Welcome to new Project for support of Kosovo Economy.

Kosovo Center for Business Support was awarded with new 18-month grant-Empower-Support for Economic Engagement in the North Activity

New Economic Opportunities for northern Kosovo

a USAID funded activity, is soliciting

Request for Quotations (RFQ)

for

greenhouses

 Kosovo Center for Business Support/KCBS is implementing activity “New Economic Opportunities for northern Kosovo” awarded by USAID. The main goal of the activity is to increase sales and employment, particularly for the sector of agriculture, through introduction of “aggregator” model. Through this activity, KCBS is providing support to its beneficiaries in Zubin Potok, Zveçan/Zvečan, Leposaviç/Leposavič and Mitrovicë Veriore/Mitrovica North.

 KCBS seeks for quotations from qualified and legal companies to supply the sub-grantees with 70 greenhouses of 120m²

BID REQUIREMENTS

• ·         Summary of qualifications, experience, and availability – this must be no more than four pages in length.  It should summarize the vendor’s qualifications, relevant experience and availability to provide required supplies. Prior experience in the north is preferred.
• ·         Professional references – at least two professional references, including phone numbers and other contact information.  No more than one page.
• ·         Prices – prices should be in EURO and VAT free or VAT should be clearly marked.
• ·         Delivery, installations and set up – the vendor is required to deliver, install and fully set up all supplies in different villages of Zubin Potok, Zveçan/Zvečan, Leposaviç/Leposavič and Mitrovicë Veriore/Mitrovica North.

INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS

 Quotes must be delivered in hard copy in a sealed envelope with name, telephone number and accurate physical address of the company to KCBS’s office at Pashko Vasa, no. 22, Pristina, no later than 4.00 p.m. on April 01, 2019.

 Questions regarding this RFQ shall be submitted to kcbsfunds@kcbs-ks.org and will be accepted until March 26, 2019 COB. No questions related to this RFQ will be answered after this date.

 All clarifications and directions will be issued through kcbsfunds@kcbs-ks.org or published on the KCBS website www.kcbs-ks.org and facebook page. Statements and/or interpretations by any or other persons are invalid.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

 KCBS reserves the right to request clarification of information submitted, and to request additional information from any bidders.

 KCBS shall not be responsible for any costs incurred by any interested party in preparing, submitting or presenting its response to the RFQ.

OFFER – GREENHOUSES

• ·  70 greenhouses of 120m²
• ·  Technical specifications for small-scale greenhouses of 120m²-dimension, construction-cover sheet/drip irrigation, dimensions: 5m wide X 24m long X 3.10m high

RFA

This Request for Applications (RFA) is composed of the following sections and attachments:

Section I.                    Background. 3

Section II.                   Grant Objective, Results and Criteria. 3

Section III.                  Evaluation Criteria. 4

Section IV.                 Grant Application Form.. 5

Section V.                  Application Procedures. 5

Section VI.                 Evaluation and Determination of Grant Award. 6

Section VII.                Terms & Conditions. 6

Annex 1- Grant Concept Paper Form.. 7

Section I.        Background

Kosovo’s economy continues to transform and grow as it emerges from the difficulties that I faced in the last decade – growing at a rate of 3-5%. However, the pace of economic growth must accelerate considerably, especially in northern Kosovo given its higher levels of poverty, widespread unemployment, and unstable environment. Considering, the biggest economic and social issue for the approximately 60,000 people in the North remains unemployment. Estimates of overall unemployment are around 50% (compared to 30 percent of Kosovo overall). Economic opportunities are extremely limited in northern Kosovo. Hence, communities living in these four municipalities have limited access to markets. 

The USAID Mission in Kosovo continues to provide assistance to minorities to stimulate employment opportunities to promote the economic revitalization and development of northern Kosovo. The Kosovo Center for Business Support (KCBS) will further enhance these USAID initiatives by engaging communities to provide them with the skills, approaches and tactics needed to create meaningful change.

 KCBS seeks to support up to 70 farmers that are willing to engage or want to expand their agricultural activities in the following areas:

• ·         Greenhouses of 120 m ² size, including an appropriate technology of irrigation system and installation (new and existing farmers received a greenhouse from KCBS,  supported through USAID and other donors that have potential for expansion and growth)

Donation of the above support will be coordinated with existing and/or new agriculture cooperatives and associations or individual registered business/farm in four northern Kosovo municipalities, Zubin Potok, Zveçan/Zvečan, Leposavič and Mitrovicë/Mitrovica (The North). Beneficiaries are requested to participate with at least 20% of the cost.

Section II.       Grant Objective, Results and Criteria

II.A. Objective

The objective of New Economic Opportunities ‘NEON’ activity is to build upon the previous support provided for the community in the northern part of Kosovo.

II.B. Results

At the end of this grant activity, we expect to have up to 70 farmers, which will have capacity to cultivate, produce, sell their products and improve market chain linkages and at the same time have direct impact on employment in rural regions especially for women and youth.

II.C. Criteria

Farmers may choose to be individual registered business/farm or part of the association/agriculture cooperative in the North of Kosovo, in the area of Zubin Potok, Zveçan/Zvečan, Leposaviq/Leposavić, and North Mitrovicë/Mitrovica (the North). Previous agricultural experience is preferable.

