Call for National Tender for the Supply of Sheep (Ewes and Rams) at Nuru Nigeria

Nuru Nigeria is a local Nigerian NGO with affiliates in the US, Kenya, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, Benin and Togo. Our mission is to build resilience corridors of farmer-owned and farmer-led agribusinesses and profitable rural livelihoods in proximate to conflict-vulnerable areas in Northern Nigeria. Nuru Nigeria prioritizes smallholder farmers and is committed to cultivating lasting, meaningful choices through community-led, community-driven, and community-sustained livelihood projects across the agricultural value chain.

Applications are invited from interested bidders or tenderers for:

Title: Tender for the Supply of Sheep (Ewes and Rams) 

Locations: Biu and Kwaya Kusar LGAs in Borno
Employment Type: Supply Contract

Background

• Nuru Nigeria (NN), in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), is implementing an integrated agricultural livelihood interventions under the "Sustainable Transformation of Agribusiness in Nigeria (SUSTAIN)" project in Biu and Kwaya Kusar Local Government Areas (LGAs), Borno State.
• This initiative aligns with the SUSTAIN program's core objectives by promoting sustainable, agriculture-based livelihood alternatives to strengthen local agribusiness systems.
• It focuses on enhancing small ruminant production, a well-established and culturally integral practice among local households. By supporting this sector, the project aims to diversify household income, build community resilience against economic and climatic shocks, and reduce dependence on unsustainable natural resource use.
• Within this strategic framework, NN, in collaboration with GIZ, will provide targeted farmers in selected communities with improved sheep (ewes and rams) to support their reproductive stock. This intervention is designed to create a reliable, additional source of livelihood and agribusiness income for beneficiary households.

Terms of Reference (ToR)
Scope of Work / Methodology:
The activity will take place across the following intervention communities:

• Biu LGA: Yamarkumi, Hizhigoram, Mainahari
• Kwaya Kusar LGA: Wandali, Bumanda, Dunkar Gusi, Kogu.

General Specifications (Applies to Rams and Ewes):

• Breed: Yankasa which is a more suitable local breed adapted to the agro-ecology.
• Agro-ecological origin: Semi-arid or sub-humid (as much as possible, sheep must be sourced locally)

Health and Body Condition:

• General body condition score: 4–5 (medium)
• Eyes: bright, clear, and free from discharge
• Nasal area: free of mucosal discharge
• Teeth: correct number for age; no missing, excessively long, or withdrawn gums (indicating old age)
• Wool/hair coat: Smooth hair coat; free of wounds and external parasites, clean tail, no signs of diarrhea
• Mucous membranes: pink and moist
• Feet: no lameness, no overgrown or misshapen hooves

Male Sheep (Rams):

• Age: 18-24 months (estimated from dentition; at least one pair of permanent incisors)
• Weight: 45-50kg
• Physiological condition: Non-castrated, pre-pubertal or pubertal.

Morphological condition:

• Genital area free from abnormalities and pus
• Two well-proportioned testicles with good scrotal circumference.

Female Sheep (Ewes):

• Age: 12–18 months (none of the eight permanent incisors showing)
• Weight: 40kg-45kg kg.

Morphological condition:

• Genital area free of abnormalities and pus
• Correct number of teats.

Pre-Selection Quarantine:

• Selected sheep must undergo a 14-day pre-selection quarantine in holding facilities at the agreed beneficiary location prior to delivery.
• Holding facilities must meet the following minimum standards:
• Adequate space (1.0 m² per sheep).
• Separation of sexes.
• Proper infrastructure for feeding, restraint, loading, and offloading.

Supplier Responsibilities during Quarantine:

• The supplier will provide feed and water, and ensure animal safety during the quarantine period.
• The supplier will vaccinate the sheep against Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR).
• The supplier must hire a veterinary technician who will deworm all animals with appropriate dewormers and give prophylaxis against Ovine pneumonia and other ubiquitous bacterial organisms
• The supplier must replace any sheep that dies within five (5) days after distribution to beneficiaries.

Health and Origin Criteria for Sheep:

• Sheep must be clinically healthy, showing:

Normal Vital Signs:

• Pulse rate: 70-80 beats per minute.
• Respiratory rate: 30-44 cycles per minute.
• Rectal temperature: 38.5-39.5°C.
• Absence of Infection: No signs such as coughing or excessive tearing.
• Good Health: Signs of good rumination.
• Any sheep showing signs of infection must be removed immediately from the quarantine site and be handled appropriately
• Sheep shall originate from area(s) with no clinical evidence or positive diagnoses of the following diseases in the last 12 months:
• Peste des petits ruminants (PPR).
• Sheep & Goat pox.

Documentation for each sheep must indicate:

• Name(s) of the Local Government Area (LGA) of origin.
• Livestock market of origin.
• GPS coordinates of the origin point.

Third-Party Supervision:

• A third-party inspection team appointed by NN will supervise and ensure compliance with:
• The quarantine/isolation processes.
• The selection of sheep against the above health and origin criteria.
• The loading and offloading operations.

Deliverables / Expected Outputs:

• Farmers in target communities will have access to healthy, quarantined sheep to strengthen reproductive stock and diversify income sources.
• The vendor will deliver sheep in line with the specifications above to the following locations:

LGA Ewes Rams:

• Biu 370 37
• Kwaya Kusar 630 63
• Total 1000 100.

Duration and Timing:

• The entire procurement and delivery process, including quarantine, will be completed within the timeline from the date of contract signing.
• Opening, Evaluation of Tenders and Selection Criteria
• The opening and examination of tenders is for the purpose of checking whether the tenders are complete and whether the tenders are generally in order.

Samples and Schematic Diagrams (where Applicable)

Tender Process:
The following processes will be applied to this Tender:

• Tender Period
• Tender Closing
• Tender Opening
• Administrative Evaluation
• Technical Evaluation
• Financial Evaluation
• Contract Award
• Notification of Contract Award.

The subsequent evaluation of the tenders shall be carried out in Yola by an Evaluation Committee made up of representatives of Nuru Nigeria.
Tenders will be evaluated on the criteria listed below:

• Compliance with Nuru Nigeria Procurement terms and conditions. (Administrative)
• Prices based on best value for money of items requested. (Financials)
• Financials must be on company letterhead
• Registered general supplier companies in furniture (Preferably)
• Adherence with technical specifications requested. (Technical)
• Quality of the product. (Technical)
• Delivery Lead-time. (Technical)
• Similar past experiences with NGO/UN agencies. (Administrative)
• Availability of physical presence (Operational Office/shop). (Technical)
• Payment Terms and Conditions. (Technical)
• Validity of the offer. (Administrative).

Additional Information:

• In the interests of transparency and equal treatment and without being able to modify their tenders, bidders may be required, at the sole written request of the evaluation committee, to provide clarifications within forty-eight (48) hours. Any such request for clarification must not seek the correction of formal errors or of major restrictions affecting performance of the contract or distorting competition.
• Any attempt by a bidder to influence the evaluation committee in the process of examination, clarification, evaluation and comparison of tenders, to obtain information on how the procedure is progressing or to influence Nuru Nigeria in its decision concerning the award of the contract will result in the immediate rejection of the tender.
• No liability can be accepted for late delivery of tenders. Late tenders will be rejected and will not be considered.

Application Closing Date
10th February, 2026 at 5:00 PM.