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

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).

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/. 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, 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.

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).

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

Interested organisations/ consultant teams/ individuals should submit the EOIs with following information/ documents via the instructions in this site.

Selection Process

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

SNV will shortlist selected Proposals, and unsuccessful respondents will be notified. Successful applicants will be contacted by SNV.

Protection of Information

We request that Proposal 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.