmitted with a Covering/Forwarding letter under the Company’s Letter head-paper bearing amongst others, the Registration Number (RC) as issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) contact Address, Telephone Numbers (preferable GSM No.) and valid e-mail address and official company’s address. The Letter Head Paper must bear the Names, Nationalities and, telephone number of the Directors of the company at the bottom of the page.

(4.0) SUBMISSION OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) DOCUMENTS
Interested Firms are to submit two (2) bound copies of Expression of Interest (EOI) documents, separated by dividers. The documents should be submitted in a sealed envelope and addressed to the Executive Director, National Horticultural Research Institute, Idi-Ishin, Jericho Reservation Area, Ibadan, Oyo State, and clearly marked with the Name of the Project and Lot Number. Furthermore, the reverse of each sealed envelope should have the name and address of the Bidder and should be deposited in the Tender Box at Administrative Block II, National Horticultural Research Institute, Idi-Ishin, Jericho Reservation Area, Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria on or before 12:00 noon on Monday, 27 September 2021.

(5.0) OPENING OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)
The Expression of Interest (EOI) will be opened immediately after the deadline for submission at 12:00noon on Monday, 27 September 2021 at the Institute’s Auditorium, National Horticultural Research Institute, Idi-Ishin, Jericho Reservation Area, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Please, ensure that you sign the Bid Submission Register, as NIHORT will not be held liable for misplaced or wrongly submitted bids.

(6.0) IMPORTANT INFORMATION
(a) Bids must be in English Language and signed by an official authorised by the bidder.

(b) Documents shall be verified and violators shall be referred to investigating authorities.

(c) EOI submitted after the deadline would be returned un-opened.

(d) The advertisement shall not be construed as a commitment on the part of NIHORT to award contract to any contractor, nor shall it entitle any contractor, submitting documents to claim any indemnity from NIHORT.

(e) EOI should contain a table of contents and properly paginated.

(f) Presence of bidders/representatives and members of the public shall not be required during the bid opening ceremony in compliance with COVID-19 Guidelines. The Bids Opening will be covered by video recording (link will be sent to bidders) with the presence of two (2) representatives of private-sector professional bodies and Civil Society Organisation in the areas of Anti- Corruption/Transparency;

(g) Bidders can submit through Post (Courier Services);

(h) Only shortlisted firms will be invited at a later date for collection of Request for Proposals.

(i) Service providers who have worked for the Institute and have history of poor performance, abandonment or prolonged contract execution/ extension need not apply, as they will be disqualified.

(j) NIHORT is not bound to 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.

(k) All participating companies are advised to submit active e-mail account(s) and GSM Number(s) for communication purposes.

(l) The Implementation of the advertised projects is subject to availability of funds.

(m) Bidders should not bid for more than two (2) Lots.

(n) Failure to comply with the above requirements shall automatically result in the disqualification of a bidder.

SIGNED:
NIHORT MANAGEMENT