Pre-Solicitation Notice - Nigeria.pdf

Office of Acquisition and Assistance U.S. Agency for International Development No. 1 Zambezi Crescent, Maitama, P.M.B. 519, Garki, Abuja.

Tel: +234-9-4619300 Fax +234-9-4619400 www.usaid.gov/ng

July 1, 2011

PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE

Request for Proposals (RFP) SOL - 620-11-000001 Maximizing Agricultural Revenue and Key Enterprise in Targeted Sectors

(MARKETS II) Program

The United States Government, represented by the Agency for International Development in Nigeria (USAID/Nigeria) intends to issue a solicitation seeking proposals from qualified organizations interested in providing technical services under the Maximizing Agricultural Revenue and Key Enterprise in Targeted Sectors (MARKETS II) Program for USAID/Nigeria’s Economic Growth & Environment Office.

The objective of the MARKETS II project is to support the U.S. Government goals and the Government of Nigeria’s Five Point Plan particularly with respect to promoting agriculture development through increased private sector participation and investment in the sector, raising income, increasing employment, attaining food security and reducing poverty. The project will build on the successes of its predecessor MARKETS project in addressing constraints along the agricultural commodity value chain, working with farmers to increase production and the quality of produce through improved post-harvest handling, linking farmers and agro-processors, providing incentives to adopt improved technology along the value chain, producing value-added products and identifying new markets. In broad terms, the areas where MARKETS is carrying out activities and where MARKETS II is expected to continue such activities include, but are not limited to:

(1) Producers’ Capacity Development and Organizations: Build capacity of poor smallholders and support the establishment and strengthening of cooperatives and producer’s associations either directly or indirectly through intermediaries.

(2) Agricultural Inputs: Work with smallholders, producer associations including rural women’s associations, financial institutions both formal banks and microfinance NGOs, independent service contractors and agricultural suppliers, addressing access to basic farm inputs such as fertilizer, improved seed, manual and mechanical equipment and irrigation systems and in the case of aquaculture, fish feed.

(3) Technology Generation and Deployment: Motivate a variety of development efforts to target food, beverage, and feed industries and staple food markets that offer the greatest return on investment for smallholders and agribusinesses in the value chains with which it works.