Feasibility Studies for Sustainable Agricultural Infrastructure in the Lobito Corridor, Angola

New clarification added: Question 1: We hereby request clarification regarding the reference to “open, national/regional competition.” Our intention is to submit a proposal as a joint venture between two Portuguese companies, both with extensive experience in Angola and in the region. It is not clear whether such a JV configuration is admissible under the stated eligibility requirements, and this information is essential for defining our bidding structure.In parallel, the current deadline of 17 December falls at a time when companies are managing several simultaneous proposal submissions, immediately followed by the Christmas and New Year period. This significantly limits the availability of technical and administrative resources needed to prepare a complete and robust proposal.In light of the above, we respectfully request that the submission deadline be extended, preferably to mid-January, but at least until the end of December, allowing sufficient time to incorporate your clarification and to prepare a proposal that meets the expected technical standards.Answer 1: Regarding the Joint Venture (JV) Configuration: Joint Ventures are admissible under this tender. The reference to "open, national/regional competition" indicates the anticipated market and advertising scope, but does not automatically exclude international companies unless explicitly stated in the Eligibility section of the Tender Particulars. A JV formed by two international (e.g., Portuguese) companies is generally eligible, provided that:All JV members meet the eligibility criteria (e.g., not suspended/debarred).The JV collectively meets the qualification criteria (financial, technical experience) as specified in the tender documents.The JV is legally constituted or represented by a lead member with the authority to bind the JV.Regarding the Deadline Extension: UNOPS acknowledges the constraints posed by the upcoming holiday season and the need for sufficient time to prepare high-quality proposals. To ensure a competitive process and allow bidders to incorporate these clarifications, the submission deadline is hereby extended.New Submission Deadline: 31 December 2025.

New clarification added: Question 1: Could you please provide the locations, the estimated number of hectares, or any geographical limitations of the areas where the locations for project implementation are expected?Answer 1: The project locations are expected to be within the following municipalities:Huambo Province: Caala, Longonjo, and Huambo Sede.Benguela Province: Cubal, Ganda, Caimbambo, and Babaera.Geographical Limitations: Locations are expected to be within a maximum travel distance of approximately 3 hours from the respective municipal centers.Estimated Intervention Areas: The estimated total intervention area is 174 ha, breakdown as follows:84 ha from 15 subsurface artisanal storage dams.90 ha from the rehabilitation of three irrigation canals.Site Selection Process: The exact locations will be confirmed during the initial field mission scheduled for early February. During this mission (expected duration: ~15 days), the awarded company and UNOPS will assess pre-identified areas on the ground and select sites based on:Technical feasibility.Potential to maximize the project’s overall impact.

New clarification added: Question 1: Considering the current period of intense activity... we kindly request an extension of the deadline for submission of the proposal by an additional four weeks.Answer 1: The deadline has been extended. UNOPS has approved an extension of the submission deadline to 31 December 2025 at 16:00 UTC. Please refer to the updated deadline in the General Details tab of the UNOPS eSourcing system.Question 2: We request confirmation that the 84 ha associated with the 15 artisanal storage dams and the 3 irrigation canals serving 30 ha each, total 174 ha for the study.Answer 2: Confirmed. We confirm that the study area totals 174 ha of newly irrigated land, composed of:84 ha associated with the 15 subsurface artisanal rainwater storage dams, each constructed with 200 m of waterproofing at a depth of 3 m and irrigating approximately 5 ha of farmland per dam (totaling 84 ha); and90 ha resulting from the rehabilitation of three traditional irrigation canals, each serving 30 ha of cultivation area.Question 3: We request clarification on whether the 37 locations for the irrigation systems have been pre-identified, and if possible, their approximate location within the 7 municipalities listed in the TOR.Answer 3: Locations are pre-identified. The irrigation system locations have been pre-identified by the Government within the 7 municipalities listed in Section III: Terms of Reference. All sites are located within a maximum travel time of 3 hours from each respective municipal center.These sites will be jointly visited by the awarded Company and UNOPS during a first field mission planned for early February 2026 (estimated duration: 15 days).Question 4: The TOR mentions the need for rehabilitation of three canals to benefit 30 ha each, totaling 90 ha. Is it possible to provide the location of these canals and their approximate length?Answer 4: Details to be confirmed during Field Mission. The exact locations and approximate lengths of the three irrigation canals will be confirmed during the initial field mission. This mission will allow the awarded Company and UNOPS to assess the pre-identified areas on the ground and select the canals to be rehabilitated based on technical feasibility and the potential to maximize the project’s overall impact.Question 5: We were unable to locate the “Tender Particulars section” referred to in “Section I: Instruction to Offerors", kindly provide this document.Answer 5: Refer to the eSourcing System. The "Tender Particulars" are not a separate PDF document. They are located in the "Particulars" tab within the UNOPS eSourcing system interface. This tab contains specific details such as the proposal validity period, currency, and bid security requirements.Question 6: Please confirm that the proposal security is not applicable for the present tender.Answer 6: Confirmed. As stated in the "Particulars" tab of the eSourcing system, a Proposal Security is Not Required for this tender.

