TENDER FOR TO REVIEW THE APPLICABILITY OF EXISTING STANDARDS TO THE INFORMAL COOKING SECTOR IN KENYA 2023 – GIZ

GIZ TENDER MARCH 2023 

FOR TO REVIEW THE APPLICABILITY OF EXISTING STANDARDS TO THE INFORMAL COOKING SECTOR IN KENYA

Opportunity 

The cooking sector in Kenya has undergone some level of transformation over the years with regards to the enabling environment (policies, standard, guidelines, regulations etc). From a sector largely dominated by traditional cooking solutions to one that is step by step adopting clean cooking solutions. With growing interest in the sector, this transformation is expected to persist, especially with the growing interest from both the government and the private sector. The country has put in place polices and strategies such as the Energy Policy 2018, Energy Act 2019, Bioenergy Strategy 2020, and Kenya National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy 2020 among others as instruments influencing change/transformation.

With regards to standards, Kenya through the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) has adopted ISO 19867-1:2018: Clean cookstoves and clean cooking solutions-Harmonized laboratory test protocols-Part 1 Standard test sequence for emissions and performance, safety and durability. At national level, KEBS has also developed other clean cooking sector standards which play a crucial role in enhancing the credibility, safety, and authenticity of the clean cooking solutions accessible in the country. These include the KS – ISO 17225 of the Solid biofuels — Fuel specifications and classes, KS -1814:2019 Biomass Cookstoves Performance requirements; 2019; KS – 2759:2018 Ethanol Fuelled cooking Appliances; KS 2838: 2019: Denatured technical alcohol for use as cooking and appliance fuel — Specification; KS – 2912:2020 Solid biofuel —Sustainable Charcoal and carbonized briquettes; KS 2951:2022 Biogas Systems- Code of Practice for farm and industrial scale biogas systems and E- Cooking Standards – GlobSl LEAP Electric Pressure Cooker Test Method among others.

While standards are aimed at providing guidance and ultimately ensuring some level of uniformity in the target sector, evidence of whether this has been the case with the cooking sector is not readily available, especially with regards to the informal cooking sector. Evidence on the adherence to these standards by the sector players is not readily available, and this is exacerbated in the rural areas where the players in the cooking value chain do not seem aware of the existence of these standards, and where they are known, their applicability poses a challenge. It is also alleged that for some standards, the provisions therein are noted to be too stringent and therefore not readily applicable. It is also alleged that other factors such as the language with which the standards are presented as well as the costs associated with acquiring the standards poses a challenge to the end users, especially for rural based enterprises that are largely informal operating at low scale.

Call for Bids

As the sector grapples with the challenge of assuring quality among clean cooking solutions available in the market despite the availability of the standards, some of the efforts by the private sector efforts to adopt alternatives approaches include development of the Biomass Cookstoves Voluntary Labelling standard (VLS) in 2019 by CCAK. The VLS, yet to be rolled out, is aimed at supporting scaling-up of the production and distribution of clean cooking solutions while ensuring regulatory compliance. As a way of entrenching quality within the cooking sector, the GCF project is working with other players in the sector including Kenya Industrial Research Development Institute (KIRDI). Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), CCAK, EPRA, MoE, and other development partners towards creating an environment that enables the development of the sector capacity to respond to some of these challenges. Understanding the applicability of the existing standards to the clean cooking market is just but one starting point in the efforts towards developing a clear road map for transforming quality assurance narrative within the cooking sector in Kenya.

It is in this regard that GIZ kenya is seeking the services of a consultant to undertake a review of the applicability of the existing clean cooking sector standards among the intended consumers. The review will entail identifying the gaps if any and proposal on how these gaps could be addressed. The assignment will involve an end user survey among the various consumer groups of the standards. Interested bidders must provide verifiable proof of qualifications and experience. The individual consultant is requested to review the indicated qualifications in the Terms of Reference (ToRs) which will be shared.

How to apply

Interested firms/companies should send a blank email with tender reference: 83434774 in the subject line to KE_lnquiry@giz.de between 23.03.2023 to 27.03.2023. An email response will provide the ToRs and relevant tender documents with further information on 28.03.2023, thereafter no documents will be shared.

Kindly submit your complete Financial & Technical proposals separately in a SEALED ENVELOPE clearly marked “Call for bids for to review the applicability of existing standards to the informal cooking sector in Kenya” Tender No: 83434774

Addressed as follows and dropped to tender box available at:

TENDER No. 83434774
GIZ Office Nairobi

5-‘ Floor, SEGEN formerly Allianz Plaza Building, Riverside Drive
P.O. Box 41607 00100 Nairobi
Nairobi – Kenya

Deadline for Submission: 12.04.2023 @ 1500hrs (East African time).

Failure to address correctly will lead to automatic disqualification.

General Purchase Conditions and Procurement procedures of GIZ apply.

Bidders are not allowed to contact or discuss any aspect of the tender with GIZ before closing of the tender as it will lead to automatic disqualification.