Job Description
INVITATION FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
PARTNER WITH THE MARKET-ORIENTED DAIRY PROJECT TO PILOT THE USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES ON SMALL-SCALE DAIRY FARMS
Job Details:
- Title: Renewable Energy Use on Small-scale Dairy Farms
- Location of Assignment: Sri Lanka
- Anticipated Start Date: June 1, 2024
- Anticipated End Date: July 30, 2024
Objective:
The objective of this request for Expression of Interest (EOI) is to partner with an appropriate organization in the field of renewable energy to support the Market-Oriented Dairy (MOD) project to pilot relevant new techniques and technologies with dairy farmers implementing Climate-Smart Dairy (CSD) practices.
Background and Justification:
Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) is a US based nonprofit that creates and expands economic opportunities, helping to lift those we support out of poverty. We believe that helping enterprises grow is the most sustainable way for communities to have access to jobs and for families and people to have opportunities for a better quality of life. We have helped businesses in a variety of sectors, including agriculture, create or save more than 1.5 million jobs in 137 countries across the world. Our major funders today are the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), among others.
Sri Lanka's dairy sector is currently not reaching its productivity and economic potential. This is primarily due to production constraints including an insufficient amount of quality feed available subject to seasonal variation, poor animal health as a result of farmers not implementing basic best practices in animal management, inefficient management and utilization of available resources for livestock production, and limited extension services which lead to poor linkages between technology sources such as research centers and end users.
With the increasing energy cost and needing to implement best practices in dairy management to ensure farm operations are productive and efficient, it is imperative that the more progressive farmers consider alternative sources of energy. Thus, the MOD project, working with its most progressive farmers, wants to identify alternative energy sources that are cost-effective and viable. In doing so, MOD also wants to promote its CSD model.
Most of the farms ready for the use of renewable energy are mechanized and require a monthly energy capacity of about five kilowatts.
Interested organizations should be able to provide competitive and most economical technology that is affordable to the farmers, demonstrating a return on investments within a period of at least three to four years.
Since this is a pilot initiative starting with about 25 farms, interested organizations are encouraged to indicate an innovative approach to making renewable energy more affordable and sustainable to small-scale dairy farmers.
Approach:
The MOD Project will facilitate visits to the selected farms in several districts for the short-listed organizations to obtain a first-hand understanding of their operations and energy requirements. This will help the organizations propose the most appropriate and cost-effective technology. Following the visit, the organizations will submit a proposal on the approach, funding mechanisms, if any, and the costs involved along with the timeline to complete the activity.
The MOD evaluation committee will select and announce the organization selected within one week of submission.
Qualifications:
Organizations applying must be a registered company in Sri Laka with a track record of working in the field of renewable energy for at least five years or more. The viability of the proposed technology will be verified through past references.
Selection Process:
The organization will be selected based on a competitive process considering the following:
- Past performance in the use of the technology proposed
- Value proposition for the farmer (funding mechanism, affordability, and competitive price)
- Quality of the product including relevant warranties and guarantees
- Service agreements and ability to work in rural Sri Lanka
- Ability to complete the project in a reasonable timeframe
- Cost-share percentage, if any, to support the pilot initiative to introduce renewable energy to dairy farming
Interested parties must send their EOI on or before Friday, May 17, 2024 at 17:50 Sri Lanka Standard Time. The EOI should be e-mailed to [email protected].
Shortlisted parties will be invited for a pre-bid briefing with MOD, with an opportunity to discuss their proposal and obtain clarifications: May 22, 2024
Upon completion of MOD's pre-bid briefing, as a result of this EOI, shortlisted parties will be invited through a Request for Proposal (RFP) to submit final proposals.
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