Invitation to Bid (ITB)
Water Harvesting and Storage for Schools in Kibondo and Kakonko Districts and Solar Powered Sprinkler Irrigation System at Ilagala Prisons, Kigoma Region, Tanzania
Kigoma Region, Tanzania
Location
Rainwater harvesting for schools and solar sprinkler irrigation
Scope of Works
Kibondo, Kakonko and Uvinza Districts
Implementation Area
2026-10-11 23:30 (GMT+3)
Submission Deadline
01Project Overview
Project Name
Water Harvesting and Storage for Schools in Kibondo and Kakonko Districts and Solar Powered Sprinkler Irrigation System at Ilagala Prisons, Kigoma Region, Tanzania
Reference
FAOTZ/ITB/2026/019 (UNGM notice reference 2026/FRURT/FRURT/138090)
Country
United Republic of Tanzania
Project Area
Kigoma Region: Kibondo, Kakonko and Uvinza Districts
Project Type
Rural water supply and solar-powered irrigation infrastructure works
Contracting Authority
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Procurement Method
Invitation to Bid (ITB); offers are submitted online through the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM)
Contract Type
Works contract covering the construction of rainwater harvesting and storage facilities for schools and the supply, installation and commissioning of a solar-powered sprinkler irrigation system
Source of Funds
FAO project budget
Eligibility
Open to firms and consortiums
Language of Bid
English
Source
UNGM notice page (https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/314955) — reference 2026/FRURT/FRURT/138090, published 18 Sep 2026, verified 23 Sep 2026
Background Sources
FAO country page for the United Republic of Tanzania (FAO in Tanzania)
02Project Background
Rural areas of the United Republic of Tanzania face two persistent infrastructure gaps. First, public facilities such as schools lack adequate water supply and storage capacity, and monsoon rainfall is not effectively harvested and used. Second, areas far from the main grid lack reliable electricity, and diesel-driven pumping and irrigation equipment is costly to run. Expanding irrigated area and improving agricultural water-use efficiency are priorities of national agriculture and rural development policy, which makes solar-powered irrigation and rainwater harvesting widely adopted technical solutions in these areas.
The sites covered by this invitation are located in the Kigoma Region in north-western Tanzania. Selected schools in Kibondo and Kakonko Districts require rainwater harvesting and storage facilities to improve day-to-day water supply on campus, while Ilagala Prisons in Uvinza District requires a sprinkler irrigation system powered by solar photovoltaics, serving site irrigation and replacing or reducing reliance on pumps driven by conventional electricity or fuel.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has cooperated with Tanzania since the country joined the Organization in 1962 and established its country office in Dar es Salaam in 1977, working across agriculture, food and nutrition security, rural development and climate resilience. This invitation forms part of the Organization's support for rural water supply and agricultural infrastructure improvement in Tanzania.
03Scope of Work & Technical Specifications
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Scope of Works | Construction of rainwater harvesting and storage facilities for schools in the Kigoma Region of Tanzania, together with supply, installation and commissioning of a solar-powered sprinkler irrigation system at Ilagala Prisons |
| Works Package One | Construction of rainwater harvesting and storage systems at selected schools in Kibondo and Kakonko Districts, collecting and storing roof runoff to improve day-to-day water supply on campus |
| Works Package Two | Construction of a solar-powered sprinkler irrigation system at Ilagala Prisons in Uvinza District, with photovoltaic generation supplying the irrigation pump and serving sprinkler coverage of the site |
| System Configuration | The solar sprinkler irrigation system consists of PV modules and mounting structures, a pump with its control equipment, and the water conveyance network with sprinkler devices; the rainwater harvesting system consists of collection surfaces, conveyance pipes, storage structures and associated piping |
| Sites | Kigoma Region, Tanzania: selected schools in Kibondo and Kakonko Districts, and Ilagala Prisons in Uvinza District |
| Construction and Commissioning | The contractor is responsible for civil works, supply, transport, installation, testing and commissioning, including verification of system operation prior to handover |
| Technical Responsiveness | The offered solution must respond to the technical specifications in the bidding documents for the rainwater harvesting and storage facilities, the PV generating equipment, the pump and the irrigation network, and must set out the construction, installation and commissioning approach |
