THE SUPPLY OF SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS

# 6 Liverpool Street, Freetown-Sierra Leone

 Headquarters Office 

 THE SUPPLY OF SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS 

PUBLIC ADVERTISEMENT NOTICE

Invitation for Bids

SIERRA LEONE RED CROSS SOCIETY (SLRCS) 

NATIONAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING (NCB)

Date: 17th February, 2026.

PROJECT NAME: TREE PLANTING AND CARE(TPC) 

Contract Identification Number: SLRCS/TPC/Tender : 2027/3rd/02/2026

Procure and distribute seedlings to 10 new communities in (Bo, Moyamba, Pujehun,  and Kono) to enhance timely transplanting in Lot One (1)  and seeds and seedlings for 52 TPC communities in (Bo, Bonthe, Moyamba, Pujehun, Kenema and Kono) to enhance timely planting and transplanting in Lot Two(2). 

Background 

The Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS), being part of the Global Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) movement, was established by an Act of Parliament in 1962 and transitioned from the former British Red Cross (BRC) chapter. 

SLRCS is currently implementing Phase III of the Tree planting and Care Project. The second phase of the project commenced on March 1st, 2025, and was scheduled to run for 10 months, concluding in December 2025. However, the activities outlined in the project document require an implementation period to ensure sustainability. Since IRC has committed funds for 2026 of TPC Phase III. 

The second phase was a 10-month period to address mid-Term Review recommendations. 

Tree Planting & Care Phase III will build on caring for the plantation and the establishment of 10 new additional communities in (Bo, Moyamba, Pujehun and Kono). During the pilot phase (Phase I & II) that established 52 nursery sites and planted 3,600,157 (Three million six hundred thousand one hundred and fifty-seven) trees across six targeted districts (Moyamba, Bonthe, Kono, Bo, Pujehun and Kenema) through reforestation, Agroforestry. Mapping out community-specific climate-smart activities to curb the effects of such changes. 

The Sierra Leone Red Cross Society is implementing the project with technical and financial resources from RCRC movement partners, including the Finnish Red Cross (FRC), Icelandic Red Cross (Icelandic RC) and the IFRC cluster office in Freetown. In view of lessons learnt from implementation of phase I and GRO Land Restoration Training conducted in Bo 2024. 

During the MTR process, phase 2 of TPC implementation was to ensure that the identified species are directly planted and transplanted based on the soil type, whether conditions, adaptation to the environment, community knowledge on timing of planting and transplanting. However, all the five different species will be planted in all six districts, but some communities will not have the same species because of soil type and environmental conditions. 

Aim

To procure and distribute seedlings to 10 new communities

in (Bo,  Moyamba, Pujehun, and Kono) to enhance timely transplanting and seeds and seedlings for 52 TPC communities in (Bo, Bonthe, Moyamba, Pujehun, Kenema and Kono) to enhance timely planting and transplanting

Objectives

1. Increase Community understanding about Tree planting and Care project, the hazards of Deforestation and the wider concept of Climate Change and adaptation through practical knowledge. 

Approach

The procurement unit will open a tender to procure and distribute seeds and seedlings to aid the planting and transplanting activities of the following species of trees. 

LOT ONE(1)

LOTE (2)

Procure and distribute seeds and seedlings to 52 TPC-established communities

in (Bo, Bonthe, Moyamba, Pujehun, Kenema and Kono) to enhance timely transplanting  

1. Description of tender

1. The SLRCS, therefore would like to engage a credible, competent, and registered service provider with up-to-date administrative documentation (business registration certificate, NRA, Nassit, and Certificates of achievements) to implement the procurement, supply, and delivery of these seedlings to 10 new communities in (Bo, Bonthe, Moyamba, Pujehun, Kenema and Kono) to enhance timely transplanting. A bid not complying with the requirements will be regarded as not being an “Acceptable bid”, and as such will be rejected. “Acceptable bid” means any bid which, in all respects, complies with the conditions of bid and specifications, including conditions as specified in the National Procurement Policy Act 2022 and other related legislation and regulations.

Requirements:

1. All interested bidders must submit the following:

2. Valid Business registration certificate 

3. Updated Tax clearance certificates (NRA & NASSIT) 

4. Current bank statement – last three months

5. List of previous work done in the same domain – 1 page

6. Ability and capability to pre-finance and be reimbursed later 

7. Provide the items with the latest but not more than one month after signing contract. 

8. All items will be delivered to the project communities.

9. Supplier packages seedlings in packaging sizes that enable easy distribution to the 10 new communities.

1. Specification

Below is the specification of the forest and fruit tree seedlings needed:

LOT ONE (1)

LOT TWO (2)

Tenderer’s obligations:

Pre-germination testing for seeds-

All seeds supplied will go through Pre-germination testing at each site before they are handed over to the community. 

Eligibility 

Submit a tender offer through hard copies in a sealed envelope to the Sierra Leone Red Cross Office, at #6 Liverpool Street, Freetown, to the Procurement office only if the tenderer satisfies the criteria stated in the tender document and that the bidder is not under any restriction to do business with SLRCS. 

Cost of tendering

 Accept that the (SLRCS) will not compensate the tenderer for any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a tender offer, including testing, transport costs, etc.  The client is indemnified from any liability arising or accruing from expenses, damages, or losses incurred by the bidder.

Confidentiality and copyright of documents

 Treat as confidential all matters arising in connection with the tender. Use and copy the documents issued by the SLRCS only to prepare and submit a tender offer in response to the invitation. Tenderers are required to treat the details of all documents supplied in connection with the tender process as private and confidential.

Clarification

Attend, where necessary or required, a clarification meeting at which tenderers may familiarize themselves with aspects of the proposed work, services or supply and raise questions. Details of the meeting are stated in the tender data. 

Request clarification of the tender documents, if necessary, by notifying SLRCS at least five (5) working days before the closing date, which is the 16th April 2025 at 4:00pm.

Note:  Partial Quotations will be considered non-responsive.

1. Bidding will be conducted through a national Competitive Bidding (NCB) procedure by the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society procurement manual, which is in line with the National Procurement Policy Act 2022 and other related legislation and regulations, and open to all eligible bidders defined in the Bid Document.

1. Interested eligible Bidders are required to fill this document as the Request for Quotation (RFQ) in the provision given above with Proforma Invoice and enclose with all relevant documentations required. 

1. SLRCS is Tax Exempt (15% GST exempt)

1. 6.5% Withholding Tax (WHT) is charged on the total cost

1. Please ensure that your given prices are well-reviewed and considered valid for the next six(6) months after the bid submission deadline

1. Bids must be marked on the outer envelope “SLRCS/TPC/Tender/……../1/……../2026’’ and delivered to the above office on or before 4:00 PM ………., ……..th …….., 2026. 

Submission deadline: 

On or before 4: 00 PM …………., …………th ………….., 2026.

Sierra Leone Red Cross Society reserves the right to accept or reject any or all the offers without assigning any reason whatsoever, and is not bound to accept incomplete Bids. 

Approved by:

Secretary General – Sierra Leone Red Cross Society