This project plans to hire a third-party institution tocarry out research on the quality and safety of theagricultural product supply chain.

REOI

Country: The People's Republic of China
Project Name: IBRD Guangdong Agricultural Product Quality Safety Improvement (Demonstration) Project

Loan No.: 9213-CN

Assignment Name: Research topic on Quality and Safety of Agricultural Supply Chains

Contract No.: GDCS-017

0733-26083758

The Government of the People's Republic of China has received a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to improve food safety management at the national and sub-national levels and to reduce food safety risks in selected value chains. The project is being implemented by the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangdong Province, and Shandong Province (Yantai City).

As part of this project, Guangdong Province plans to conduct research on the quality and safety of agricultural product supply chains. The study will focus on outstanding retail and e-commerce models, including Sam's Club (global sourcing standards and highly efficient cold chains), Pangdonglai (regional quality control closed-loops and employee incentive mechanisms), and Freshippo / Hema (digital traceability and short-chain distribution). By analyzing their supply chain management models, the project aims to distill replicable and scalable industry best practices. Ultimately, this initiative seeks to resolve quality control bottlenecks in agricultural supply chains, promote the development of green supply chains in Guangdong, ensure the quality and safety of agricultural products, and provide robust support for agricultural modernization and rural revitalization.

This Contract utilizes World Bank loan funds to engage a consulting firm (hereinafter referred to as the 'Consultant') to conduct research on the quality and safety of agricultural product supply chains. The research aims to investigate food safety control at key supply chain nodes of outstanding retail and e-commerce enterprises (e.g., Sam's Club, Pangdonglai, Freshippo, and Yonghui Superstores). Furthermore, it will cover the comprehensive development of the entire agricultural supply chain, the structural framework of green supply chain systems, safety management practices, and the impacts of environmental and institutional factors on agricultural product quality and safety.

The implementation period of this Contract is 12 months, with an estimated total input of 34 person-months. The anticipated start date for the assignment is September 2026. Please refer to the Attachment for the detailed Terms of Reference.

Guangdong Provincial Center of Agro-product Safety and Quality (Guangdong Green Food Development Center) hereby invites qualified and interested Consultants to submit proposals for consulting services. Please refer to the Terms of Reference for the main scope of work.

Selection Criteria for the Consultants' Shortlist:

1.Capability to independently bear civil liability (Must provide a copy of the Business License or the Certificate of Legal Person for Public Institutions);

2.Sound financial accounting system (Must provide audited financial reports for the past 3 years);

3.Possess the professional and technical capabilities necessary for contract performance (A commitment letter must be provided to demonstrate business capabilities in agricultural product supply chains, food supply chains, or agricultural product quality and safety risk analysis research, which must include at least one of the following: risk management, risk communication, or risk assessment);

4.Good record of tax and social security payment in accordance with the law (Must provide proof of tax payment and social security contribution for the past 3 months);

5.Good business credit and sound business performance (Must provide a statement certifying no major illegal or irregular business activities in the past 3 years, and that the applicant is not listed on the "Credit China" website as a "person subject to enforcement for dishonesty," "major tax violation entity," or "entity with serious illegal acts in government procurement").

6.Track Record: At least one (1) similar contract signed by the Consultant within the past five years (from January 1, 2021, up to the deadline for submission of the Letter of Intent for this project, based on the date of contract signing). A similar contract refers to a contract whose service scope covers agricultural product supply chains, food supply chains, or agricultural product quality and safety risk analysis research (which must include at least one of the following: risk management, risk communication, or risk assessment), and the supply chain must originate from the production end. (Copies of relevant supporting documents must be provided, including the key pages of the contract that reflect the contract title, scope of services, date of signing, and the signatures and seals of both contracting parties).

Please note that the Consultant must provide all the supporting materials stipulated in the above "Selection Criteria for the Consultants' Shortlist," along with detailed contact information (including contact person, address, telephone number, email address, etc.). The Consultant shall solely bear the relevant responsibilities and consequences for any issues arising from incomplete submission or failure to meet the requirements.

