Terms of Reference (ToR) For Consultancy Services on Soil Testing of Agricultural Land

Terms of Reference (ToR) 

For Consultancy Services on Soil Testing of Agricultural Land

Background and Rationale:

Rural Development Centre (RDC) Nepal (RDC Nepal) is a non-profit, non-political, and non-governmental organization established in May 2002 with its head office in Rautahat District, Madhesh Province, Nepal. RDC Nepal has been implementing humanitarian and long-term development programs focusing on climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, disaster risk reduction, natural resource management, livelihoods, and social inclusion, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized communities across the Terai region.

Since April 2025, RDC Nepal has been implementing the Building Community Resilience to Climate Risks and Vulnerabilities (BCRC) Project with financial support from Oxfam in Nepal in Chandrapur and Gujara Municipalities of Rautahat District. The project aims to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable farming communities by promoting climate-adaptive agricultural practices, sustainable natural resource management, disaster preparedness, and improved local governance for climate adaptation.

Agriculture in Rautahat District is increasingly affected by the adverse impacts of climate change. Erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, flooding, increasing temperatures, and declining soil fertility are reducing agricultural productivity and threatening the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Unsustainable farming practices, imbalanced fertilizer application, excessive use of chemical inputs, and inadequate knowledge of soil nutrient status have further contributed to soil degradation, declining organic matter, and reduced soil health. These challenges not only affect crop yields but also decrease the resilience of farming systems to climate-induced stresses.

Healthy soil is the foundation of climate-resilient agriculture. Maintaining balanced soil fertility improves crop productivity, enhances water retention, increases nutrient-use efficiency, strengthens resistance to drought and other climate stresses, and supports long-term environmental sustainability. Promoting soil health is therefore a key component of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), enabling farmers to optimize input use while reducing environmental impacts and improving adaptation to changing climatic conditions.

As part of the BCRC Project, RDC Nepal has been promoting climate-smart vegetable production through improved farming practices, efficient water management, integrated soil fertility management, and farmer capacity building. However, effective soil fertility management requires accurate information on the physical and chemical properties of agricultural soils. Soil testing provides scientific evidence on nutrient availability, soil reaction (pH), salinity, organic matter status, and micronutrient deficiencies, enabling the development of site-specific and balanced fertilizer recommendations.

To support evidence-based decision-making and strengthen climate-adaptive agricultural practices, RDC Nepal intends to conduct comprehensive laboratory analysis of soil samples collected from 100 vegetable-growing farmers in the project area. The findings will guide farmers in adopting appropriate soil management practices, improving nutrient efficiency, increasing vegetable productivity, reducing unnecessary fertilizer use, and enhancing the resilience of agricultural production systems to climate change.

Objective:

The main objective of this consultancy is to conduct laboratory analysis of 100 soil samples collected from vegetable-producing farmers to determine their physical and chemical properties, assess soil fertility status, and provide scientifically sound recommendations for balanced nutrient management and sustainable crop production. 

Role or Scope of Work: 

The consultant/laboratory will be responsible for: 

• Collecting the transported sample from the destination point delivered by the organization.
• Conducting laboratory analysis of each of the 100 soil samples for the parameters listed below: 
  • Soil pH
  • Soil Nitrogen (Total or Available, specify method)
  • Available Phosphorus
  • Available Potash (Potassium)
  • Soil Texture (Sand, Silt, Clay percentage)
  • Soil Organic Matter (OM)
  • Electrical Conductivity (EC)
  • Calcium (Ca)
  • Magnesium (Mg)
  • Sulphur (S)
  • Boron (B)
  • Zinc (Zn)
  • Iron (Fe)
  • Molybdenum (Mo)
  • Manganese (Mn)
• Ensuring quality assurance during analysis. 
• Preparing a comprehensive analytical report including raw data, interpretation, and recommendations. 

Deliverables:

1. A clear digital laboratory test reports for each soil sample including: 

• sample ID
• Testing date
• Results
• Standard reference values
• Nutrients status
• Interpretation
• Fertilizer recommendation
• Soil amendment recommendations, etc. 

2. A summary report including: 

• Overview of findings (Executive Summary)
• Laboratory methodology
• Overall soil fertility status
• Nutrient deficiency trends
• Graphs and tables
• Nutrient status classification (Low, Medium, High)
• Municipality-wise analysis
• Recommendations for soil amendments and nutrient management 

3. Soil Health Card for each farmer

Timeline:

The complete set of assignment (laboratory work) should be completed by the mid of August 2026. Lab reports and summary report should be shared by 20 August 2026.

Responsibilities of RDC Nepal: 

• Will collect the soil sample from the field and label all the samples properly. 
• Provide farmers details as per requirement. 
• Transport the collected sample to the nearest areas of laboratory via local transport service. 
• Review the lab reports and provide feedback incase required.

Consultant Qualification: 

• Registered and accredited soil testing laboratory 
• PAN/VAT registered
• Proven experience in agriculture soil analysis
• Trained personnel and modern analytical equipment
• Capacity to deliver within stipulated time

Proposal Review/Scoring criteria

The assessment of the quotations will start with an assessment of the administrative criteria. That means that if these criteria aren’t met in your quotation, this quotation will be put aside, and the award criteria of this quotation will not be assessed.

The quotations that meet the administrative criteria will be assessed against the award criteria. The award criteria are assessed according to the following distribution of points. 

Reporting Line:

The consultant will report to Project Coordinator of BCRC Project, RDC Nepal.

Mode of Payment:

100% payment shall be made within 15 working days after acceptance of all deliverables by RDC Nepal. 

Application Procedures:

Interested firm/companies/laboratories should submit their application materials in the detail below with statement of subject “Application for Soil Test-BCRC” by 15 August 2026, 17:00 PM. Hard copies of the application can be submitted to RDC Nepal Office. Application materials should include a copy of the following documents:

1. Company registration certificate with renewal 
2. PAN/VAT registration certificate 
3. Tax clearance certificate for the FY 2082/083
4. CV of the technical personal involve in soil testing
5. A duly filled with signed and stamped Quotation as attached with this ToR. 
6. A duly signed Code of Conduct (CoC) and Conflict of Interest (CoI). 

Missing any of the above-mentioned documents leads to disqualification of the applicants. 

By accepting these terms of reference, the selected firm/companies/laboratories agree to adhere to the objectives, scope of work, and deliverables outlined above. Any deviations or changes must be communicated and agreed upon in writing with Rural Development Centre (RDC) Nepal.

LINKS:

Code of Conduct_RDC Nepal 

COI Bidder and Supplier 

RFQ template for soil testing

Rural Development Centre (RDC) Nepal 

Chandrapur-4 Rautahat

Contact no: +977 55 540203, 9865411833

Email: procurement@rdcnepal.org