International Consultant – Rainbow Trout Grow out, Hatchery, Genetics and Feed

RFP: 2176/83/84

 

Appendix A: Terms of Reference and requirements

Appendix B: Instructions for Application and Review Process

 

Terms of Reference and Requirements/Consultancy

 

Title of proposed position/work: International Consultant – Rainbow Trout Grow out, Hatchery, Genetics and Feed

Location: Lalitpur, Nepal (remote and field work to be decided at contracting stage).

Report to: Deputy Chief of Party (DCoP)

Anticipated Start Date: November15, 2026

Anticipated End Date: March 30, 2027, Consultancy Type: Individual or Firm

Contract type – Initial contract of 25 days level of effort (LOE) with the possibility to extend.

 

Rainbow trout in Nepal officially introduced in 1988 from Japan. This was the third attempt of introduction, before these earlier attempts were carried from India and England. Since then, trout production is slowly and steadily increasing to reach approximately 1244 mt per year production. The trout has its own internal market at present; however future market strategies could be an option as production is gradually increasing. The rainbow trout farming despite of so many problems has been extended to more than 40 districts of Nepal.

There has been attempt to some attempt to improve the quality of brood fish some other efforts were carried to bring more strains of trout in Nepal. But those attempts have not been effective. Altogether there is one government research hatchery along with more than 20 privately-owned small-scale homestead type trout hatcheries. Earlier the hatchery owners were offered training and orientation on trout hatchery operation. At present there is need of hatchery manuals written in Nepali languages as a guideline to increase grow out production, maintain and improve the hatchery efficiency in terms of using higher survival of the brood fish so larger eggs could be obtained. Guidelines would also be necessary to obtain eggs and milt, fertilization process, cleaning of fertilized eggs, removing dead eggs before setting them into the incubator. In Nepal, for incubation Japanese system the use of Atkin's incubator (horizontal type) is in practice. In this system to examine the stages of development all trays submerged into the box are needed to dismantle. However, in vertical types of incubators (such as Californian Incubation or Jar system) specific incubation trays or jar can be examined without removing all trays. Therefore, alternative incubation system with improved and efficient survivability such as vertical types required.

There have been almost none genetical studies on the present stock of rainbow trout, although, in the trout stock is performing well despite the problems related to certain infections and disease related to poor nutrition. These traits are required to be assessed and recorded with recommendations for further genetical improvements programs.

Rainbow trout are fed with relatively higher protein content pellet feed in Nepal. The protein level are maintained by various sources one of the important is prawn meal. At the beginning to feed the newly hatched trout alevin are generally fed with boiled chicken egg yellow part, animal liver cakes, adopted by nurseries in Nepal after giving guidelines by NARC with promising results. Later crumbles for larval feed were developed and applied. Now the trout feed needs to be assessed for future recommendations for improvement not only in alevin crumble feed, but also for fingerlings as well adults grown up and broods.

Most trout hatchery operates with traditional infrastructure, inadequate broodstock management, and limited application of modern breeding protocols, and appropriately balanced pellet feed according to life cycle stages. The cleaning protocols of raceways as well handling might also need to be developed, documented and applied. These might be also one of the reasons for high mortality of alevins. standardized nursery systems.

 

Compounding the problem, Nepal lacks a national regulatory framework for seed certification, genetic traceability, or quarantine measures. This vacuum allows for unchecked importation of low-quality feed ingredients, including ornamental species that pose biosecurity threats. Both public institutions and private hatcheries face acute shortages of trained personnel on trout disease and genetic management tools.

To unlock the rainbow trout production potential, Nepal urgently needs a coordinated program to introduce new stock of brood, develop family- or nucleus-based selective breeding systems, and establish robust seed quality assurance, robust feed formulation and certification mechanisms. This consultancy is designed to fill these critical gaps by delivering hands-on technical guidance, piloting improved trout hatchery, feed system along with supporting policy frameworks to ensure long-term gains in trout seed quality, hatchery performance, and overall sector resilience.

The Aquaculture Modernization Project is a USDA Food for Progress initiative that aims to strengthen Nepal's aquaculture sector while promoting U.S. soy trade. It supports national priorities by enhancing food security, economic growth, and resilience across the aquaculture value chain.

 

The project seeks to boost domestic aquaculture production and competitiveness through sustainable practices and partnerships with farmers, government agencies (CFPCC, NARC), and the private sector. It contributes to two key USDA FFPr goals:

1. Improving sanitary and phytosanitary systems and trade
2. Enhancing sector profitability and

Structured around four components (1) SPS and trade, (2) sector profitability, (3) financial services, and (4) safe food consumption. The project operates in 14 districts across five provinces focusing on Tilapia, Carp and Pangas as well. The trout are limited to colder regions. Led by Lutheran World Relief, it will benefit 9,500+ farmers, 47 hatcheries, 18 feed mills, and 500+ value chain actors. This consultancy is central to Component 2, tackling rainbow trout production, genetics and seed quality challenges to improve hatchery performance and farmer productivity.