Interested Consultants are advised to refer to the provisions regarding Conflict of Interest policy in Sections 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17, and the provisions regarding Eligibility in Sections 3.21, 3.22, 3.23, and 3.24 of the "World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers" (November 2020).

Consulting firms may form an association with other firms, but it must be clearly indicated whether the arrangement is in the form of a Joint Venture or Subcontracting. If the Joint Venture form is chosen, each member of the Joint Venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire Contract. Please note that every member of the Joint Venture must meet the requirements of the above "Selection Criteria for the Consultants' Shortlist".

The Consultant will be selected through the Consultant Qualification Selection (CQS) method as specified in the Procurement Regulations.

This Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) is published on the "World Bank Section of China Tendering and Bidding Public Service Platform" (https://bulletin.cebpubservice.com/bank/index.html) and "China Tendering and Bidding Network" (https://www.chinabidding.cn/).

For further information, please contact the Procurement Agent during working hours from September 2, 2026, to September 16, 2026, between 9:00-11:30 AM and 1:00-5:00 PM (Beijing Time).

The number of hard copies of the Expression of Interest (including: specified supporting materials, a brief introduction of the company's basic information and business scope, and any other materials the Consultant deems necessary) shall be: one original and four copies in Chinese. Each copy must be perfect bound. In addition, the Consultant shall submit an electronic version separately on a USB flash drive at the same time as the submission of the Expression of Interest. The USB flash drive must be labeled with the Contract Number and the full name of the Consultant. The USB flash drive shall be sealed together with the original Expression of Interest.

Deadline and Address for Submission of Expressions of Interest:

Deadline for submission: 10:00 AM (Beijing Time) on September 17, 2026;

Address:  Bid Opening Room, 6th Floor, Guangren Building, No. 1 Guangren Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province.

Client: Guangdong Provincial Center of Agro-product Safety and Quality (Guangdong Green Food Development Center)
Contact Person: Ms. Wu
Address: No. 135, Xianlie East Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province
Postal Code: 510230

Tel: +86-20-87590235
E-mail: mailto:nynct_ncpzx_zhangsh@gd.gov.cn

Procurement Agent: CITIC International Tendering Co., Ltd.
Contact Person: Ms. Guo, Mr. Zhang
Address: Room 1811, 18/F, Tower 59, No. 59 Dongsanhuan Middle Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Postal Code: 100022
Tel: +86-10-87945198-503/504
E-mail: mailto:guoying@ck.citic.com; mailto:zhangfan@ck.citic.com

Attachment: Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Consulting Services Contract numberGDCS-017on the Research topic on Quality and Safety of Agricultural Supply Chains under the IBRD Guangdong Agricultural Product Quality Safety Improvement (Demonstration) Project

Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Consulting Services on the Research topic on Quality and Safety of Agricultural Supply Chains under the IBRD Guangdong Agricultural Product Quality Safety Improvement (Demonstration) Project

I.Project Background

Agricultural product quality and safety are critical issues of national importance that directly affect people's livelihoods. In recent years, national authorities have successively introduced policy documents such as the Regulations for the Implementation of the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Agricultural Green Development, explicitly proposing the establishment of a comprehensive quality and safety management system spanning the entire supply chain 'from farm to table'.

As a major agricultural and consumer province in China, Guangdong Province has actively responded to the national call by enacting local policies, including the Guangdong Province Food Safety Regulation and the 14th Five-Year Plan for Agricultural Product Quality and Safety in Guangdong Province. These initiatives aim to promote the green transformation, digitalization, and standardization of the agricultural supply chain. However, challenges persist within the supply chain, including difficulties in tracing source pollution, cold chain disruptions, and a relatively low level of green development.

