Call for Expression of Interest (EOI): Developing and Implementing food safety & quality management system for a vertical hi-tech farm in Long An and Lam Dong

CALL FOR EXPRESSTION OF INTEREST (EOI):

DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING FOOD SAFETY & QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
FOR A VERTICAL HI-TECH FARM IN LONG AN AND LAM DONG -
“COMMUNITY DEVELOPEMENT PROJECT TRA VINH”

BACKGROUND

SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

SNV is a mission-driven global development partner working in more than 20 countries across Africa and Asia. Building on 60 years of experience and grounded in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we work on the core themes of gender equality and social inclusion, climate adaptation and mitigation, and strong institutions and effective governance. Together with our team of over 1,600 people, our mission is to strengthen capacities and catalyse partnerships that transform the agri-food, energy, and water systems, which enable sustainable and more equitable lives for all.

SNV has been working in Vietnam since 1995 and has over 30 national and international staff. SNV Vietnam’s team works hand-in-hand with communities, government agencies, and businesses in more than 50 provinces, including the remotest and poorest areas of the country. We operate from a country office in Hanoi and project offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Lam Dong province. Our work focuses on three sectors: Agri-Food, Energy, and Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene (WASH).

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION

The Advanced Vertical Farming for Climate, Lives and Landscapes Project (the project) is supported by Australia’s Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Business Partnership Platform (BPP) https://thebpp.com.au/about/ [1]. The BPP is an initiative which supports partnerships between the Australian Government and inclusive businesses to create both development impacts and sustainable commercial returns through their core business operations. Projects supported by the BPP create and adapt products and services that improve lives and reduce emissions; create more inclusive and productive value chains; and expand inclusive business practices. Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) and women’s economic empowerment are also at the core of the interventions the BPP supports.

The project is implemented by Orlar Vietnam [2], a subsidiary of an Australian agri-tech company, Orlar International, committed to producing clean, contaminant-free, and carbon-neutral food farming solutions for communities around the world. The project aims to scale an innovative vertical farming technology to increase sustainable food production and free up agriculture land for rehabilitation. Orlar’s vertical pods are the result of five years of research and optimisation. The advanced technology is ten times more productive compared to other alternatives, uses less land, 95% less water, and has no greenhouse gas emissions with zero plastic and nutrient pollution. The land the vertical pods free up will be rehabilitated and returned to native vegetation.

Through the partnership, Orlar will adapt its technology to include efficient temperature control for use in low altitudes such as the Mekong Delta. This requires a series of scaled tests and a model pilot site to demonstrate that high-value temperate crops can be grown in areas not traditionally viable to produce such crops. This provides an innovative solution that contributes to the objectives of the Government of Vietnam’s Resolution 120 on the Climate Resilient and Sustainable Development of the Mekong Delta. The transformation of the agricultural sector to adapt to the changing environmental conditions is a major priority of the resolution, and the private sector has a critical role to play in introducing and scaling innovative technologies. Orlar’s vertical farming technology offers an important solution, particularly in estuarine and near-coastal areas where due to rapidly rising salinity levels, agricultural production needs to shift from rice production (which uses a lot of water, including groundwater which is pumped to the surface causing land subsidence and further saline intrusion) to other and higher value crops. The Orlar technology enables greatly increased production of higher value vegetables (more dong per drop) on land which is no longer suitable for rice production. With a strong commitment to social good, Orlar also aims to create good jobs and employment opportunities through their business model, with a particular GESI focus.

SNV’s role in the partnership is to provide technical support in i) identifying an appropriate location and engaging local farming communities and other relevant stakeholders to participate in the Mekong Delta pilot site, ii) support Orlar to improve food safety (GlobalGAP and QMS system, and iii) a genuinely socially inclusive business model with economic opportunities and jobs for women and other vulnerable groups.

• A pilot site has now been constructed in Long An province in the Mekong Delta. SNV now seeks the services of a Food Safety Specialist to support Orlar in assessing the current practice, setting up and implementing a food safety system in its project sites. 

KEY TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES

The following tasks are to be performed under the guidance and supervision of SNV’s BPP project manager, value chain advisor and in consultation with Orlar’s designated staff. SNV will help facilitate fieldwork in Lam Dong and Long An. The following tasks should also be undertaken in consideration of other relevant activities (in particular an GESI and WEE trainings).

1. On-site assessment of current food safety and quality management system “QMS” of Orlar’organicvegetable supply chain from farm to selling points in Long An province and Distribution Center in Ho Chi Minh city (and Lam Dong if required by Orlar)
2. Consult the Farm management on suitable Food Safety and QMS schemes considering the company goals, conditions and resources in accordance to GlobalGAP standard
3. Prepare an action plan to close the gap, specify tasks, persons in charge and timelines.
4. Carry out on-site trainings on principles and implementation of the selected QMS scheme.
5. Consult the operation team on implementing the Improvement Plan, including recommendations and guidance on developing the QMS documents and on-site following   up of the implementation process.

Perform an internal audit and prepare an improvement action plan in compliant with GlobalGAP standard for official Audit.

DELIVERABLES

• Assessment Report detailing the current situation of Orlar farm(s) and QMS documents and Improvement Plan
• QMS documents
• Training materials and report on food safety for Orlar farms on GlobalGAP standard
• Internal audit report including recommendations and plan for national food safety standards.

For more details on the Expression of Interest process, submission requirements, and evaluation details, please see corresponding sections below:

Selection Process

SNV will review all Expressions of Interest received in accordance with the guidelines and criteria in this solicitation. SNV reserves the right to exclude any EOIs that do not meet the guidelines. Please note that SNV is unable to provide detailed feedback to those EOIs that are not selected.

Step 1: SNV will shortlist selected EOIs, and unsuccessful respondents will be notified. Successful applicants will be contacted by SNV.

Step 2: SNV will release Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for the specific activities and contract with the selected organizations/ consultants.

Protection of Information

We request that Expressions of Interest responses be free of any intellectual property that the applicant wishes to protect. Should offerors wish to include proprietary intellectual property that they believe would be helpful for SNV, please note the proprietary nature of such information. Costing information will be kept confidential and will not be shared beyond SNV.

Issuance of this EOI does not constitute a commitment, award, or engagement on the part of SNV nor does it commit SNV to any future commitment or engagement.

Note: SNV reserves the right to change or cancel this requirement in the EOI/or solicitation process at any time.