AGP-Livestock Market Development:
Questions and Answers Pertaining to RFQ – 031- Artificial Insemination and others
The following are the questions sent to AGP-LMD for clarification from interested suppliers. Thus, listed here below are the questions and their responses.
Note: Please be informed that the deadline for submission of your final document for RFQ-AGP-LMD-031 is extended until Friday 19 February 2016.
Question: ABCDE is a specialist on raw milk cooling, will it be possible to only make a quotation for the 12.2 Milk Chilling Tanks part. Or do we have to offer also Items for 12.1, 12.3 and 12.4 and 12.5 for which we as ABCDE Company have no expertise and therefore also no specific questions at this moment.
Response: An offer may be made for any, all or a combination of the requested items as specified in RFQ-31.
Question: A 2000 litre tank is requested, as for cooling a condensing unit is required we assume the request in the tender is, for a milk cooling tank with related condensing/cool unit.
Response: Your assumption is correct. In order to function as a ‘chilling’ tank, a condenser is a required component.
Question: Will the unit be used be for a collection point or at farm level?
Response: These units are envisioned to be used at collection points.
Question: We expect that it will be used for a collection point, in this case farmers will bring the milk in small churns to be tested at intake and then milk is entered in to the tank. This can be done by lifting the can and emptying the can manually through a strainer on top of the tank cover. However alternatively also a dumper unit can be used preventing the cans to be lifted above the tank. From your description in the tender we consider the manual filling to be preferred by the project and no receiver unit has to be included (picture of receiver unit included in this mail as annex). The receiver unit can also be used to transfer the milk from the tank to the milk truck.
Response: Manual tank filling is the norm under rural Ethiopian conditions and therefore a receiver unit has not/not been included in this solicitation.
Question: We assume that the tank will be emptied daily and that the tank will be filled for max 50% in the morning and 50% in the evening. This is important to know to calculate the cooling capacity of the tanks as we assume that cooling capacity should be cooling from 36 degrees celscius to 4 degrees celcius within 3 1/2 hours after each collection period. Keeping in mind the requested single phase, cooling capacity templates of the tank and connect condensing units.
Response: AGP-LMD aims to increase collection of milk to include evening as well as morning milk. Maximum amounts collected per shift are variable and not fully known. Recipients of the tanks will indicate if they need one or more tanks to meet their collection capacity needs. Delivery of raw milk may also be staggered over a number of hours. Ideally, the raw milk collected at these points will be collected at least once daily for processing.
Question: In your technical spec's it’s requested to have a spray ball for CIP cleaning. In our 2000 litre closed tanks we use a spray lance for automatic CIP instead of spray ball. As we think its fits better for this small size of cooling tanks produced by ABCDE (only at larger volume's milk cooling tanks we use spray ball). Will that be acceptable?
Response: As indicated in the RFQ Technical Specifications, Section 12.2 ‘Milk Chilling Tanks’, a cleaning ball is the preferred mechanism associated with the CIP apparatus.
Question: For CIP cleaning hot water and water pressure is needed as well as stable electrical supply. We assume that such conditions will be available at the  locations the tanks need to be installed. It’s our field experience in Ethiopia that especially in the more remote area's such conditions are not always available.
Response: Conditions of Eligibility to receive a milk chilling tank from AGP-LMD include a year-round, serviceable facility (housing) with minimum single-phase mains electrical supply.
Question: For this tender we understand that only the milk cooling tank and related condensing units are involved (is this correct?). Any other items for example boilers etc are not included in this tender request. In case any additional equipment need to be offered other than the condensing unit and cooling tanks we would like to know what need to be include.
Response: Only the items specified in RFQ 31 are required by AGP-LMD at this time.
Question: In line with question 7, Milk cooled and stored in the cooling tanks will probably be collected by a processor. Will this be done by a milk truck? If so for transfer of the milk a pump and hose will be required. Such pump and hose are not specified in the tender and we conclude it’s not part of the tender. We assume pump and hose will be a unit belonging to the milk truck collecting the milk (which would be the best solution) as pump, hose and truck can then be cleaned at the factory.
Response: Collection of the raw milk supplied by producers to the milk chilling centers will in turn be collected by various processors, cooperatives, etc. using the means and methods at their disposal.
Question: The tender would prefer two compartment in the tank. Our tanks have only one compartment. We assume this is acceptable
Response: Please refer to the RFQ-31 where it is clearly indicated AGP-LMD wishes to procure two-compartment milk chilling tanks.
Question: A more simple system will be to use Candy tanks with, agitator etc. The cleaning of such unit is however manually (no CIP). If two compartments will be a must two Candy tanks of 1000 liter can be provided (plug and play). Will
this be an acceptable option? Or should we stick to the closed tank type. (For good order I have enclosed a brochure of  Candy tank for visual view and picture of closed tank O-type as well as a picture of a setting of dumper and cooling tank).
Response: All responses with offers must adhere to the specifications in RFQ-31. Offers which are non-responsive to the RFQ will not be considered.
Question: In the tender it’s mentioned that up to 100 tanks will be required. It’s obvious that we can provide a discount on large numbers ordered. What will be the minimum number of tanks needed by the project, which we can use as basis for our price calculation?
Response: Price calculations should be made based on a minimum order of 100 (one hundred) tanks as described in RFQ-31.
Question: Is there a special region the tanks need to be installed or will it be spread all over Ethiopia. This to understand the service support required
Response: The milk chilling tanks to be procured will be distributed in Oromia, Amhara, Tigray and SNNPR Regions. The specific sites for deployment of the tanks is, however, not yet known but should be finalized by mid-April 2016.
Question: in order to place the milk cooling tanks at a suitable local collection buildings or milk rooms at farm level will be needed. How will this be organized / site selection etc.
Response: Conditions of Eligibility for receiving a milk chilling tank from AGP-LMD include provision of a year-round serviceable facility (housing) with minimum single-phase mains electrical supply. Successful recipients and the sites associated with them shall be determined by a competitive bidding process which, in addition to meeting the above conditions, considers the applicant’s demonstrated linkages to a significant, reliable raw milk supply and market linkage to a formal dairy processor, preferably one which has been or is currently being supported by AGP-LMD