Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to engage development partners to collaborate with the Department of Agriculture (DoA) in the commercialisation of grain production by smallholder and communal farmers within the Eastern Cape Province. The initiative aims to enhance grain production, align support with provincial potential, build a robust agro-processing value chain, and increase the province’s contribution to national grain output.

Scope

• Partner with smallholder and clustered communal farmers to produce grain crops during the 2025/26 season on a sustainable commercial trajectory.
• Operate within designated Grain Corridors identified based on the province’s natural resources and production potential.
• Provide detailed project proposals including beneficiary lists, land ownership/rental details, and implementation plans.
• Support the establishment of grain corridors to improve production, support alignment with provincial capacity, and foster agro-processing development.
• Indicate target yields, hectares, costs, and contributions (partner, farmer, and DoA) for proposed projects.
• Ensure beneficiaries are not already supported through existing DoA mechanization or input programs.
• Outline methodologies for project implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and support services.
• Potentially engage multiple partners across different geographical areas to mitigate risks and enhance capacity.

Technical Requirements

1. Proposal Submission: Submit a comprehensive project plan detailing key stages, beneficiary information, and operational strategies.
2. Beneficiary Details: Provide signed lists of beneficiaries, including demographic details such as gender, youth, disabled persons, and veterans.
3. Cost and Contribution Breakdown: Clearly specify target yields, hectares, costs per hectare, and non-governmental contributions (partner and farmer inputs). The DoA contribution is limited to R6,000 per hectare VAT inclusive.
4. Ownership and Machinery: Indicate ownership or rental of harvesting machinery, including type, size, and efficiency.
5. Implementation Methodology: Outline the approach for hectare allocation, activity schedules, technical support, financial commitments, and monitoring/evaluation processes.
6. Experience and References: Demonstrate successful implementation of similar projects through references and experience records.
7. Partnership and Appointment: The department reserves the right to appoint multiple partners and will evaluate based on geographic spread, past performance, and capacity.
8. Compliance: Submit all compulsory documents, including project implementation plans, beneficiary lists, signed agreements, and relevant certifications.
9. Evaluation Criteria: Bids will be assessed on administrative compliance, functionality (minimum score of 65 points), price, and specific goals (preference points for ownership, location, and demographic representation).
10. Preference Points: Points will be awarded for ownership (black, women, youth, disabled), location within Eastern Cape, and previous experience, contributing to a total of 20 preference points.

Summary

This tender seeks qualified development partners to support smallholder and communal grain farmers through project proposals that include detailed beneficiary data, operational plans, cost contributions, machinery ownership, and experience. The process emphasizes compliance, technical capability, and alignment with provincial development goals, with evaluation based on administrative, technical, financial, and socio-economic criteria.