Consultants at Mercy Corps Nigeria

Mercy Corps is an international development organization that helps people around the world survive and thrive during crisis and natural disaster.

Mercy Corps seeks to engage registered companies for the position of:

Job Title: Project/Consultancy: Supply and Installation of Grains Processing Machine and Construction of Processing Centre

Location: Plateau

Background
Recurring violence in Nigeria's Middle Belt has consistently undermined the region's development. Conflict between pastoralists and farmers in the region has increasingly taken on religious overtones as predominantly Christian farmers clash with predominantly Muslim pastoralists over scarce natural resources. With funding from DFID, Mercy Corps is working to prevent and resolve conflict between pastoralists and farmers in four Middle Belt states, with an emphasis on conflicts that cross religious lines and negatively affect local livelihoods and economic growth.

Our program addresses underlying drivers of community conflict by preventing the escalation of ethno-religious violence and creating incentives for government, the private sector and community members to work proactively to promote stability.

The importance of improved sustainability of dispute resolution through economic and natural resource initiatives cannot be over emphasized. Linking economic development to dispute resolution is one of the strongest lessons learned by Mercy Corps through years of implementing peace building programmes. In order to support the sustainability of dispute resolution agreements and prevent the emergence of new conflicts, local leaders with input from their community will identify and implement economic and natural resource initiatives that will address the underlying drivers of the disputes and mitigate potential impacts on agreements.

Purpose / Project Description
Mercy Corps and partners Pastoralist Resolve (PARE) and Education as a Vaccine (EVA) are preparing to undertake a capacity building program that focuses on modern agricultural commodity processing techniques and the establishment of grains processing centres for the processing of maize, millet, Sorghum and beans in rural communities of Fokkos and Danbwash/Tahola in Plateau State. 

The establishment of these grains processing centers will bring together members of conflicting groups primarily from farmer and pastoralist communities, and will address a substantial economic need-related to natural resource management-experienced by both communities, as determined through Mercy Corps’ assessments.

Mercy Corps seeks registered companies that have experience and capacity to establish agricultural processing centers in rural communities. The successful company will construct, supply and install the processing machines, and as well provide training for machine operators. The processing centre project will be implemented in 2 project sites in Plateau State.

This processing centre will help bring together the benefiting communities to add value to the agricultural commodities produced in the area. The processing centre projects are part of several joint economic activities that will foster economic interdependence and promote increased collaboration related to natural resource management, serving as the foundation for future economic and resource management programming in target communities.

Objectives

• The purpose of establishing these processing centres is to afford the community members an opportunity to process high quality agricultural commodity products with the capacity for higher income generation for the communities and to stimulate economic activities within the participating communities.
• This will also promote economic interdependence between two previously conflicting communities.
• This project aims to reduce resource competition, increase economic opportunity, and promote cooperation between the pastoralist and the farming communities of the focal states.

Successful Bidder's Activities
The Company will:

• Use the BOQ and the Building plan for the processing Centre to be provided by Mercy Corps.Construct the processing Centre where the machines will be installed.
• Supply and install the processing machines.
• Train the selected machine operators in the communities where the project will be sited
• Submit a brief project completion report highlighting the major successes and challenges, in the course of the project implementation.

Bidders should provide cost estimate for establishing a Grains Processing Centers. A successful bid will break down the cost by building construction, cost of machinery, installation, and operation training for community members. Please refer to the entire application package, including building plans and the bill of quantity provided by Mercy Corps, to provide an accurate cost estimate (check the link below).

Deliverables:

• Construction of the processing Centre where the machines will be installed (2 weeks)
• Supply and installation of processing machines (2 weeks)
• Train machine operators on operation and maintenance of the machines (1 week)
• Submit project completion report (1 day)

The Successful Company will report to:

• Economic and Market Development Advisor

The Company will work closely with:

• Program Manager, as well as other consultants

Qualifications

• The ideal company will have extensive experience in establishment of modern agricultural commodity processing centres in very rural communities.
• A successful bidding company will have direct experience in building construction.
• A successful bidding company will have direct experience in installing and operating grain processing machinery and in training in grain processing.
• The bidding Company must have at least one office located within the North Central Zone (including Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, or Plateau States) Kaduna state, or the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) .
• The company must have the capacity and resources to deliver the project in the targeted communities within the specified time frame.
• Bidding Company must be fully registered with CAC.
• The Company must have all the statutory documentation.
• Ideal company must have the financial capability to implement the project with minimal mobilization fee, while subsequent payment will be based on set mile stones.
• The successful company will have field staff assigned to this project who are fluent in Hausa.

Other documents to be submitted with bid are:

• Copy of Certificate of registration/incorporation of the bidding company
• Copy of Memorandum and Article of Association
• Tax Clearance Certificate or last 3 years audited financial statement
• References to where similar job has been performed

Application Closing Date
6th May, 2015

Method of Application
Interested companies should submit a sealed bid with category clearly marked "Grain Processing" at the top of the envelope and addressed to:

The Operations Manager
No. 5 Peka Close,
Off Buchana Crescent,
Off Aminu Kano Crescent,
Wuse II,
Abuja.

Click here for more information

Note: The Financial Proposal should be in a separate sealed envelope. The communities where this project will be implemented are in very remote areas with rough terrain.