REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF FRUIT TREE NURSERY INFRASTRUCTURE IN EMBU & KIRINYAGA COUNTIES

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

CONSTRUCTION OF FRUIT TREE NURSERY INFRASTRUCTURE IN EMBU & KIRINYAGA COUNTIES

Summary Information

RA Department: Impacts Programs, EASA

Location(s): Embu and Kirinyaga Counties, Kenya

Commitment: 60 Working Days

Desired start date and duration: August 24, 2026, to October 30, 2026

Under direction of: Project Coordinator- FLOURISH

About the Rainforest Alliance

The Rainforest Alliance (RA) is an international nonprofit organization working at the intersection of business, agriculture, and forests to make responsible business the new normal. We are building an alliance to protect forests, improve the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities, promote their human rights, and help them mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis. We envision a world where people and nature thrive in harmony.

The Rainforest Alliance is creating a more sustainable world by using social and market forces to protect nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities.

For more information, please visit http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/about.

Overview

Rainforest Alliance (RA) is implementing a project within Embu and Kirinyaga Counties of Mt. Kenya Landscape—i.e., Financial and Livelihood Opportunities Using Regenerative Innovation for Sustainable Households (FLOURISH), funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), to strengthen inclusive livelihoods, regenerative agriculture, and resilient supply chains in the Mount Kenya region.

The FLOURISH Project focuses on the economic empowerment of women and youth through an integrated approach that combines access to inclusive finance, enterprise development, market linkages, and regenerative agricultural practices. The program targets rural producers and entrepreneurs by strengthening Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), scaling nature-positive income-generating activities, and improving access to affordable financial services through revolving funds, digital finance solutions, and linkages to formal financial institutions. The FLOURISH Project places strong emphasis on gender equity, youth inclusion, and community-led financial systems that enable sustainable enterprise growth and long-term resilience.

The FLOURISH Project creates a coherent programmatic framework that links inclusive finance, regenerative production systems, enterprise development, and market access. These initiatives are designed to mutually reinforce economic resilience, environmental sustainability, and inclusive growth for smallholder farming communities, while delivering measurable social, environmental, and supply-chain outcomes

Contractor’s Scope of Work

Main Objectives

To engage a qualified contractor to construct 3 metallic fruit tree nurseries and install water storage systems, as per specifications below

1. Construction of 3 Tree Nurseries

• Design and construct 3 metallic nursery structures with appropriate shade netting, measuring 30M x 50M.
• Ensure structures are durable, ventilated, and suitable for fruit tree seedling propagation.
• Include walkways, germination beds, and hardening areas as per standard nursery design.

1. Water Infrastructure

• Supply and install 10,000L water storage tanks at each nursery site.
• Construct 3 flat water tank stands/structures to ensure gravity-fed water supply for irrigation.
• Connect tanks to the source and to the nurseries with appropriate piping and tap stands.

1. Handover and training

• Conduct site handover with FLOURISH team and community nursery managers.
• Provide basic training/briefing on maintenance of metallic structures and water systems.

Deliverables

1. 3 fully constructed metallic fruit tree nurseries, installed and operational.
2. 4 x 10,000L tanks installed on 3 flat structures.
3. Completion report with photos, GPS coordinates, and handover certificate signed by site representatives.

General Terms and Conditions for Request for Proposal

• Applicants must provide all requisite information under this RFP and clearly and concisely respond to all points set out in this RFP. Any proposal, which does not fully and comprehensively address this RFP, may be rejected.
• Proposals and/or any additional information received after the submission time and date are subject to rejection by RA.
• Incomplete proposals may be rejected by RA at its discretion.
• RA reserves the right to request additional information at any time during the procurement process.
• RA is at liberty to make multiple or no selections as part of the proposal process. RA also reserves the right to cancel the procurement.
• All proposal costs shall be borne by the applicant and will not be reimbursed by RA.
• It is the responsibility of every bidder to identify any information of a confidential or proprietary nature contained in its proposal so that it may be handled accordingly. However, RA cannot guarantee confidentiality.

