The UNICEF Zimbabwe Country Office is seeking interested companies to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) to compete for a proposed pilot for solar powered water supply systems at various small centres in Zimbabwe. The successful bidders will be invited to submit proposals to enter into an institutional contract with UNICEF for the assessment, design, supply, installation and commissioning of solar powered water supply systems for identified small settlements (i.e. growth points, rural service centers and small towns). The specific Terms of Reference for the pilot will be described in detail in the relevant Request for Proposals (RFPs) when issued.
Background:** UNICEF Zimbabwe, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Water &Climate, Ministry of Local Government, Public Works & National Housing and the Ministry of Rural Development, Heritage and Preservation of Culture subject to availability of funds, intends to provide support to small towns, service centers and growth points for the installation and commissioning of solar powered water supply systems. Given the high energy costs associated with conventional water treatment, as well as decreased reliability due to frequent load shedding, this intervention will provide learning on the use of solar power in small settlements as well as municipal water supply systems and serve as a pilot within the broader context of environmental and climate change friendly interventions in WASH. Anticipated key learnings will include analysis of savings made on energy costs, ease of operation and maintenance and improved cost recovery.
Scope of the Assignment:** The contracted firm is expected to provide the following services:
Undertake technical assessments in the identified locations which assessment will include inter-alia; yield capacity tests on boreholes, assessment of feasibility to install solar powered systems for the water supply systems (i.e. abstraction pump stations, water treatment works (water chemical dosing pumps, mixers), low lift pump stations, high lift pump stations, booster pump stations.
Prepare a technical report on the basis of the assessments, with recommendations on the feasibility of installation of solar powered water supply systems, with detailed technical specifications for recommended solar pump packages, including detailed technical specifications for related ancillary works (civil, mechanical and electrical) including an economic analysis of the viability of the proposed solar powered solutions.
On the basis of review and approval of a technical report on the above technical assessment, undertake the following which includes inter-alia, supply, installation and commissioning of the recommended solar powered water supply systems including undertaking all necessary civil, mechanical and electrical works for the proper installation and functioning of the system at the identified locations in the Growth Points / Rural Service Centres/Small Towns.
Provision of training services on the operation and maintenance of the installed solar powered water supply systems, including the development of detailed operation and maintenance protocols.
Qualifications: Interested Contractors should meet the following minimum qualifications:
Should be legal entity or consortium of legal entities;
Should have demonstrated or verifiable experience in supply, installation of solar powered water supply systems
Should possess experience of working on similar projects in Sub-Saharan Africa.
HOW TO APPLY:
Response requirements: At this stage, UNICEF is requesting Expression of Interests from vendors interested in competing for the contract for the assessment, design, supply, installation and commissioning of solar powered water supply systems for small settlements (i.e. growth points, rural service centers and small towns). Interested vendors should submit detailed and complete institutional profile information and documents, together with a written “Expression of Interest” in response to this advertisement. The documents should include:
Description of the firm – legal status, organizational structure, names of the board of directors and name(s) and address(es) of associates, if a Joint Venture(JV); description of their role of each partner in the JV/Association;
Total number of years of experience in the implementation of water supply projects;
Description of major similar assignments undertaken during the last 5 years including name of the project, location, name and contact details (e-mail and telephone) of the client, implementation period, cost of the project, cost of services provided and scope of services;
Description of services offered in relation to solar powered water supply systems, including product brochures where applicable indicative of product capabilities it terms of operation, warranties/guarantees, how support services will be offered in country for operation and maintenance.
Key professional staff (name, date of birth, years with the firm, total years of experience, nature of experience in this firm and others, education/other trainings and knowledge of local languages; and
Audited financial statements including annual turn-over (in US$) for the past 3 financial years.
Proof of ability to obtain financial resources from reputable financial institutions in support of the project.
Information provided will be reviewed to assess each consortium or institutions’ suitability to be included in the upcoming competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
Institutions should submit detailed and complete institutional profile information, together with a written “Expression of Interest” by either email or mail no later than 12:00 noon Harare local time on Thursday, 2 June 2016. EOI should contain the following reference:
Emailed responses should be addressed to nsafure@unicef.org and serviceszim@unicef.org.
Mailed responses can be sent to:
The Supply Section
UNICEF Harare Office
Fairbridge Avenue
P.O. Box 1250