The Supply of Fertilizers under the Fertilizer Subsidy Scheme

1. The Small Farmers Welfare Fund is a parastatal organisation established under the Act No 12 of 2002 and working under the aegis of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security to promote the economic and social welfare of small farmers and their families in Mauritius and Rodrigues.

2. Funding has been provided to finance the Fertilizer Subsidy Scheme (FSS). Under this Scheme, subsidy to the tune of 50% on the cost of fertilizers, will be provided to food crop growers (open field, protected culture and hydroponics) for one crop cycle.

3. The Fund is therefore inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from prospective suppliers engaged in retailing of fertilizers in Mauritius.

4. The Objectives:

The purpose of this assignment is to select suppliers to supply Fertilizers, under the above Scheme, to small planters registered with the SFWF in Mauritius.

You are requested to quote for the items mentioned in Section I.

5. The Operational Modalities of the Scheme:

• The SFWF will select through the Expression of Interest exercise, suppliers with whom the SFWF will work for the supply of Fertilizers under the FSS.

• The Established list of selected suppliers together with their lists of proposed fertilizers and rates will be made available to small registered planters (through brochure and website).

• Small registered planters will apply for the subsidy at the SFWF, on line or in person and indicate their land acreage under crop production, the fertilizers and corresponding            quantities they intend to purchase and the supplier from whom they will purchase the

• A Voucher System will be implemented, through which the corresponding original copy of the voucher indicating name of planter, the amount of subsidy to be granted             based on the land acreage, and quantity of fertilizers etc, as declared by the planter             above, at time of applying for the Scheme, will be remitted to the planter;

• Planters will then have to present their original vouchers, National Identity Card and Valid Planter’s Card and pay the price difference to the said suppliers before collecting             their products;

• Following delivery of the inputs by the supplier/s against the said original vouchers, necessary claims in terms of a periodic return of said vouchers collected (not exceeding     1 month) would be made thereafter by the supplier/s to the SFWF for payment.

• Supplier will have to submit a monthly report on sales of fertilizers.

• A monitoring SFWF Team would effect sample field visit to ascertain use of fertilizer.

• Inspection and Tests

The inspections and tests shall be: Sample may be required prior to award

Following remittance of vouchers to planters, a team comprising of officers of the SFWF and officers from other relevant institutions may conduct inspections of the fertilizer at the different locations/outlets of the suppliers. Inspections will be conducted as follows:

• Physical inspections of the product packing.
• Physical inspections of the product in terms of quality and quantity through random checking.

Random sample will be taken from consignment delivered to planters, in the presence of the supplier, to be tested by accredited laboratories as recognized by the Republic of Mauritius and the cost will be borne by the supplier.

The Fund may reject the products or any part thereof that fail to pass any test and/or inspection or do not conform to the specifications. The supplier shall either rectify or replace such rejected products or parts thereof or make alterations necessary to meet the specifications.

6. Time Schedule

It is estimated that the duration of this project shall be for a period of one year.

7. Delivery

• All fertilizers would be accepted only upon recommendations of FAREI.

• Suppliers must be able to start delivery of products to planters one week after a firm             confirmation through a letter of acceptance by the SFWF;

• The supplier must be able to supply the total quantity of product/s to be distributed to the targeted planters equivalent to their requirements, on periodic basis;

• The supplier must have its own distribution system for the Fertilizers either directly to planters on fields or through its own retail outlets or those of intermediaries in        In case the supplier is working through intermediaries, supplier should        ensure that the SFWF voucher system is being respected. The SFWF would not bear         any responsibility in terms of mismanagement of the delivery system;

• The supplier must be able to abide to the modus operandi of the Scheme, including vouchers system and payment as per the set procedures of the SFWF;

• Suppliers must provide direction of use on the packaging of their products. Labeling shall be in English or French; and

• The proposed price should be valid for a period of six (6) months. Fluctuations would be allowed following acceptable justification of the SFWF Board.

8. Eligibility Criteria

• have the legal capacity to enter into a contract to supply the goods and related services;
• not be insolvent, in receivership, bankrupt, subject to legal proceedings for any of these circumstances or in the process of being wound up;
• not have had your business activities suspended;
• not have a conflict of interest in relation to this procurement requirement;
• have a valid trading licence.
• Company profile
• Business Registration Certificate
• Audited Yearly Accounts for the last three years to demonstrate the soundness of the supplier’s financial position.
• have at least 5 years of General Experience in the storage and supply of Fertilizers.

9. Documents Establishing Conformity of Goods prior to delivery of Fertilizers

The selected supplier should produce a Certificate of Analysis issued by local accredited body that the fertilizers to be supplied are conformed to standards as established by the Republic of Mauritius three days before delivery as follows:

• Goods manufactured locally – for each production batch
• Imported goods – for each consignment and batches

10. A Pre Bid meeting has been scheduled for Friday 21^st January 2022 at 10.30 a.m. at the    Small Farmers Welfare Fund, 2^nd Floor, MCIA Building, St Pierre. Interested parties may         choose to attend.

11. Submission of the EOI

Proposals should be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly marked SFWF/Fertilizers/01/22/EOI addressed to the Manager, Small Farmers Welfare Fund, MCIA Building, 2^nd Floor, St Pierre and should be deposited in the Tender Box on or before Monday 31^st January 2022up to 3.00 p.m. (local time) at latest.

12. Queries

Any clarifications sought by any bidder in respect of the EOI shall be addressed in writing to the Manager, Small Farmers Welfare Fund, Fax No. 433 3249 so as to reach him at least seven (7) days before the deadline for the submission of the application.

The SFWF reserves the right to accept or reject any interest expressed and to annul the whole Expression of Interest exercise without hereby incurring any liability whatsoever to any participant.

Section I: List of Goods And Price Schedule

QUOTATION FOR: FERTILIZERS                                                                                                  Procurement Ref No. SFWF/Fertilizers/01/22/EOI

Note:    1. Prices quoted shall be fixed and in Mauritian Rupees.

2. **Subject to recommendation of FAREI