Section III.      Evaluation Criteria

 Consistent criteria will be used to evaluate grants and will be weighted to reflect priorities. The key criteria are: the activity is consistent with KCBS’s objectives; will contribute to activity impact; and the past performance of potential farmer. Criteria will be based on 4-point scale, weighted as follows:

1.    Technical Approach: 30%

 The application is consistent with activity objectives, including increased competitiveness and productivity. Concept Paper will be evaluated based on their ability to impact:

§  Revenue

§  Employment

In addition to these criteria the KCBS encourages applications that address: Youth and Gender.

2.    Past Performance of Grantee and Ability to Meet Activity Requirements: 30%

 The beneficiary will be a productive and active partner, capable of delivering the expected results, committed to activity objectives and capable of meeting all reporting and monitoring requirements.

3.    Achievable and Realistic:  20%

 The partners have a high probability of success in achieving the intended results, recognizing that all activities include risks which are to be managed. 

4.    Sustainability: 20%

 The extent to which the funded activity will result in building and strengthening the capacity of the beneficiaries, and whether the activity itself is sustainable or will stimulate sustainability of their sector.

Section IV.     Grant Application Form

IV.A.    Grant Application Form

 The Grant Application form provides a standardized format for review of the major elements of the grant. Based on a review and evaluation of the information presented in the Application, KCBS will either approve or disapprove the grant.

• The Application Form and detailed instructions are contained in Annex 1.

Section V.      Application Procedures

V.A. Issuance of RFA

 The RFA will be issued in digital form and can be found on www.kcbs-ks.org and KCBS Facebook page as well as hard copies can be obtained at International Business College Mitrovica/IBCM in Mitrovica

 Deadline for Submission

 The completed application must be submitted to International Business College Mitrovica/IBCM in Mitrovica located at Car Dusana in north Mitrovicë/a, or KCBS office at Pashko Vasa, no. 22 in Pristine.

Deadline for submission is from April 1, 2019 until April 05, 2019, no later than 16:00pm.

Any application presented after the specified closing date and time will not be accepted.

 V.B. Application Submission

The Applications shall be submitted in accordance with the instructions set forth in this RFA. Applicants shall submit their application in one (1) hard copy in a sealed envelope marked as follows:

RFA for Small Scale Greenhouses in North Kosovo

 All applications received by KCBS will be issued an official submission receipt that is clocked and signed.

V.C. Questions Regarding RFA

 Questions regarding this Request for Application shall be submitted to kcbsfunds@kcbs-ks.org and will be accepted until April 03, 2019 COB. No questions related to this RFA will be answered after this date.

 Answers to questions deemed to have a substantive impact on the application preparation process will be answered and published on the KCBS website www.kcbs-ks.org and KCBS Facebook page.

V.D. Format for Submission

The application shall be submitted as follows:

• Application - One original (1) of the Concept Paper shall be submitted. A transmittal letter with the following information should be included:

Ø  The RFA title

Ø  The signature and contact information of the applicant

Ø  The transmittal letter, 1 hard copies of the Concept Paper must be contained in one sealed envelope

• Marking - The envelope shall be clearly marked with the following information: RFA title, and the full name of the applicant, with telephone and e-mail addresses, and the respective contents of the envelopes.
• Language of Proposal - The technical proposal can be submitted in English, Albanian or Serbian language.

V.E. Responsiveness

 Those applications that are not submitted according to the formats requested and in accordance with the instruction of this RFA will be considered as non-responsive and will be disqualified.

Section VI.     Evaluation and Determination of Grant Award

VI.A. Right to Withhold Award or Issue Multiple Awards

 If, in the judgment of the Grants Review Committee, none of the applications received are advantageous, KCBS reserves the right to not award a grant. Conversely, if more than one application is appraised as being advantageous based on technical, geographic, cost, and/or other factors, KCBS may issue multiple awards with the approval of the Grants Selection Committee.

VI.B. Ownership of Proposals

 All applications received in response to the RFA will be the property of the KCBS and will not be returned.

Section VII.    Terms & Conditions

VII.A. Preparation Costs

 KCBS will not pay for any costs incurred by the applicant in preparation and/or submission of the application.

VII.B. Amendments

 KCBS reserves the right to issue an amendment(s) to the RFA at any time at its discretion. All amendments will be in written format only, and will be published on KCBS website www.kcbs-ks.org and/or KCBS Facebook page.

VII.C. Withdrawal of RFA

 KCBS reserves the right to withdraw this Request for Applications at any time, with or without a statement of cause prior to award.

VII.D. Withdrawal of Application

 Organization submitting an application has the right to withdraw from the RFA process at any time.

VII.E. Payment – (Grant Disbursement Procedures)

Ø  Payment via Direct Vendor Payment.

Payable to the vendor(s) on behalf of a Grantee for goods and/or services delivered to the Grantee. Arrangement for direct payment will be made by the Grants Manager in accordance with generally accepted good business practices.

Annex 1- Grant Concept Paper Form

KOSOVO CENTER FOR BUSINESS SUPPORT

 Grant Concept Paper Form

Submitted by: __________________________           Date   _________________________



PREVIOUS PROJECTS