1. Under this component, specialized studies and surveys shall be carried and study / survey reports shall be brought out for use by targeted beneficiaries. In addition, technical laboratories shall be set up or cause to be set up and also provide technical services including advisory and consultancy services; this shall be done by NHB with or without services of outsourced experts.

2. Components

• Review the present situation of horticulture development in particular area/ State
• Identify constraints in horticulture development and suggest their remedial measures
• Develop short term and long term strategies for systematic development of horticulture,
• Develop primary/secondary data of various aspects on horticulture,
• Provide consultancy services, expert services & establishing labs etc. in pursuance thereof,
• Carrying out technical scrutiny and certification of cold chain infrastructure as per implementation protocol for Technical Standards for cold storages etc.
• Preparing expert notes relating to export competitiveness in the area of fresh horticulture produce,
• Any other component of expert services provided by NHB addressing to indentified  needs of the sector

3. Pattern of Assistance for above components-
100% cost of the study shall be borne by the Board.

4. Nodal Organizations

• NHB itself
• State Governments/UT’s and organizations under it,
• Central Government Organizations/agencies
• Other organizations such as Quality Council of India / NHRDF etc.

5. Some Aspects of Studies/Surveys

• Techno Economic Feasibility Studies for development of horticulture in States/UT’s/Belts/Zones etc.
• Market Studies /special problems/Area/Commodity based study/ other aspects – Terms of Reference will vary on case to case basis
• Expert Services for project identification, formulation, implementation, monitoring & evaluation etc.
• Multi disciplinary and specific studies by NHB such as Performance Rating of infrastructure components, tools, equipments, machineries for use in horticulture sector; Firming up of PHM, storage and specialized handling related protocols
• Issues relating to protocols for Good Agricultural Practices, quality standards for fresh horticulture produce such as under CODEX, EC standards etc.;
• Export competitiveness in respect of fresh horticulture produce,
• E-solutions for business process of NHB office etc.
• To facilitate the consultancy   services relating to production , plant protection, PHM, packaging, storage, marketing and exports,

6. Criterion for empanelment of consultants / consultancy firms:-

• The consultancy firms should be registered, and it should be multi-disciplinary, having minimum experience of 3-5 years. Individual consultants or subject matter specialist of horticulture /agriculture experts, economist/management/ legal / personnel/ financial / marketing//information-technology experts etc can be engaged for specific activities, where the expertise of an individual will meet requirement
• The consultants must have expertise and experience in the field of horticulture, financial management, project formulation, project evaluation, monitoring etc.
• Consultants should have capability, as may be evident from their past experience in similar work in relevant field such as agriculture/ horticulture/post-harvest management / refrigeration, e-governance, marketing, exports etc.
• The consultants must have required infrastructure for taking up consultancy as per job requirements
• Preference would be given to such consultancy firms, who have experience in conducting similar studies for similar conditions
• The selection of experts for specific/multi disciplinary studies shall be finalized by the committee of NHB keeping in mind their known professionalism in the field.

7. Procedure for engaging the services of consultants / consultancy firms

• Study would be conducted and consultancy services rendered through empanelled consultants.  The panel of Consultancy firms / consultants would be updated periodically,  after every three years.
• A public notice will be issued calling the offers from consultant / consultancy firms for empanelment. A panel of consultancy firms / consultants would be finalized by Empowered Committee of the Board.

 8. Procedure for award of studies/surveys or consultancy assignment to a consultant / Firm in panel so prepared by NHB

• Consultants / Firm would send their detailed offer taking into consideration scope of work/term of reference within prescribed period.
• Consultants would be required to give offer in-respect of technical & financial aspects.
• Offers would be scrutinized by the Board for consideration of Empowered committee.
• Consultants would present their case in person before the Empowered Committee on the date & time to be decided by the Board.
• Period of study would be decided by the Empowered Committee on case to case basis.
• The study would be awarded by the Board on the recommendation of the Empowered Committee.

9. Mode of Payment

• 25% on award of work
• 50% on submission of Draft Report.
• 25% on submission of final report and its acceptance by Board/ Concerned State Govt./ Organization.

Note: - The consultant / consultancy firm shall generally be required to furnish an indemnity bond and personal guarantee before the release of advance payments. For any delay in submission of Draft Report, penalty @ 1 % of total fee may be levied on the consultants for every delay of one month or part thereof.

10. Submission of Draft Study / Survey Report

• Draft report would be submitted by the consultants within the prescribed time.
• Consultants would also present the study undertaken through slides etc. before the NHB & concerned sponsoring organization.
• Comments of NHB/sponsoring organization would be included in the study report.
• Consultants would coordinate for organizing the presentation of the report.

11.Submission of Final Report- Consultants would be required to submit requisite number of copies of Draft Report and Final Report duly bound along with soft copy.

12. NHB may undertake consultancy services including for setting up of specialized laboratory with the help of empanelled consultants/ consultancy firms

13. National Cold Chain Development Centre-

• A National Cold Chain Development Centre (NCCD) shall be set up by NHB with private sector participation in technology up-gradation, human resource development for meeting the requirements of post harvest management of horticulture crops and management of cold chain infrastructure and carrying out applied research & development related to post harvest management and storage of horticulture produce.
• NCCD is envisaged to operate in Public-Private Partnership Mode (PPP mode) with stake-holders’ participation. Organisation structure of National Cold Chain the Development Centre and its bye-laws shall be as approved by the Department of Agriculture & Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India.
• One time grant of Rs. 25 crore, including cost of construction and furnishing of HRD Centre at Nangaloi is earmarked for establishment of the National Cold Chain Development Centre during XI plan.  There shall be No cost on NHB on account of operation and maintenance of the NCCD.  NCCD shall generate its own resources from services rendered.
• NCCD will be responsible for bench marking of technical standards of cold chain and PHM infrastructures, carrying out technical scrutiny and appraisal of  cold storage and PHM projects, certification of cold storage and PHM projects as per approved Implementation Protocols for Technical Standards, carrying out Human Resource Development Programmes for meeting needs of skilled manpower for effective management of integrated cold chain infrastructure, promote private- investment in integrated cold chain infrastructure including development of National Green Grid and undertaking applied R &D relating to critical storage conditions for fresh horticulture produce, energy efficiency and performance rating of refrigeration equipments etc.