Request for Proposal (RFP)

Business Strategies Development for Aqua-machineries

A. Background

Angel Powertech Ltd (APT) was established in 2014 with different name, and the name was changed and registered as a limited company in 2018. The core business of this company is manufacturing and marketing of cost effective and user friendly solar powered equipment for fish firming, aquaculture, poultry, water recycling, agriculture and home appliances etc. The company has innovated few modern devices for aquaculture sector,like 4''x4'' Multi-level(Semi-submergible) DC pump, 4''x4'' & 2''x2'' centrifugal DC pump, Zet pump (1”x1”), etc.; small feed production machine for fish and poultry farm; aerator machine and machine for removing bottom gas deposition of the pond. The pumpsare unique in the DC pump sector of Bangladesh. These pumps consume very less amount of power, low cost, convenient and user friendly. Along with this pump they also developed a complete water recirculation plant to reduce the fossil fuel burning and stopover the wastage of valuable underground water. They also offer technical service for hatcheries on brood management, fish seedling production etc.

Those products obviously would help the sector to improve the production and its quality. But, before going to marketing those products, APT planned to check the feasibility and demand of those modern equipment’s and develop a business strategy by engaging a business development consultant with the help of USAID Feed the Future Bangladesh Aquaculture and Nutrition Activity (FtF BANA), implemented by WorldFish.

Feed the Future Bangladesh Aquaculture and Nutrition Activity, hereinafter referred to as Activity, is a five-year (2018-2023) award made by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to WorldFish in February 2018 with a aim to sustain positive aquaculture sector growth in south-west Bangladesh through an inclusive MarketSystemsApproach(MSA).

B. Objective

The purpose of this assignment is to check the feasibility and demand of Aqua machinery products developed by APT as well asdevelop a marketing strategy for them, so that they can promote their product in the market and provide the service to the target groups for increase the productivity at hatchery, Nursery and farmers level. The specific objectives of the proposal are:

• To know the entry barriers and opportunities for Aqua machineries for penetration in the target market
• To assess different financial offers of different financial institutes and develop a financial package for target groups so that they can afford the price of aqua machineries like Solar powered DC pump and water recirculation system.
• To develop business strategy so the APT can start their business with Aqua machineries 

C. Scope of work

The consulting firm/Consultant(s) will work in close coordination with Angel Powertech and WorldFish BANA Market Systems team, to undertake the tasks outlined in the Methodology & Activities section.

DeliverablesThe consultant is expected to deliver the following key outputs:

• Detail plan of the assignment
• Soft copies of the developed questionnaire/check list etc. use for information collection
• Plan for conducting assessment
• Soft copies of all prepared PowerPoint presentations
• Soft copies of all field findings
• Good photos of different events, if any
• Approved Business strategy paper submitted by Consultant
• Original bill vouchers as per contract agreement

Milestones

• Consultation with APT team members and the Activity team members, review different documents and prepare plan for conduct the assessment. -(3 days)-  15 December, 2018
• Preparation of assessment materials and assessment plan with the consultation of APT team members and the Activity team members (4 days)- 31 December2018
• Conduct assessment by facilitating consultation workshop/meeting, individual interview, KII etc. -(10 days)-  31 January, 2019
• Analyse the assessment findings and prepare a draft marketing strategy for APT -(6 days)-  15 February, 2018
• Update and submission of final marketing strategy for APT (2 days)- 20 February 2018

D. Methodology & Activities

• Desk review of the Activity and relevant documents related to developed devices and aquaculture practices in Bangladesh
• Consultation with Angel team& WorldFish Activity team
• Prepare visiting/meeting/workshop plan, assessment materials , logistics requirement,  and share with APT team
• Conduct field assessment by facilitating consultation workshop/meeting, individual interview, KII  with relevant different stakeholders
• Analyse and prepare a Marketing strategy for APT

E. Timing/Duration

The work is estimated to take place during a period of maximum 25 days, beginning on or around 15 December 2018.

F. Payment Terms:

The payment will be made in three instalments:

G. Technical Proposal Parameters

The technical proposal (max.5 pages) should include the following elements:

• Description of the firm/individual(s) capabilities and related experience
• Proposed resource needs
• Staff members who will be assigned to this account; percentage of their time, which will be devoted to this account
• Description of staff experience and competencies
• Estimated implementation timeline
• Detailed modality of possible assignment
• Identify challenges that could be addressed and mitigated
• References- please include names, contact numbers and the main type of services that the Firm/Consultant(s) provides/provided current/former clients

H. Required Documentation

• It is mandatory for bidding consulting firm/Consultant(s) to submit documentary evidence demonstrating their legal, taxation and financial status. This includes:
• A certificate of incorporation (for individual companies, a trade license);
• Joint stock registration certificate (if applicable)
• An organisational organogram of key personnel, inclusive of the names of such personnel;
• Tax Identification Number (TIN);
• VAT registration number;
• Proof of a segregated account (providing the name and address of such an account);
• Other valid papers (Provided by Government institutions)
• The consulting firm/Consultant(s) must bear all Annual Income Tax (AIT)
• Percentage of VAT and total amount of VAT should be mentioned in the proposal.

I. Criteria and scoring of evaluation

J. Submission Details

The technical and cost proposal must be submitted no later than the date and time listed on the cover page to the following address: In the course of preparing your proposal, it shall be your responsibility to ensure that it reaches the address below on or before the deadline.  Proposals that are received by APT after the deadline indicated above, for whatever reason, shall not be considered for evaluation.

Proposal to be submitted to:

Interested consulting firm/Consultant(s) should submit the both technical and financial proposal by 30 November 2018 before 11:59 pm to the address mentioned below.

Wing Commander NasirUddin (Retd.)
Chairman
Angel Powertech Ltd
BAFWWA Shopping Complex,
South building (3rd Floor),
Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka
Cell: +8801916644442

The bidders must submit the Technical and Financial proposal in 2 (two) separate sealed envelopes clearly marked on the envelope with “TECHNICAL PROPOSAL” and “FINANCIAL PROPOSAL” and the 2(two) envelopes shall then be sealed in an outer envelope bearing RFP Reference, subject, the address of APT proposer’s name and address. It must be taken care that the technical proposal must not mention any information related to financial proposal; otherwise the submission will be rejected. Upon delivery, applicants may request a stamped receipt confirming timely submission. Please note that incomplete proposals will not be reviewed

K. Questions and Clarifications

All questions and/or clarifications regarding this RFP must be submitted via email to angelpowertech@gmail.com no later than 15 November 2018. All correspondence and/or inquiries regarding this solicitation shall reference the RFP number in the subject line. No phone calls or in-person inquiries will be entertained; all questions and inquiries must be in writing.

L. Negotiations

Once the proposals are evaluated, APT may enter into negotiation with one or more than one consultant/consulting firm for final selection. If negotiations fail, APT will invite consultant/consulting firm whose proposal received and was the next highest score to negotiate a contract. APT reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals without assigning any reason what so ever.

M. Award of contract

The consultant/consulting firm expected to commence the assignment within one week of signing contract.