[Consultancy] Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) Supply of agricultural equi

*** Pour la version en francais, veuillez la consulter et postulerici sur le site de la Fondation Sephis *** Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) Supply of agricultural equipment - small and medium-sized artisanal enterprises (Ghana, Guinea and Ivory Coast) I. ABOUT THE SEPHIS FOUNDATION The SEPHIS Foundation is an organization committed to promoting inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurship in West Africa. It focuses its actions on strengthening the capacities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with particular attention to the economic empowerment of women and young people. Through its programs, SEPHIS supports local economic actors by facilitating access to financing, offering training adapted to the realities on the ground and contributing to the development of sustainable value chains, particularly in the agricultural and agro-industrial sectors. Since its inception, the Foundation has supported over 5,000 women entrepreneurs. In 15 years of operation, SEPHIS has established itself as a leading player in supporting the growth of women-led SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa. Through an integrated approach combining market access and financing, it actively contributes to the creation of sustainable value on the continent. Present in Ivory Coast, Senegal and Togo, SEPHIS has supported more than 5,000 SMEs and mobilized nearly 10 million euros, enabling more than 1,000 women-owned businesses to access structuring financing. Within the framework of the nature-based climate adaptation project in the forests of Guinea in West Africa ( NbS Guinean Forests), the SEPHIS Foundation provides operational management of the "Business Exchange" component, thus contributing to strengthening the viability and growth of the local beneficiary companies. II. CONTEXT The Nature-Based Climate Adaptation in Guinean Forests of West Africa ( NbS Guinean Forests) project aims to strengthen the local and regional capacities of communities living in the Guinean forest zone in Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Guinea, in nature-based climate adaptation solutions, while promoting transformational leadership of women. It is implemented by a consortium composed of World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) in partnership with national and international partner organizations. It is funded by Global Affairs Canada under the Partnership for Climate Action and aims for three main objectives: strengthen women's leadership in climate adaptation planning processes; increase the restoration of degraded forests and key habitats with benefits for biodiversity; to promote inclusive and gender-sensitive investments that generate sustainable income for women. III. CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (AMI) As part of the implementation of the "Business Exchange" component of the NbS Guinean Forests project, the SEPHIS Foundation is launching this Call for Expressions of Interest (CEI) in order to establish a database of qualified suppliers for the provision of equipment and materials adapted to the needs of small and medium-sized artisanal enterprises, particularly in the agricultural and agro-industrial sectors. This call is addressed to companies, distributors, manufacturers and other commercial structures capable of supplying, in quantity and within reasonable timeframes, quality equipment to Ghana, Guinea and Ivory Coast, or to at least one of these countries. Candidates selected following this call for expressions of interest will be listed in the SEPHIS Foundation's supplier directory. This listing is a prerequisite for participating in restricted tenders that will be launched later for equipment acquisitions for the benefit of Business Grant recipients. It is important to note that selection under this call for expressions of interest does not constitute a contract award. It aims solely to prequalify suppliers who meet the technical, administrative, and operational requirements of the project. Interested suppliers are invited to express their interest in supplying small equipment, particularly in the following categories (indicative and non-exhaustive list): Category Equipment type Agricultural tools Irrigation kits and watering equipment; portable tractors ; mechanized weeders ; threshers (mechanized, portable, etc.); seed drills ; tillers ; shredders ; dabas ; machetes ; sickles and scythes; fertilizer spreaders ; solar generators. Storage and transport Food dehydrators ; drying chimneys ; grain dryers ; mini -silos; storage nets ; motorized tricycles. agricultural transformation Multifunctional shredders; briquette production machines ; animal feed pellet manufacturing machines ; heat presses ; food processing machines (biscuits, sweets, etc.) soap manufacturing equipment ; pottery machines ; ointment manufacturing and mixing equipment. Protection Personal protective equipment adapted to agricultural and processing activities. IV. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS Candidates wishing to respond to this Call for Expressions of Interest (CEI) are required to submit a complete application including the elements listed below. Any incomplete application or one that does not meet the requirements may be rejected. 1. General information about the company The full company name; A summary presentation (profile) of the company including: history, areas of intervention, organization, main activities and markets covered; The presentation file must not exceed five (5) pages, including brochures. 2. Administrative and legal documents A copy of the company's registration certificate or any equivalent document (trade register, articles of incorporation, etc.), in accordance with the legislation of the country of registration; A valid copy of the tax identification certificate (or equivalent); A valid tax compliance certificate or any equivalent document required in the country of origin. 3. Coordinates and geographical presence The full physical address of the company's headquarters; GPS coordinates (if available); The addresses of the offices or representations in the country or countries concerned by the AMI; A working phone number and a valid email address. 4. Experience and technical skills A description of the company's experience in supplying equipment similar to that mentioned in this AMI; Proof of at least three (3) years of relevant experience in the country or countries concerned; Evidence demonstrating the company's ability to deliver equipment in the required quantity and within the required timeframe (contract references, purchase orders, invoices, certificates of satisfactory performance, etc.); A description of logistical capabilities (storage, transport, after-sales service, geographical coverage, etc.). 5. Professional References At least three (3) letters of recommendation or client references, ideally from the country in which the candidate wishes to work; For applications covering multiple countries, three (3) separate references per country are required; References should include customer contact details for possible verification. 6. Compliance, ethics and litigation A declaration on honor attesting that the company is in compliance with legal and tax obligations; A statement regarding the absence of fraudulent practices, corruption or conflicts of interest; A list of all ongoing or past litigation within the last five (5) years, specifying the parties involved and the status of the case. 7. Additional information (if applicable) Any relevant certification (quality, technical standards, approvals, etc.); Any additional information deemed useful to demonstrate the company's technical and financial capacity. Important notes: All documents must be submitted in French, English or accompanied by a certified translation; The SEPHIS Foundation reserves the right to request additional information or supporting documents; The information provided may be subject to verification with the relevant authorities or the references indicated. V. EVALUATION CRITERIA Expressions of interest received under this Call for Expressions of Interest (CEI) will be evaluated by the SEPHIS Foundation according to a structured, transparent process based on pre-established qualification criteria. The evaluation is solely for the prequalification of suppliers for inclusion in the SEPHIS Foundation database. It does not constitute a contract award. 1. Administrative compliance (Elimination criterion) Applications will be reviewed first and foremost based on their compliance with the submission requirements. Any incomplete application or one that does not meet the minimum requirements will be deemed ineligible. 2. Professional Experience and References Demonstrated experience of at least three (3) years in the supply of similar equipment; Quality and relevance of the customer references provided; Work experience in the countries covered by the project (Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast); Ability to deliver comparable equipment in terms of volume and complexity. 3. Technical and operational capacity Availability and diversity of equipment offered in relation to the project's needs; Production, supply and delivery capacity within the required timeframes; Presence or logistical capacity in the countries of intervention; Availability of after-sales services, maintenance or technical support, where applicable. 4. Financial capacity Overall financial strength of the company; Ability to execute large volume orders without operational risk; Stability of activities and continuity of operations over the last three years (if applicable). 5. Geographic Coverage Ability to intervene in one or more countries of the project (Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast); Local presence or partnerships enabling efficient delivery in targeted areas. 6. Ethical compliance and integrity Absence of major disputes or convictions related to fraudulent practices, corruption or non-compliance; Compliance with tax and social obligations; Commitment to respecting the princip