Consultant at Micro Enterprises Support Programme Trust

About AgriFI Programme

AGRIFI programme is an EU-Danida funded Programme whose objective is to support production initiatives for smallholder farmers that are adaptive to the changing climate and market requirements. The 6-year programme runs from 2018 to 2023 where MESPT is the Implementing Partner of two (Result Areas II and III) of the four overall programme Results Areas.

Result area II of the project seeks to strengthen the capacities of actors along selected value chains through the Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education Training (ATVET) system approach. To ensure compliance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS) measures by the country, the responsible inspectors and certifiers need to be empowered and equipped with the proper knowledge and tools to regulate SPS compliance of Horticulture(with special focus on beans, mango and avocado), Aquaculture and Dairy produce. Activities under the result area inter alia include supporting upgrading, development, and upscaling of agricultural value chain-based training curriculums under the ATVETs.

Under result area III the project seeks to increase the capacity of the private sector and the selected counties to implement and enforce standards on animal health, food safety and plant health. Activities under the result area III will include translation of sanitary and phytosanitary regulations for value-chains supported under result area II into user-friendly SPS, food and animal product safety requirements and supporting the development of quality management systems.

Counties will also be supported in testing, surveillance, and enforcement of SPS regulations. Broadly, the project will strengthen the capacities of value chain actors, bolstering commercial farming and improving food security.

Generally, it is expected that the programme will demonstrate the existing potential in the enhancement of food safety systems as well as the ATVET model in order to trigger investment from both the public (especially the counties) and the private sector.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

In reference to Result area III of the project that seeks to increase the capacity of the private sector and the selected counties to implement and enforce standards on animal health, food safety and plant health, the programme is working with Central Competent Authorities(CCAs) in carrying out sampling and testing for food safety. One of the CCAs the programme is working with is KEPHIS where their Analytical Chemistry Laboratory and Food Safety department is conducting sampling and testing of produce in the selected value chains.

Currently, KEPHIS laboratory utilizes a manual paperwork system to manage information. This process is susceptible to human error due to manual data transfer and limited data access during evaluation. Loss of information and the physical movement of paper across offices slows down flow of information and credibility of final results delivered to the client. Tracking of samples movement and access to data when needed is physical and leads to delayed response to client or preparation of transitory reports. Thus, the introduction of lab information management systems will address the aforementioned impediments and subsequently enhance effectiveness and efficiency in managing the operations and data management as well as meeting the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 in data management. Besides, it will enable the client to track the progress of the tests being carried out on the samples.

It is against this background that AgriFi programme is supporting KEPHIS acquire a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for its Analytical chemistry Laboratory and Food Safety (ACL & FS).

In this regard the project is seeking the services of an experienced LIMS development/deployment firm to deploy a Web-based Laboratory information System (LIMS) that provides effective and efficient management of laboratory workflow and information in the KEPHIS Analytical chemistry Laboratory and Food Safety.

The project now invites eligible firms to indicate their interest in deploying a web-based Laboratory Information System (LIMS) as per the ToR described in this document.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK.

Generally, the consultant will be expected to automate the ACL Laboratory Information Management System and integrate the LIMS with the requisite equipment, processes and other internal systems (i.e. Finance, Export, payment system etc.)

Specifically, the consultants will be required to carry out the following tasks:

1. Carry out analysis of KEPHIS Laboratory operations.
2. Undertake a detailed requirement study including Process Re-engineering wherever possible, which will result in formulation of a Software Requirement Specification (SRS) document, Software Design document and associated AS-IS and TO-BE workflows.
3. Implement/deploy a Laboratory Management System (LIMS) in accordance with the user requirements User Requirements Specifications and the Software design specifications by use of best practice in software acquisitions/development that may involve: prototyping, agile deployment of module by module, etc.
4. Implementation systems testing and user training.
5. The vendor shall propose a suitable method for transfer of knowledge to the ICT personnel of the client for the sustainability of the system.
6. The proposed system would use the web and the existing KEPHIS network infrastructure.