Request for Proposal
Market Analysis Vietnam and Indonesia
The American Peanut Council (APC) is seeking an outside contractor to assist with gathering information about market potential for selling U.S. peanuts in two emerging markets, Vietnam and Indonesia. The project will be funded under U.S.D.A.’s Emerging Markets Program, and as a result, the American Peanut Council will select a contractor under Federal Equal Opportunity Act Requirements.
An agency or individual will be selected to assist APC by conducting assessments of the food and rural business systems in two markets, Vietnam and Indonesia. When finished, APC would expect the contractor to make a recommendation either for or against a follow up trade mission to the two countries based on the results of the assessment. The APC would expect the assessment(s) to include information about market potential for the entire country in both cases for Vietnam and Indonesia, including all provinces and regions. The assessments should, however, direct the industry to the regions that have the most promise for sales of U.S. peanuts and related products.
Specific information requested as part of the assessment:
1. Both Indonesia and Vietnam are significant importers of peanuts from other origins. Quantify current market, and domestic production. Does the market present opportunities for U.S. peanut producers? Evaluate the current situation as well as future potential.
2. Do Vietnamese and Indonesian consumers eat peanuts, peanut oil, and peanut butter? If so, how are they consumed? As snacks, in cooking, etc. Please provide specific examples.
3. How are peanuts sold to consumers in these two markets? Please describe in detail the value chain in Vietnam and Indonesia. Who buys raw products, processes, and roasts them? Are finished snacks a more appropriate product for export? How are peanut products distributed across the country? What kind of cold chain/port system exists?
4. Please identify manufacturers of peanut products, or importers of finished snacks along with whatever information is appropriate for understanding how purchases are made for the market.
5. Please help us identify any tariffs and/or phytosanitary requirements for exporting peanuts, either in raw shelled form or as finished products.
6. Please identify any special requirements of Vietnamese and Indonesian buyers, such as size, variety, and price. For example, is buying conducted during certain months of the year? Are there buying agents or do manufacturers buy directly from suppliers? Do buyers accept only burlap bags or can they receive peanuts in one-ton totes as other modern manufacturers do?
7. Please identify any potential barriers to trade, as well as potential suggestions for removing them.
8. Please assist the industry in identifying what materials would be necessary to assist with sales (printed information in Vietnamese or Indonesian, for example)?
9. Please provide a list of the largest buyers with as much detail as possible, and to the extent possible, market share and volume for each.
10. Please provide the industry with a list of contacts that may be helpful as sales progress. (In addition to the buyer contacts above. This would include government officials, USDA overseas post representatives, etc.)
11. Please provide effective analysis that can support APC strategic planning and further enhance market development in the market defined.
12. After completing the research, please advise the industry on the usefulness, effectiveness of an industry trade mission to Vietnam and/or Indonesia.
Deliverables:
1. APC would expect the selected contractor to prepare two useful reports, one for each of the designated countries using a similar format for comparative purposes, which could be distributed to the industry. The reports should be prepared by the end of January 2018.
2. After preparing the reports, the contractor would be expected to present follow up information and answer industry questions at APC’s export board meeting to be held in Florida, in June of 2018. Please include travel costs into proposal for this meeting, which would include flight and hotel as well as time.
3. Should the assessment recommend, assist APC with planning and a follow up trade mission to key areas of the two countries. If appropriate for the consultant to participate in the mission, travel costs would be covered separately.
To respond to the Request for Proposal:
1. Please submit to APC staff your individual or company qualifications for the work.
2. Please submit an estimate for conducting the two assessments, which should be completed by January 2018.
3. Travel costs for the follow up trade mission would be determined after the assessments are finished and would not be part of the initial estimate.
Respond to:
Stephanie Grunenfelder and/or Peter Vlazakis
American Peanut Council
Deadline, September 30, 2017