Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI)/USAID Supported Programs Nutrimix Production Joint Venture Request for Expression of Interest

Ref: KARI/HQTS/009/09-10

Kenya Agricultural Research Institute with financial support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and collaborative efforts of peasant farmers from M bee re and Makueni implemented activities leading to the construction of Nutribusiness factories, both at Masongaleni location in Makueni and at Kiritiri Mbeere.

Records had indicated that malnutrition (hidden hunger) affects 1 every 3 people world wide and was caused by imbalanced diet and lack of vitamins and essential minerals. The USAID supported Nutribusiness Project was conceived to utilize available agricultural products at the two sites in semi-arid areas to:

Identify locally grown agricultural produce that can be used to address imbalanced diet through value addition.
  • Formulate Nutrimixes that could be used as weaning foods and for elderly people. Spur agricultural productivity of those agricultural products in the surrounding areas.
  • Formulate Nutrimixes and mass produce them for sale to nearby and major towns.
Mamix a formulation from Mbeere consists of Sorghum flour, Sweet potato tubers flour Cowpea grains flour, Amaranthus leaves flour, Sweet Potato leaves flour and Finger millet grains flour while Nimix formulation from Makueni production unit consists of Cassava, Sorghum, Cowpea leaves, Pigeon pea grains, Pearl Millet and Sweet potato leaves flours.

Members at these units have undergone training in nutrimix production and elementary book keeping, as well as basic handling and maintenance of equipment supplied to the production units.

KARI/USAID Programs Coordination Office intends to identify an entrepreneur to work with the farmers to produce the nutrimix and other products at the two sites.

Briefly the scope of the work would include, but not limited to the following:
  • In collaboration with the farmer groups work out a marketing strategy of the products (value products to be produced, raw materials reliability costs of production and pricing, markets for products, sales).
  • In collaboration with the farmer groups go into large scale production of the nutrimixes or diversify to other products.
Interested private entrepreneurs are invited to write to the undersigned to express their interest and indicate:
  • Proven record of successful business venture
  • Successful experience as a prime entrepreneur, partner in a joint venture, over the past five years Investment/cost share contribution to the joint venture
  • Legal status of the firm (attach supporting documents)
  • Availability of competent professional team to manage the assignment
Completed Expression of Interest documents in plain sealed envelopes clearly marked "EXPRESSION OF INTEREST: NUTRIBUSINESS JOINT VENTURE" must be delivered to the address above on or before 2nd September, 2009 at 12.00 p.m. and be deposited in the Tender Box located at the main entrance of KARI Headquarters building.

For bulky documents that cannot go through the slot of the Tender Box, they should be delivered to Room 151 on the ground floor of KARI Headquarters Building Western Wing.

The bids will be opened immediately thereafter in the presence of candidates' Representatives who choose to attend at 12.00 p.m. 2nd September, 2009 at KARI Headquarters Main Conference Hall. Late applications will be rejected.

DIRECTOR,
KARI

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