Request for Proposal (RFP) Winrock International (WI) is a non-profit organization that works with people around the world to increase economic opportunity, sustain natural resources, and protect the environment. Winrock strengthens the capacity of women, children, youth, government, and civil society organizations to actively participate in local and national development and to transform their societies.

Description of Project to be Evaluated:

Full Project Title:

Growing Value for Producers Through Increased Access to Markets for Climate-Smart Commodities Project Funder: USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities RFP publication date: 28 July 2023 Question submission deadline: 18 August 2023 Response to questions: 25 August 2023 Proposal submission deadline: 28 August 2023 Winrock International (“Winrock”) is a global leader in developing carbon crediting standards that have directly supported existing and new markets, ensuring the highest standards for quality and integrity, instilling confidence in the environmental benefits achieved and facilitating transparency in credit transactions via transparent registry platforms. Winrock has also pioneered work with farming and food networks in the U.S. to advance transformations in agricultural production, value-chain coordination, and community-based food economies.

Winrock’s Growing Value for Producers Through Increased Access to Markets for Climate Smart Commodities pilot project has been selected for funding by USDA through its Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program. The overall objective of the project is to increase the value of climate smart commodities through the development of a standardized, transparent and cost-effective market system for quantifying and tracking climate mitigation outcomes from U.S. agriculture. The pilot will build capacity with institutions interacting with a range of producers to support adoption of climate smart practices and generate producer-owned Agricultural GHG Certificates that can be monetized by producers through commodity markets for corporate buyers to achieve supply chain climate claims. The pilot project will design, build, and implement a first of its kind, fully integrated agricultural data collection, GHG quantification, verification and certificate registry system (the ACR Agriculture Registry), through which the practices and associated GHG benefits will be quantified and verified and then Certificates issued and tracked.

Winrock International seeks proposals under a public, competitive process to carry out the tasks described in the Scope of Work below. Winrock offers no guarantee of subsequent award as a result of releasing this tender and prospective bidders will not be reimbursed for costs associated with preparation of proposals. Winrock intends to issue a cost reimbursable subcontract for this activity upon completion of evaluations and selection of the most successful respondent, who will bid a not-to-exceed contract amount for the scope of work. The development of an ACR Agriculture Registry described in this RFP is part of a work for hire agreement under which Winrock International intends retain the intellectual property rights to the product. For a detailed RFP please click here to download.

, PROPOSAL DEADLINE AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Please submit any questions in writing to Winrock by August 18, 2023 at [email protected] with subject “USDA Agriculture Registry RFP.” Responses will be provided by August 25, 2023. An electronic copy of your proposal must be received by Winrock on or before close of business Monday, August 28, 2023. Send proposals to [email protected] with subject “USDA Agriculture Registry RFP.”

Winrock expects to make an award and contract for the work within five weeks of the deadline for receiving proposals. Winrock will individually notify all bidders of the outcome of the RFP process. Issuance of this Request for Proposal (RFP) in no way constitutes a commitment by Winrock to execute any agreement or to pay any costs incurred by firms that respond to this RFP.

Winrock is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people and value diversity and inclusiveness. Winrock recruits, employs, trains, promotes and compensates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, or any other basis protected by law. At Winrock we have a clear mission: Empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources through unwavering dedication to accountability, equity, innovation, integrity and transformation. Winrock knows that its success comes from the hard work and steadfast dedication of its diverse workforce. Winrock remains committed to maintaining diversity, inclusion and equity across the entire organization