New clarification added: Question 1: For Joint Ventures, are all member companies required to upload the certified copies of financial statements for the last five years, as well as the copy of a valid license (extract from the commercial register/certificate of registration/licenses) or equivalent for each entity?Answer 1: Yes.Legal License: As per Section II: Evaluation Criteria (Qualification Criteria 1), every member of a Joint Venture must provide proof of legal registration to demonstrate eligibility.Financial Statements: Statements must be submitted for all members. The financial qualification criteria (Turnover and Liquidity) are evaluated based on the combined capacity of the Joint Venture members to determine if the aggregate total meets the requirement.Question 2: In the case of submitting a proposal as part of an association with another company, will the references and past experience of both firms be evaluated and considered in the assessment?Answer 2: Yes. The specific experience and technical capacity requirements outlined in Section II: Evaluation Criteria (Qualification Criteria 2) will be assessed based on the combined experience of the consortium members. You may submit references (Form G) from any partner to meet these criteria.Question 3: If we intend to submit a proposal for both Lot 1 and Lot 2, are we required to present two separate Team Leader profiles, or is it acceptable to submit a single profile covering both lots?Answer 3: A single profile is acceptable. If awarded to a single firm, one Team Leader is sufficient to oversee both Lots. If you bid for both lots, you may propose the same individual as Team Leader, provided they meet the minimum requirements. Distinct experts are still required for the other lot-specific specialist roles.

New clarification added: Question 1:Due to the high activity at this time of year, we would like to kindly request a deadline extension for this tender. Would it be possible to extend the deadline by one month, i.e. 16 January, 2026?Answer 1:Regarding the request for an extension, please be advised that an extension to the submission deadline is unfortunately not possible.This project operates on a very tight implementation schedule that is critical for the subsequent phases of infrastructure development in the Lobito Corridor. The current deadline of 17 December 2025 remains in effect to ensure the timely commencement of the study in early January 2026. We encourage all prospective bidders to submit their proposals based on the current timeline.Please note that the UNOPS eSourcing system will automatically close the tender at the deadline time, and late submissions will not be accepted.Question 2:Do all team members in the project team need to be Portuguese-speaking, or is this requirement only applicable to the Project Lead?Answer 2:Regarding language requirements, the requirement for fluency in Portuguese (written and spoken) applies to all Key Personnel roles proposed for this assignment, not just the Team Leader.As outlined in the Terms of Reference, all roles involve significant field-based activities, including direct engagement with local communities, municipal authorities, and stakeholders in Huambo and Benguela provinces. Effective communication in Portuguese is essential for data collection, stakeholder consultations, and ensuring the quality of the study's findings.However, for reporting purposes to UNOPS, fluency in English is also required, particularly for the Team Leader who will be the primary focal point for contract management.