Selection Criteria and qualifications

1. Legal & Compliance

• Certificate of incorporation/business registration in Kenya
• Valid KRA PIN and Tax Compliance Certificate
• NHIF and NSSF compliance certificates
• Current business permit

1. Technical Experience

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in construction of agricultural infrastructure: greenhouses, nurseries, shade houses, livestock structures
• Proven experience with metallic/steel structures and shade netting installation
• Proven experience supplying and installing water tanks and elevated masonry stands 3m+ high
• At least 3 similar contracts completed in last 3 years

1. Capacity & Resources

• Team: Qualified site supervisor/foreman and skilled welders/masons and plumbers, include CVs.
• Tools/equipment: Welding machines, concrete mixers, transport for 10,000L tanks and steel
• Ability to work in Embu and Kirinyaga counties and mobilize within 2 weeks

1. Desirable/Added Advantage

• Experience working with NGOs, county governments, or donor-funded projects
• Knowledge of nursery design standards: ventilation, germination beds, hardening areas, drainage
• After-sales/maintenance support for metallic structures and water systems
• Local presence or past work in Embu/Kirinyaga

Proposal Process and Format

A signed Letter of Interest, indicating the applicant’s interest, availability, and suitability to undertake the assignment.

Technical Proposal (Maximum 5 pages, excluding annexes)

The Technical Proposal should clearly demonstrate the applicant’s understanding of the assignment and proposed implementation approach, and must include:

• A clear understanding and interpretation of the Terms of Reference.
• A proposed approach and methodology
• A detailed workplan and schedule of activities aligned with the deliverables.
• Team composition, including roles and responsibilities, with CVs of proposed team members (maximum three pages per CV).
• Proof of required competencies, including references for at least three similar assignments of comparable scope and complexity.

Financial Proposal

The Financial Proposal should be submitted separately and include:

• A detailed consultancy fee proposal (in KES), broken down by level of effort and key activities.
• A clear budget for logistical arrangements, including procurement of and transportation of materials to the sites, travel, accommodation, and field-level costs, where applicable.

Consultant Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Demonstrated understanding of the Terms of Reference.
• Quality and robustness of the proposed methodology, including innovation and value addition.
• Evidence for successful completion of similar assignments, particularly in construction of commercial fruit tree nursery infrastructures.
• Team composition, qualifications, and firm’s capacity.
• Cost-effectiveness and clarity of the financial proposal.
• Availability

Criteria

Weight (%)

Technical proposal

80

·       Understanding of TOR

30

·       Methodology

30

·       Team composition and expertise

10

·       Previous experience

10

Financial Proposal or budget

10

Availability

10

Total

100

Anticipated Maximum Level of Effort by the Consultant:

The anticipated maximum level of effort for the Consultant is Sixty (60) net working days, spread over two (2) month-period from August to October 2026. The level of effort will cover all activities outlined in this Terms of Reference, including resource mobilization, logistics, nursery set up and construction, and training of community and handholding support to the targeted 3 nursery groups in the Mt. Kenya region.

The allocation of working days will be phased across the consultancy period to allow for iterative implementation, follow-up, performance monitoring, and adaptive support, particularly during the two-month mentorship and performance improvement phase.

The stated level of effort excludes time required by Rainforest Alliance for review, validation, and approval of deliverables, as well as any delays attributable to external factors beyond the Consultant’s control. The Company will be expected to manage time effectively and coordinate closely with Rainforest Alliance’s designated staff to ensure timely submission of all deliverables in accordance with the agreed workplan.

Proposals should be submitted to [email protected] and cc to [email protected] with the subject line “Construction of commercial fruit tree nursery infrastructures” on or before 14th  August 2026

Finalists will be notified of their selection by August 21, 2026.

Contact person for questions

Janet Muema, [email protected]

Deadline for submission of proposals

14th August, 2026

Thank you for your interest in working with the Rainforest Alliance