REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 

PROJECT BACKGROUNF AND SCOPE OF WORK background and scope of work 

1. About gain

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with both governments and businesses, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious food for all people.

At GAIN, we believe that everyone in the world should have access to nutritious and safe food. We work to understand and deliver specific solutions to the daily challenge of food insecurity faced by poor people. By understanding that there is no “one-size-fits-all” model, we develop alliances and build tailored programmes, using a variety of flexible models and approaches.

We build alliances between governments, local and global businesses, and civil society to deliver sustainable improvements at scale. We are part of a global network of partners working together to create sustainable solutions to malnutrition. Through alliances, we provide technical, financial and policy support to key participants in the food system. We use specific learning, evidence of impact, and results of projects and programmes to shape and influence the actions of others. 

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, GAIN has representative offices in Denmark, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In addition, we have country offices in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Tanzania. Programmes and projects are carried out in a variety of other countries, particularly in Africa and Asia.

2. Background

The Nutritious Fruit Bars Project, implemented by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) under the DANIDA Market Development Partnerships (DMDP), aimed to address malnutrition, reduce post-harvest fruit losses, and promote inclusive business models in Pakistan. The project utilized the SUN Business Network (SBN) Pakistan Platform, focused on fostering partnerships, developing locally produced, nutritious fruit bars to improve dietary diversity, particularly among vulnerable populations, while creating inclusive income-generating opportunities across the fruit value chain.

Despite the critical role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan’s economy contributing to 78% of non-agriculture sector employment and 25% of exports these businesses face significant challenges, including insufficient market linkages, limited capacity-building opportunities, and a complex regulatory environment. SMEs, particularly in the agri-food sector, require targeted support to improve their competitiveness and sustainability.

In response to these challenges, GAIN is launching a Request for Proposals (RFP) to provide operational support to the SMEs engaged in fruit processing industry, in alignment with the GAIN’s project focused on developing nutritious protein balanced fruit bars. The objective of this initiative is to address gaps in equipment, capacity and other operational challenges faced by these SMEs, enabling them to produce high quality fruit bars that contribute to tackling malnutrition and post harvest fruit losses in Pakistan. Through this RFP, GAIN aims to identify and support the specific needs of partner companies to enhance their production capabilities and meet the project’s nutritional goals. This initiative is aligned with the SUN Movement Strategy SUN 3.0 (2021–2025), seeks to encourage and support businesses in developing innovative solutions to enhance their operations, increase market reach, and contribute to sustainable growth in the agri-food industry. 

3. OBJECTIVES : The main objectives to launch this RFP are as under:

4. To facilitate SMEs/SBN Member Companies to enhance their operational capacity through access to upgraded equipment/machinery and technical support.

5. To assist the fruit processing partner companies in improving product quality, packaging efficiency, and compliance with market requirements, thereby increasing their competitiveness in the markets.  

4. Scope of work

Proposals are requested from the potential/partner companies to be/engaged in the fruit processing industry, specifically in the production of nutritious protein balanced fruit bars. The selected companies are expected to identify and address operational gaps in their current production processes to meet the project objective of Nutritious Fruit Bars Project of GAIN aimed at “To foster economic growth for fruit processors and producers by developing protein balanced nutritious fruit bars/products that ultimately reduce malnutrition and promote environmental sustainability through minimizing food wastes and optimized resource use”. 

The scope of work includes the following key components: 

1. Assessment of Operational Gaps: Partner companies are required to conduct an internal assessment of their production facilities to identify any operational gaps, including missing or inadequate equipment, infrastructure, or technical capabilities that hinder the efficient production of protein-balanced fruit bars.

2. Identification of Equipment and Operational Needs: Based on the assessment, companies should outline the specific equipment, machinery, or other resources required to fill these gaps and enhance production capacity. This may include processing equipment, packaging solutions, and quality control tools.

3. Capacity Building Requirements: Proposals should include any identified needs for capacity building, such as workforce training or process improvements, to support the effective production of high-quality, nutritious fruit bars.

4. Commitment on the Results: Proposals should outline the commitment of the partner companies to deliver the project results, including the expected launch date of the product (Protein fruit bars). They should also provide an estimate of number of servings they plan to produce and sell annually. Additionally, companies should outline their planned distribution and marketing channels, including how they intend to promote and distribute the product to reach target (low income) consumers effectively. 

5. Implementation Plan: Companies should provide a detailed plan for implementing the proposed solutions, including timelines for procurement, installation, and operationalization of the required equipment and resources. This plan should also include estimates of associated costs.

