Request for Proposal (RFP)
Long-Term Agreement for Hybrid Solar PV Generator Systems, Backup Power and Borehole Materials for UNICEF-supported WASH Projects across Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Country
Hybrid solar PV and backup power systems
Scope of Supply
All regional states
Coverage
2026-10-15 11:59
Submission Deadline
01Project Overview
Project Name
Long-Term Agreement for hybrid solar PV generator systems, backup power supply and borehole risers, casings, pipes and fittings for WASH projects across Ethiopia
Reference
LRFP-2026-9206161
Country
All regional states of Ethiopia
Project Type
Supply and installation services for renewable power systems (Long-Term Agreement)
Contracting Authority
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Ethiopia Country Office
Procurement Method
Request for Proposal (RFP); offers are submitted online through the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM)
Contract Type
Long-Term Agreement under which orders are placed against the actual requirements of UNICEF-supported projects during the agreement period
Sector
Renewable energy (solar) power generation for water supply facilities
Registration Level
UNGM Basic Registration is required
Eligibility
Open to firms and consortiums
Language of Bid
English
Source
UNGM notice page (https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/314768) — reference LRFP-2026-9206161, published 17 Sep 2026, verified 22 Sep 2026
Background Sources
World Bank, Access to Distributed Electricity and Lighting in Ethiopia (ADELE), Project ID P171742 (World Bank — ADELE, P171742); UNICEF Ethiopia, Water, sanitation and hygiene (UNICEF Ethiopia — Water, sanitation and hygiene)
02Project Background
Ethiopia's National Electrification Program (NEP 2.0) guides the country's drive towards universal access, targeting full electrification by 2030, with roughly 65% of connections delivered on-grid and 35% off-grid. The off-grid share is met through solar home systems, solar mini-grids and standalone PV systems for public facilities such as schools and health institutions, covering remote areas where grid extension is not cost-effective.
The World Bank-financed ADELE project (Access to Distributed Electricity and Lighting in Ethiopia, Project ID P171742) aims to increase access to reliable electricity for households, social institutions and enterprises, and includes standalone solar systems and solar mini-grids for health and education facilities, supporting power and water supply at rural facilities. Ethiopia's Ministry of Water and Energy also works with private solar suppliers through Results-Based Financing to widen off-grid solar coverage in remote areas.
In the water, sanitation and hygiene sector, rural water supply facilities in Ethiopia have long relied on diesel pumps, which carry high fuel transport costs and limit continuity of supply. UNICEF Ethiopia's water, sanitation and hygiene programme provides water services to rural health institutions and schools and has installed solar-powered water systems in rural communities. To reduce reliance on diesel pumping and improve the continuity and maintainability of power supply at water facilities, UNICEF is establishing a Long-Term Agreement covering hybrid solar PV generator systems, backup power supply, and borehole risers, casings, pipes and fittings across all regional states of Ethiopia.
03Scope of Work & Technical Specifications
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Nature of the Agreement | Long-Term Agreement (LTA) for services and goods for UNICEF-supported WASH projects across all regional states of Ethiopia |
| Core Supply Scope | Supply, installation, testing and commissioning of hybrid solar PV generator systems |
| Backup Power | Supply, installation, testing and commissioning of backup power supply, ensuring water facilities keep operating when PV output is insufficient |
| Borehole Materials | Supply and installation of borehole risers, casings, pipes and fittings |
| Auxiliary Items | Supply of auxiliary spare parts and after-sale service following installation |
| Geographic Coverage | All regional states of Ethiopia; the bills of quantities are prepared separately by region, covering Oromia, Amhara, Afar, Somali, Sidama, South Ethiopia, Southwest Ethiopia, Central Ethiopia, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella and Harari |
| End Users | Health institutions, schools and community water facilities served by UNICEF-supported rural WASH projects |
| Period of Performance | Services and supplies under the Long-Term Agreement are delivered in phases in line with the implementation schedule of UNICEF-supported projects |
| Solicitation Documents | The solicitation documents comprise the terms of reference, technical specifications, evaluation criteria, bills of quantities and financial rate cards, the technical proposal format and the contractor's experience format |
| Language of Bid | English |
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04Key Commercial Terms
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Contract Form | Long-Term Agreements are commonly concluded as rate-based framework agreements, with orders placed against the requirements of UNICEF-supported projects during the agreement period and no fixed purchase volume committed |
| Pricing Basis | Prices are commonly quoted as unit rates against the regional bills of quantities and financial rate cards, aggregated separately by region |
| Advance Payment | United Nations agency service and supply contracts commonly carry no advance payment, or pay pro rata only against an equivalent advance payment guarantee |
| Performance Security | Long-Term Agreements commonly require performance security after award, usually at a percentage of the agreement value, valid throughout the agreement period |
| Warranty and After-Sale Service | Warranties for PV modules, storage equipment and backup power supply are commonly five years or longer; agreements normally set out after-sale response times and spare parts supply arrangements |
| Payment Arrangement | Payments are commonly made in stages against acceptance of supply, installation and commissioning in each region, with the final payment released after the warranty period |
| Price Basis | Prices are commonly quoted delivered to the designated sites in each region, with transport, installation, commissioning and training costs included in the contract price |
| Insurance, Taxes and Safeguards | Contractors are commonly required to insure transport and installation works, to bear taxes under the law of the country of implementation, and to comply with UNICEF safeguards on child rights and environmental protection |
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05Bidder Qualification Requirements
01
UNGM Registration
Bidders must hold a UNGM Basic Registration
02
Legal Capacity
Bidders must be legally constituted corporate entities or consortiums qualified to supply and install cross-border PV generation systems and associated water facility works
03
Similar Experience
A track record of comparable PV system supply, installation and commissioning contracts accepted within the last five years is commonly required
04
Technical Capability
Bidders must be able to design, install, test and commission PV generation systems and backup power supply, and to mobilise resources for concurrent works in multiple regional states
05
Borehole Works Capability
Bidders must be able to supply and install borehole risers, casings, pipes and fittings, and must be familiar with the works requirements of water supply facilities
06
After-Sale Service and Spares
Bidders must have after-sale maintenance capacity and spare parts supply channels in the country or region of implementation, and must commit to response times
07
Financial Capacity
Bidders must submit audited financial statements demonstrating the financial capacity to perform phased supply and installation tasks under a Long-Term Agreement
08
Compliance and Safeguards
Bidders must comply with the United Nations Supplier Code of Conduct and accept UNICEF review of supplier eligibility, integrity, and child rights and environmental safeguard requirements
06Key Milestones
17 Sep 2026
Notice Publication
Solicitation documents and all annexes are available for download from the UNGM notice page from the date of publication
Solicitation Documents
15 Oct 2026
Submission Deadline
Closing at 2026-10-15 11:59 (time zone shown on the UNGM notice: GMT-3.00), submitted online through the UNGM portal
Closing Time
07Evaluation Criteria
Technical Evaluation50%
- Service and supply tenders for Long-Term Agreements commonly begin with a technical responsiveness review, normally covering:
- compliance of the hybrid solar PV generator systems and backup power supply with the technical specifications
- conformity of borehole risers, casings, pipes and fittings with the required specifications
- the installation, testing and commissioning approach and the capacity to work concurrently in multiple regional states
- the after-sale maintenance system, spare parts supply channels and response times
Commercial Evaluation50%
- Commercial evaluation commonly centres on the price and rate cards, normally covering:
- the level of prices in the regional bills of quantities and financial rate cards
- completeness and arithmetic checking of the prices
- responsiveness to the agreement period, the ordering mechanism and delivery schedules
- responsiveness to the payment terms and warranty arrangements
