Credit No. 5180-NP/Grant No. H813-NP

The “Services” include all aspects of AIC management including securing appropriate facilities, engaging experiences management team, providing services and programs as per the business plan, ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of the center, reporting to PACT, and ensuring sustainability of the AIC. PACT's assistance for this service will be for 3 years in diminishing term. After this, PACT expects that the AIC will be able to manage its activities internally from revenue earned by it.

PACT now invites eligible organizations (e.g. government agencies, private firms, NGOs, universities, research institutes, civil society) or Consortia to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested organizations or consortia should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services and identify a lead partner in the EOI. The short-listing criteria are:

• Understanding the needs of agribusiness SMEs and agro-processors in Nepal, including experience evaluating and incubating growth-oriented agro-processing ventures with proven ability to attract and build a very strong team of individuals for agribusiness enterprise development
• Qualification and experience of the firm demonstrating capability to build and manage complex organization, including delivery of agribusiness services with strong internal governance framework.
• Strong local and international links with potential partners, including agriculture and food technology firms, certification bodies, specialty food markets, investors, technical and business experts, and leading research and development organizations.
• Capability to operate the AIC as a demonstrably autonomous entrepreneurial business entity, with an appropriate legal structure, delivering high quality and holistic services nationally, and working for the best interests of clients, as a trusted service provider and develop the AIC so that it can continue as a self-sufficient institution, generating revenues from its clients, after grant funding for the project period.

The attention of interested firms is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants [under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants] by World Bank Borrowers setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Interested organizations may propose to create new institution associating with other organizations in the form of a consortium / joint venture to enhance their qualifications. The organization will be selected in accordance with the Quality-Based Selection (QBS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 10:00 to 17:00 hours. Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) within 30 days from the first publication of this notice within office hours. PACT reserves the right to shortlist or not shortlist any or all applicants without assigning any reasons whatsoever.

Project for Agriculture Commercialization and Trade (PACT)

Attn: Project Director

Sallaghari, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal

Telephone No: +977-1-4017765

Fax No: +977-1-4373236

Email: mail@pact.gov.np

Please include "EOI Agribusiness Innovation Center" in the envelope / subject line of email, as applicable. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.