 

The project now requires an expert to improve rainbow trout grow out production, hatchery, genetics and feed. This consultancy will translate into on-the-ground actions, focusing on: find out and improvise rainbow trout production, hatchery, genetics and feed components.

• Assessment of rainbow trout grow out production, hatchery, broods, incubation system, feed formulation, feed storage and packaging system establishing breeding nuclei and introducing improved strains.
• Practical Trout Hatchery Revitalization: Transforming identified gaps into upgraded protocols, training, and pilot demonstrations on various trout egg incubation Preferably with most advanced and efficient system.
• System Building: draft the regulatory, code of conducts on hatchery, brood, incubation and feed and quality systems needed for long-term sector resilience.

 

The International Consultant for – Rainbow Trout Grow out Production, Hatchery, Genetics and Feed will be the lead technical expert responsible for the rainbow trout production strategies, hatchery, genetic and feed qualities, with capacity to offer TOT for Master Trainers. The consultant will also propose seed and feed quality measures essential for future improvements. The International Consultant will work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team comprising of government officials, NARC hatcheries researchers, private sector hatcheries local field coordinator, feed millers and the LWR project team to ensure coherent implementation, contextual adaptation, and institutional alignment of all technical interventions.

 

The consultant's work will be organized around the three priorities: Rainbow trout grow production, hatchery, Genetics and Feed Formulation for prevention of certain feed and hygiene related diseases.

 

The Consultant will assess the present status of Nepal's trout production, hatcheries and compare with the status of global trout hatcheries for modernization and upgrading the Nepal's trout hatcheries

- Develop a 5-Year Genetic Improvement roadmap of Rainbow trout with improving economically feasible feed, storage recommendations with high shelf life for storage.

 

 

Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

a) Design family-based selective breeding plan for growth and disease resistance and long survival traits

b) Facilitate import of genetically superior lines of rainbow trout

c) Establish trout breeding nucleus herd with proper pedigree recording.

d) Initiative to import new germplasm of rainbow trout suitable to Nepal conditions.

 

• Capacity Building and Training
  • Develop training manuals on:
    • Trout production, breeding, broodstock and genetical management
    • Trout egg incubation system
    • Trout Feed Formulation (From alevin, fry, fingerling, grow out and broods)
  • Deliver hands-on Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions for rainbow trout, targeting NARC, government, NGO, and private sector actors including feed millers.
  • Promote inclusive participation, especially of women and youth in hatchery skill

• Provide expert input toward high quality trout brood rearing, reproduction, fertilization, incubation, and fry rearing protocols, trout seed certification standards protocols (draft)
• Feed formulation for all life cycle stages of rainbow trout with protocols of longer shelf life (packaging and storage).
• Propose a practical trout seed quality framework to assess genetic integrity, size grading, and disease screening.

 

1

Inception Report & Roadmap

Summary of planned activities on growing out production, hatchery assessment and improvement, trout genetic work plan, and feed (with possibilities of promotion of Soyabean as one of the alternatives to substitute fish meal having at least 5 years genetics roadmap.

November 2026

2

2

Genetic

Assessment Report

Short diagnostics from field visits:

broodstock status, fry survival, biosecurity and safety measures, infrastructure gaps

November 2026

3

3

Breeding, incubation & assessment using new

hatching system

Assessment of present incubation system with options for improvement using advanced methods of incubation for easy handling and higher survival of eyed eggs

and alevins.

November 2026

3

4

Seed System

Establishment Plan

Preliminary establishment of Trout Nucleus herd.

November 2026 to March 2027

8

5

Training Modules

& ToT Package

Practical bilingual training packages for

trout production, hatchery teams and extension agents

November 2026 to January

2027

4

6

QA/Regulatory Protocol Drafts

Seed quality testing framework, quarantine SOPs, biosecurity, and draft certification checklist

March 2027

3

7

Final Consolidated Report &

Roadmap

Results summary, grow out production and sustainability strategy, and scaling roadmap for private sector, NARC & CFPCC, DLS

March 2027

2

 

Total

 

25 days

 

Strategic Roadmap for Rainbow Trout

 

2026 breeding program

Assessment of grow out production methods, hatcheries, broods, breeding, fertilization, incubation methods, introduction feasibilities of other modern methods. Assessment of genetical stocks and feeds for different life cycle stages of trout. Standardize brood maintenance, breeding, incubation, methods in connection with biosecurity. Feed

formulation for trout brood, alevin, fingerling and grow out stages.