6. Sustainability Considerations: Proposals should outline how the company plans to ensure the long-term sustainability of the proposed solutions, including maintenance and ongoing support for the equipment and processes once the project support concludes.

5. Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for submitting a proposal in response to this RFP, the following criteria must be met:

1. The company must be a Small or Medium Enterprise (SME) actively involved in thefruit/food processing industry, particularly in the production of fruit-based products.

2. The company must commit to actively participating in the GAIN Nutritious Fruit Bar Project, report on enhanced capacity and progress as proposed, and must be a registered member of the SUN Business Network (SBN) Pakistan. 

3. The company must have a functional production facility with the capability to scale up production if necessary. This includes having the ability to implement new equipment or processes to enhance production efficiency.

4. The company must demonstrate financial stability and the ability to manage the proposed project efficiently, including providing necessary documentation (e.g., financial statements, bank references, etc.).

5. The company must commit to cover 20% -30% of the total cost of the needed equipment/ machinery. 

6. The company must commit to procure, install, and operationalize the equipment/machinery within a period of three months. 

7. The company must agree to provide regular progress updates and a final impact report as per the project requirements.

8. The company must commit to provide the desired results of the projects (production and selling of protein balanced, nutritious fruit bars) within the stipulated time frame of one year. 

INSTRCUTIONS FOR RESPONDING

6. Proposal Submission Guidelines

Interested companies are requested to submit a comprehensive proposal that addresses the scope of work outlined in this RFP. Proposals should be submitted in the following format:

1. Company Profile: A brief overview of the company profile highlighting the relevant experience in the fruit/food processing industry.

2. Operational Assessment: A detailed analysis of the company’s current production processes (specific to the production of fruit bars), identifying any gaps in equipment or operational capacity that are hindering the production of protein-balanced fruit bars.

3. Proposed Solutions: A detailed plan to address the identified gaps, including the type of equipment and machinery required, capacity-building needs, and any other operational improvements.

4. Budget and Cost Sharing: A breakdown of the cost for various items to address the identified gaps, including the required equipment and any other support needed. In addition, companies should specify their contribution towards these costs/budget and they support they seek from the project/GAIN. 

5. Vendor Information: Companies should identify and provide details of the vendors/suppliers from whom they intend to purchase the identified equipment/machinery. This includes providing vendor names, contact information, equipment features and specifications, and quotations for the equipment. 

6. Product Launch and Market Strategy: Information on the projected timeline for the product launch, estimated production volume (in servings per year), and the proposed distribution and marketing strategies to ensure the success of the product in the market.

7. Sustainability Plan: A plan for maintaining and sustaining the improvements beyond project’s support phase, including maintenance plans for new equipment and processes. 

Note: Proposal should highlight the willingness of the company to share costs or provide in kind support, demonstrating their commitment to the success of the project. 

7. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Alignment with Project Objectives: The extent to which the proposal meets the goals of developing protein-balanced fruit bars to tackle malnutrition in Pakistan.

2. Feasibility and Effectiveness of the Proposed Solutions: The quality and practicality of the proposed solutions to address identified operational gaps.

3. Experience and Capacity: The company’s track record in the food processing industry, particularly in producing similar products or scaling production.

4. Product Launch and Market Strategy: The feasibility of the proposed timeline for product launch, annual production targets, and the effectiveness of the distribution and marketing strategy.

5. Cost Efficiency: The reasonableness of the proposed budget and the overall cost-effectiveness of the solution.

6. Sustainability: The sustainability of the proposed solutions, including the company’s plans for long-term maintenance and support.

7. SBN Membership Duration: The duration of the company’s membership with the SUN Business Network (SBN) Pakistan is a mandatory criterion. 

8. Budget and Financial Considerations

All applicants are required to submit a detailed budget that includes:

1. Cost Breakdown: A breakdown of all costs associated with addressing operational gaps, including but not limited to equipment, machinery, installation, and training costs.

2. Cost Sharing: A breakdown of the budget in terms of contribution of the company (at least 20%-30%) and the support seek from the project/GAIN (70%-80%). 

3. Funding Limits: Please note that the available funding for this project is limited, and proposals should be realistic in terms of budget allocation. Companies may be asked to adjust their proposals based on available funds.

9. Submission DEADLINE : [ AUGUST 17, 2025]

Submission Method: All proposals must be submitted electronically to [[email protected]] before August 17, 2025.

10. DISCLAIMER : GAIN reserves the right to reject any and all proposals received in response to this RFP and is in no way to bound to accept any proposals. GAIN additionally preserves the right to negotiate the substance of the successful applicants’ proposals, as well as the option of accepting partial components of a proposal if deemed appropriate.