REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

RFP Title: Provision of various Consultacy Services

RFP Number: 2024-TCP/08/01

Date of Solicitation: August 7, 2024

Closing Date and Time: August 16, 2024, 11:00 am EAT (Arusha, Tanzania)

Questions and Clarifications: Due by August 12, 2024

Introduction to TAHA and Tuhifadhi Chakula Project

TAHA is an apex member based private sector organization that advocates for the growth and competitiveness of the horticulture industry in Tanzania. Since its inception in 2004, TAHA has been an effective voicing platform for producers, traders, exporters and processors of horticultural products mainly; flowers, fruits, vegetables, horticultural seeds, and spices. The Association safeguards the interests of industry stakeholders and ensures industry issues are well represented within national and international agendas.

https://www.taha.or.tz/taha/about 

USAID Tuhifadhi Chakula Project (USAID - TCP) is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by TAHA. The overarching objective of the Project is to reduce food loss and waste and resultant climate effects for improved food security and livelihoods.

The project has been co-created to improve food handling, storage, and value addition, facilitate market access, inform and promote policy and regulatory frameworks that reduce food loss and waste, and strengthen local organizations' capacity to lead in post-harvest management. Overall, the project will contribute to reducing post-harvest losses from 30-40% for horticulture to 15% and from 13% to 7% for cereals by the end of the project.

TAHA through USAID TCP has set aside a budget to solicit and engage eligible and qualified consultants to provide the following consultancy services:

LOT 1: Plan for development of horticultural post-harvest management training manuals for 12 horticultural value chains.

LOT 2: Plan for situational analysis and capacity building on value addition among selected processors in Morogoro and Arusha.

LOT 3: Assessment of the Packaging Materials for Horticulture Crops and the Value-Added Products in Tanzania.

A. Scope of work of consultancy assignments

LOT 1: Plan for development of horticultural post-harvest management training manuals for 12 horticultural value chains

The consultant for this consultancy shall develop detailed, practical and user-friendly horticulture post-harvest manuals in both English and Swahili. These manuals will provide guidelines on the best practices in post-harvest management of horticultural produce to minimize losses and maximize quality and marketability.

LOT 2: Plan for situational analysis and capacity building on value addition among selected processors in Morogoro and Arusha.

The USAID Tuhifadhi Chakula Project primary goal is to reduce post-harvest loss for horticultural produce from 30% to 40%. To achieve this several interventions are of paramount importance. Post harvest losses are caused by a number of variables, which can broadly be divided into about three categories; pre-harvest, harvesting and post-harvest losses itself. This consultancy is set to concentrate on harvest and post-harvest variables that lower post-harvest factors. The variables to be covered are value addition in processing, packaging materials and technologies, microbial contamination, market access and infrastructure, temperature and humidity management and ethylene exposure. The project has highly prioritized twelve selected horticultural value chains namely Avocado, banana, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, mango, onions, oranges, pineapple, potatoes and tomatoes. The eligible consultant for this assignment shall collaborate with local institutions with experience in postharvest technology of horticultural value chain to identify the current situation practices in postharvest losses, the consultant shall also put priority in capacity building on food processing and value addition to manage the postharvest losses of the selected horticulture value chains.

LOT 3: Assessment of the Packaging Materials for Horticulture Crops and the Value-Added Products in Tanzania

Packaging is the very crucial component in reducing food losses at various stages of food supply chain. In most cases packaging is attributed by poor handling, distribution, storage, and consumption behaviors. It is with no doubts that proper packaging can hugely help in utilizing resources efficiently and minimize environmental impacts, thereby contributing to a more sustainable food supply system. An eligible consultant for this assignment is called to carefully conduct assessment of the packaging materials for Horticulture crops and the value-added products in Tanzania.

B. Submission Instructions

Interested consultants or firms should download the detailed terms of references through the link: https://shorturl.at/h6Z5q 

C. Clarification on the Advert

All correspondence related to the RFP shall be made in English.

Each consultancy opportunity should be responded to separately.

Should there be any uncertainty, the Bidder shall seek clarification in writing through e- mail to: procurement@taha.or.tz 

benesta.masau@taha.or.tz; 

erick.massawe@taha.or.tz; 

while

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Any clarification sought by the bidder in respect to the RFP shall be titled CLARIFICATION - (Insert Consultancy Name). TAHA will only respond to requests for clarification received no later than Monday August 12, 2024.