2027 Scaling

Scale up breeding, brood maintenance and feed formulation other protocols in other stations /farms.

2028

Integrate rainbow trout into national aquaculture plan.

Start family level nucleus herd of brooders.

2029

Sustainability: Hand-over-breeding nucleus herd. Updated newer methods of

incubation apparatus and feed formulas to NARC, and CFPCC.

 

The ToR is expected to be completed by both remote and field work. Field visits will be required to travel across project areas. The prospective timeline for the selected consultant is to start November 30, 2026, and submit the deliverables by March 30, 2027, for a total of 25 days' level of effort. All terms will be agreed upon in the consultant contract.

 

• Education: PhD or MSc in Aquaculture Genetics, Selective Breeding, or related field, especially working experience with trout research, production and feed and nutrition area.
• Experience: Minimum 10 years of hands-on experience in designing and managing trout production, genetic improvement programs for rainbow trout.
• Technical Skills: Proven expertise in grow out production, broodstock management, selective breeding design, trout hatchery, incubation, seed rearing, biosecurity, and seed quality systems, preferably seed
• Field Experience: Demonstrated work in USA, or Asia or trout producing countries on donor-funded development projects.
• Languages: Fluency in English (written and spoken).

 

• Prior work experience in
• Experience in drafting aquaculture policies or
• Success in facilitating the international exchange of aquaculture

 

 

 

 

 

 

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS – All documents submitted in response to this solicitation, as well as all correspondence in connection with the solicitation, shall be in the English language.

EVALUATION – Evaluation of responsive and technically acceptable applications submitted pursuant to this solicitation will be carried out by LWR in accordance with the evaluation factors in, "Instructions for Application and Review Process."

QUESTIONS – Questions should be addressed to the below email address 5 business days prior to the submission deadline.

Attention: Aquaculture for Development Project Procurement - International Consultant – Rainbow Trout Hatchery, Genetics and Feed

APPLICATIONS – Applications are to be submitted through the online application no later than the Last Application Receipt Date, which is defined as Dated; November 2026, Electronic applications must be addressed and delivered to: lwrnepalprocurement@lwr.org.

The selection process will be based on the following criteria:

• An advanced degree and advanced academic credentials
• At least 10 years of documented experience with rainbow trout genetics, hatchery and feed formulation

Previous experience with international development projects. Minimum of 10 years demonstrated hands-on experience in the design, establishment, management, and/or evaluation of selective breeding programs for rainbow trout hatchery, genetics and feed formulation.

• Evidence of practical skills in broodstock selection, mating designs, pedigree tracking (using physical tags or genetic markers), and genetic data recording
• Proven track record of successful consultancy, research, or project implementation in the aquaculture sector.
• Ability to design cost-effective, practical, and scalable genetic improvement, trout incubation, fertilization, handling incubators, feed formulation for alevin, fingerlings and adult
• Technical Proposal (max 12 pages): Demonstrating understanding of the tasks, detailed methodology, work plan aligned with the 5-year roadmap, and CV of the lead consultant.
• Experience in conducting rapid technical assessments of hatcheries and breeding centers, with the ability to identify key bottlenecks in genetics, husbandry, and data
• Daily rate and financial proposal of the present consultation services

Note: LWR will not accept responsibility for delays with transmission or receipt of applications/ proposals. Applicants are solely responsible for ensuring the timely receipt of their applications/ proposals. Applications/ proposals received after the date and time required will generally not be considered unless no other proposals are received.

 

Submissions shall be in accordance with the instructions provided in this solicitation, at the place and time specified. If submitting a proposal as a firm, please share the CVs of the proposed consultants and include a breakdown of tasks outlined in the ToR in the cover letter. Interested applicants are requested to submit:

 

1. A recent CV or resume. The CV/resume must include sufficient relevant information to evaluate the application in accordance with the stated evaluation criteria and must contain the following information:
   • Personal Information: Full name, mailing address, email address, phone
   • Education: School/ university name, type of any degrees
   • Work and Consultancy Experience: Job/consultancy title, duties, and accomplishments, starting and ending dates (month and year).
   • Other Qualifications: Other pertinent information related to the qualifications required for the position, as noted above, including job-related training courses (title and year), job-related skills, and notable accomplishments, especially in fish and feed ingredients trades.
2. A Cover The cover letter must outline how you expect to use previous experience and expertise to complete the ToR.
3. Financial proposal. The Financial proposal should clearly indicate their proposed daily professional fee/rate, inclusive of applicable taxes and other charges, in their financial proposal.