REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR: Requirement of Agency/Consultant for Value Chain Analysis: Diversification Pathways for farmers in Punjab

Date of Issue of RFP	4-12-2025
Last date for seeking clarifications	10-12-2025
Date of Pre-Proposal Meeting (Via VC)	12-12-2025
Last date for Submission of RFP	19-12-2025

INTRODUCTION

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a leading conservation organization working to make a positive impact around the world in 76 countries and territories. Founded in 1951, TNC’s mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. With our core values of integrity beyond reproach, respect for people communities and culture, and commitment to diversity we aim at environmental conservation through lasting tangible results.

Nature Conservancy India Solutions Private Limited (NCIS) is a Private Limited Company incorporated under The Companies Act, 2013. It is a subsidiary of The Nature Conservancy, one of the largest not-for-profit conservation organisations in the world. NCIS was incorporated with the objective of providing research, consulting, technical support, and advisory services to various stakeholders in and outside India relating to conservation of nature, environment, biodiversity, and climate change.

TNC launched PRANA (Promoting Regenerative and No-Burn Agriculture) in 2021 to eliminate crop residue burning, advance regenerative agriculture systems, and improve groundwater management. Since its inception, PRANA has broadened its scope to include Improved Rice Management (IRM) through climate-smart, water-saving practices such as Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) and Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD), alongside in-situ crop residue management (CRM). Today PRANA operates across 6,286 villages in 18 districts of Punjab. Crop diversification is a key strategy to address these and promote sustainable agriculture practices. PRANA is working with farmers, government, and private sector partners to promote crop diversification and market linkages in Punjab. PRANA is moving towards a broader approach to diversify away from paddy in Punjab through promotion of crops such as Pear, Poplar and Cotton. Three clusters for each of these crops have been set up in PRANA project area spread across 6 districts.

PURPOSE

NCIS seeks to engage a qualified agency or consultant to conduct Value Chain Analysis: Diversification Pathways for farmers in Punjab. The purpose of conducting a value chain analysis for diversification pathways in Punjab is to:

• Identify opportunities for farmers to diversify their crops
• Improve market linkages
• Increase in farmer incomes

This involves analysing the production, processing, and marketing of crops like poplar, pear, clonal eucalyptus, and cotton, with the goal of promoting sustainable agriculture practices and reducing crop residue burning.

CONTRACT TYPE AND CONTRACT SERVICES

NCIS will entertain under this, RFP Cost-Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) completion type contract(s)

BIDS

We welcome bids from bidders for successful implementation of the activities as mentioned in Objectives below

• Production to Market: Map the entire chain from farm inputs, cultivation, harvesting, processing, logistics, and market access for each target crop (poplar, pear, clonal eucalyptus, cotton).
• Stakeholder Mapping: Identify all actors — farmers, aggregators, processors, traders, government agencies, and financial institutions.
• Analyze Market Linkages and Value Chains: Examine production, processing, and marketing of these crops, assessing economic viability, costs, returns, and risks for smallholder farmers.
• Improve Market Access and Reduce Transaction Costs: Identify opportunities to enhance market access, reduce transaction costs, and increase farmer incomes.
• Assess Economic Viability: Evaluate the economic viability of these crops for smallholder farmers, including costs, returns, and risks.
• Policy & Regulatory Review: Assess existing policies, subsidies, and regulatory barriers/enablers for crop diversification.
• Provide Recommendations: Offer suggestions for TNC and its partners on opportunities for diversification and market linkages.

NCIS reserves the right to postpone or cancel the bidding process for one or more clusters with no prior notice.

PLACE AND PERIOD FOR PERFORMANCE

Place: Punjab, India

Period: December 2025 till 31st March 2026

PRE-BID QUERIES AND CLARIFICATIONS ON RFP

To clarify technical queries (excluding cost and fee) on RFP, Bidders must submit questions via email to manoj.singh@tnc.org; bhaskar.rattan@tnc.org, and any query relating to cost, bid price, etc. must be submitted to rajeeb.dash@tnc.org; praveen.thakur@tnc.org by no later than 11:59pm IST, 10/12/2025. All the queries received through submitted questions will be addressed during scheduled pre-proposal meeting on 12/12/2025.

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL

Last date for submission of proposal is 19/12/2025, by 11:59pm IST.

Technical and Financial Proposals are required in soft copy only. The subject line of the email submission should state “Technical/Financial bid against RFP for Value Chain Analysis” and will be shared at:

◻      Financial Bid: rajeeb.dash@tnc.org; praveen.thakur@tnc.org

◻      Technical Bid: manoj.singh@tnc.org; bhaskar.rattan@tnc.org

To download the full RFP, click here: RFP - Requirement of Agency/Consultant for Value Chain Analysis: Diversification Pathways for farmers in Punjab

Tags Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Others