Driven by consumption upgrades and the rapid expansion of e-commerce platforms, agricultural product supply chain models are undergoing profound transformations. Traditional supply chains, which are centered around wholesale markets, involve numerous links and long chains, resulting in high quality and safety risks and significant traceability challenges. In contrast, emerging models such as direct supermarket procurement and live-streaming e-commerce have improved quality and safety standards to a certain extent by shortening the supply chain and strengthening source control. Their management models serve as a benchmark for holistic supply chain safety, utilizing a reverse-driving mechanism from the consumer market to enforce strict quality and safety control at the production source. For instance, retailers like Pangdonglai and Sam's Club ensure the safety and premium quality of fresh produce through rigorous supplier access criteria and cold chain management. Meanwhile, Freshippo leverages blockchain technology to achieve end-to-end traceability, thereby enhancing consumer trust.

To conduct an in-depth study on the food safety practices and experiences within the supply chains of leading retailers such as Sam's Club, Pangdonglai, and Freshippo, the Guangdong Center for Agricultural Product Quality and Safety (Guangdong Green Food Development Center) plans to utilize funds from the World Bank-financed Guangdong Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Improvement (Demonstration) Project (hereinafter referred to as the 'World Bank-financed Project'). These funds will be used to engage a consulting firm to carry out research on the quality and safety of agricultural product supply chains.

II.Objectives of the Consulting Services

Focusing on outstanding retail and e-commerce models such as Sam's Club (global sourcing standards and highly efficient cold chains), Pangdonglai (regional quality control closed-loops and employee incentive mechanisms), and Freshippo (digital traceability and short-chain distribution), this research aims to analyze their supply chain management models and distill replicable and scalable industry best practices. Ultimately, this initiative seeks to resolve existing quality control bottlenecks in agricultural supply chains, promote the development of green supply chains in Guangdong, safeguard the quality and safety of agricultural products, and provide robust support for agricultural modernization and rural revitalization.

III.Tasks of the Consulting Services

1.Analysis of Quality and Safety Risk Characteristics and Influencing Factors in Agricultural Product Supply Chains

Conduct an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of the multi-stage nature, time sensitivity, and stakeholder complexity exhibited in the supply chains of at least three (3) agricultural product categories. By integrating empirical research, case studies, and mathematical modeling, systematically elucidate the underlying mechanisms through which natural factors (e.g., extreme weather and natural disasters), human factors (e.g., the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and management and control models), and technological factors (e.g., digital traceability and cold chain logistics) impact agricultural product quality and safety.

Building upon this foundation, accurately identify and reveal the core characteristics of quality and safety risks in the target agricultural supply chains, specifically focusing on risk transmission pathways, risk coupling effects, and dynamic risk evolution. This will provide a solid theoretical and practical basis for the subsequent formulation and implementation of full-chain risk management strategies.

2.Analysis of Agricultural Supply Chain Management Experience of Outstanding Enterprises

Select outstanding domestic enterprises in the agricultural product distribution sector that demonstrate excellence in supply chain management, including Sam's Club, Pangdonglai, and Freshippo, to conduct an in-depth comparative study. Utilizing professional theoretical frameworks such as corporate strategic analysis and business process reengineering (BPR), the Consultant will employ methods including on-site interviews, questionnaire surveys, and desk research to meticulously deconstruct and analyze their supply chain architectures.

3.Research on Consumption Preferences and Confidence of Different Demographics in Domestic Food Products

Conduct an in-depth analysis of the food safety control practices and experiences of leading global countries with high food safety index rankings (such as those in Europe, the US, and Japan), as well as outstanding domestic supply chain enterprises. Through on-site interviews, questionnaire surveys, and desk research, this task will investigate the consumption preferences and satisfaction levels of different demographic groups (categorized by age, income, and gender) regarding domestic food products.

Based on this research, the Consultant will identify the critical issues currently affecting domestic food safety. Furthermore, the study will propose strategic recommendations to boost consumer confidence in domestic food from the perspectives of quality and safety assurance, brand building, market regulation, and information symmetry.

4.Formulation of Feasible Policy Recommendations and Promotion Pathways for Best Practices of Outstanding Supermarkets

Systematically review and analyze domestic and international supportive policies and current development trends regarding the quality and safety of agricultural supply chains. The Consultant is expected to propose multi-level and multi-dimensional policy recommendations aimed at ensuring the stability of product quality, supply, and prices, implementing full-chain regulation, and increasing farmers' income.