| Site Conditions | Works shall not disrupt normal school teaching or day-to-day operation of the prison, and shall meet the requirements applicable to public institutions in respect of safety, containment and water hygiene |
| Obtaining the Documents | Bidders shall obtain the FAO tender documents through the UNGM portal following the instructions attached to the UNGM notice |
| Submission Method | Offers must be submitted through the UNGM portal; offers not submitted through the UNGM portal will be invalidated |
| Not Disclosed in the Notice | The notice does not disclose the number of schools, the volume of the storage structures, the PV installed capacity or the irrigated area; those parameters are set out in the bidding documents |
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04Key Commercial Terms
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Contract Form | Contracts of this type for rural water supply and irrigation works commonly use a lump sum or unit-rate basis, settled against works actually completed and accepted |
| Advance Payment | United Nations agency works contracts commonly carry no advance payment, or pay pro rata only against an equivalent advance payment guarantee |
| Performance Security | The successful bidder is commonly required to provide performance security, usually at around 10% of the contract price, valid throughout the warranty period |
| Warranty Period | Warranties for major equipment such as PV modules and pumps commonly run from two to five years, while the defects liability period for civil works and storage structures is commonly 12 months, counted from acceptance |
| Payment Arrangement | Payments are commonly made in stages against delivery of equipment, completion of installation, commissioning and final acceptance, with the final payment released after expiry of the defects liability period |
| Price Basis | Prices are commonly quoted delivered to the individual implementation sites in the Kigoma Region, with transport, installation, commissioning and training costs included in the contract price |
| Insurance and Taxes | Contractors are commonly required to insure transport and construction and installation works and to bear the applicable taxes under the law of Tanzania |
| Governing Rules | The contract is subject to FAO procurement rules and the general conditions of contract of the United Nations |
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05Bidder Qualification Requirements
01
UNGM Registration
Bidders must hold at least a UNGM Basic Registration with FAO on the United Nations Global Marketplace
02
Legal Capacity
Bidders must be legally constituted corporate entities or consortiums commercially qualified to undertake water supply and irrigation works overseas
03
Similar Experience
A track record of comparable rainwater harvesting and storage facilities or solar irrigation works within the last five years, supported by contracts or acceptance certificates, is commonly required
04
Technical Capability
Bidders must deploy technical personnel for civil works, pipeline installation and PV system installation and commissioning, and be able to commission pumps and irrigation systems
05
Equipment and Resources
Bidders must command the machinery, transport and storage resources needed for simultaneous works at several remote sites
06
Financial Capacity
Bidders must submit audited financial statements demonstrating the financial capacity and funding sources required for this contract
07
Compliance
Bidders must comply with the United Nations Supplier Code of Conduct and accept FAO review of supplier eligibility and integrity
08
Submission Channel
Offers must be submitted through the UNGM portal; offers not submitted through the portal are invalidated
06Key Milestones
18 Sep 2026
Notice Publication
FAO tender documents are obtainable from the date of publication, following the instructions attached to the UNGM notice
Solicitation Documents
11 Oct 2026
Submission Deadline
Closing at 2026-10-11 23:30 (time zone shown on the UNGM notice: GMT+3.00), submitted online through the UNGM portal
Closing Time
07Evaluation Criteria
Technical Evaluation60%
- United Nations agency works tenders commonly give the largest weight to technical responsiveness. The evaluation normally covers:
- compliance with the technical specifications for the rainwater harvesting and storage facilities and the solar sprinkler irrigation system
- suitability of the design for the site conditions at the schools and the prison
- completeness and feasibility of the construction, installation and commissioning approach
- works programme and measures for construction during the rainy season
- spare parts supply, operator training and after-sales response arrangements
Commercial Evaluation40%
- Commercial evaluation commonly centres on price and normally covers:
- the level of the offered price and the completeness of its composition
- arithmetic checking of the price and the explanation of cost components
- committed delivery and construction periods
- responsiveness to the payment terms and warranty arrangements