Furthermore, the study should propose comprehensive solutions for risk control and quality and safety assurance across all links of the agricultural supply chain. Finally, the Consultant will formulate strategic approaches and pathways for promoting the best practices of outstanding supermarkets, accompanied by a thorough feasibility analysis.

.Qualification Requirements for the Consultant

1.Capability to independently bear civil liability (Must provide a copy of the Business License or the Certificate of Legal Person for Public Institutions);

2.Sound financial accounting system (Must provide audited financial reports for the past 3 years);

3.Possess the professional and technical capabilities necessary for contract performance (A commitment letter must be provided to demonstrate business capabilities in agricultural product supply chains, food supply chains, or agricultural product quality and safety risk analysis research, which must include at least one of the following: risk management, risk communication, or risk assessment);

4.Good record of tax and social security payment in accordance with the law (Must provide proof of tax payment and social security contribution for the past 3 months);

5.Good business credit and sound business performance (Must provide a statement certifying no major illegal or irregular business activities in the past 3 years, and that the applicant is not listed on the "Credit China" website as a "person subject to enforcement for dishonesty," "major tax violation entity," or "entity with serious illegal acts in government procurement").

6.Track Record: At least one (1) similar contract signed by the Consultant within the past five years (from January 1, 2021, up to the deadline for submission of the Letter of Intent for this project, based on the date of contract signing). A similar contract refers to a contract whose service scope covers agricultural product supply chains, food supply chains, or agricultural product quality and safety risk analysis research (which must include at least one of the following: risk management, risk communication, or risk assessment), and the supply chain must originate from the production end. (Copies of relevant supporting documents must be provided, including the key pages of the contract that reflect the contract title, scope of services, date of signing, and the signatures and seals of both contracting parties).

V.Staffing Requirements

The Consultant shall ensure that the personnel proposed in the Technical Proposal are available to participate in and complete the assigned tasks. Should it be necessary to replace any personnel, the Consultant must submit a written request at least thirty (30) days in advance. Personnel replacement may only be made upon the prior written approval of the Provincial Project Management Office (PPMO). The qualifications of the proposed replacement personnel shall be no less than those of the originally proposed personnel.

VI.Deliverables, Timeline, Contract, and Management

1. Deliverables:

(1)One (1) Report on Supply Chain Characteristics and Risk Analysis of Agricultural Product Categories: This report shall elaborate on the research findings in detail, including the characteristics of the selected target agricultural product supply chains, as well as the primary quality and safety risks and influencing factors they face.

(2)One (1) Analysis Report on Agricultural Supply Chain Management Systems: By selecting three outstanding typical supermarkets and e-commerce platforms, this report shall analyze their supply chain structural frameworks and quality and safety control strategies, as well as the impacts of environmental and institutional factors on agricultural product quality and safety. Furthermore, it must distill replicable and scalable industry best practices.

(3) Develop supply chain risk communication guidelines for at least two of the following four agricultural products: lychee, vegetables, live pigs, and aquatic products. These guidelines are intended to guide producers and consumers in identifying food safety risks, thereby enhancing consumer confidence in domestically produced agricultural products. The research report must be provided in both Chinese and English, with six (6) printed copies of each version. An electronic version must also be submitted. None of the reports shall contain sensitive information. All data, reports, models, and research outcomes generated from the fulfillment of this consulting assignment, along with their associated intellectual property rights, shall be the exclusive property of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guangdong Province.

2.Duration

The estimated implementation period for this consulting assignment is 12 months.

3.Supervision and Management

The consultant shall report to, and be subject to the supervision of, the Provincial Project Management Office (PPMO) and the Provincial Agricultural Safety Center (PASC).

VII. Support Provided by the PPMO

1.The PPMO and project implementation units at all levels will work closely with the consultant, designate dedicated liaison personnel, and provide necessary support, including relevant materials;

2.The consultant is expected to collaborate closely with other relevant stakeholders involved in this project.