Request for Bids — International Competitive Procurement (Two-Envelope)
Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Centre Pivot Irrigation System, Submersible Pumps, Solar Modules and Battery Storage for 255 ha of Groundwater-Based Pressurised Irrigation in Borena Zone, Ethiopia
Borena Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Project Location
255 ha
Irrigation Area
Supply, installation, testing and commissioning
Contract Nature
210 days
Delivery Period
01Project Overview
Project Name
Supply, installation, testing and commissioning of centre pivot irrigation system, submersible pumps, solar modules, battery storage systems and delivery pipelines for the development of 255 ha of groundwater-based pressurised irrigation in Borena Zone, Oromia Region
Reference
ET-MOIL-HOA-559374-GO-RFB (World Bank notice OP00469508)
Country
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Project Location
Borena Zone, Oromia Region, at designated sites in Dillo, Teltele and Elwoye Woredas
Contracting Authority
Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands, Ethiopia
Source of Funds
IDA Grant E0120 under the Horn of Africa Groundwater for Resilience Program (Project ID P174867)
Procurement Method
Request for Bids under international competitive procurement (two-envelope process), subject to the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, Seventh Edition, September 2025
Contract Scope
Supply, installation, testing and commissioning of a centre pivot irrigation system, submersible pumps, solar modules, battery storage systems and delivery pipelines
Delivery Period
210 days
Language of Bid
English
Source
World Bank procurement notice (https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/procurement-detail/OP00469508), reference ET-MOIL-HOA-559374-GO-RFB, notice OP00469508. Published 25 Sep 2026, verified 28 Sep 2026
Background Sources
World Bank project page for the Horn of Africa Groundwater for Resilience Program (https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P174867), which records the project development objective, borrowers, implementing agencies and financing structure
02Project Background
The Horn of Africa Groundwater for Resilience Program (Project ID P174867) is financed by the International Development Association with a total of USD 385 million, comprising an IDA credit of USD 135 million and an IDA grant of USD 250 million. The borrowers are the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republic of Kenya and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The implementing agencies are the Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy, the Kenyan Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, the Somali Ministry of Energy and Water Resources and IGAD. The project development objective is to increase the sustainable access to and management of groundwater in the borderlands of the Horn of Africa, and the project closing date is 31 December 2028. This procurement is a contract for goods and related services in Ethiopia under that programme, financed under Grant E0120.
The works under this procurement are located in Borena Zone, Oromia Region. According to the notice, the contract covers the development of 255 ha of groundwater-based pressurised irrigation, with a supply scope comprising a centre pivot irrigation system, submersible pumps, solar modules, battery storage systems and delivery pipelines. The solar modules and battery storage systems power the water lifting and pressurisation equipment of the irrigation system, reducing the dependence of irrigation pumping on diesel generation and grid supply. The notice states that no margin of preference applies to this contract.
03Scope of Work & Technical Specifications
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Centre Pivot Irrigation System | Supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the centre pivot irrigation system |
| Submersible Pumps | Supply, installation, testing and commissioning of submersible pump sets |
| Solar Modules | Supply and installation of solar photovoltaic modules |
| Battery Storage Systems | Supply and installation of battery storage systems |
| Delivery Pipelines | Supply and laying of the delivery pipelines |
| Irrigation Area | Development of 255 ha of groundwater-based pressurised irrigation |
| Implementation Locations | Borena Zone, Oromia Region: Goray Kebele (Melka Sedeka) in Dillo Woreda, Mermero Kelo Kebele in Teltele Woreda and Saba Kebele (Bule Cobi) in Elwoye Woreda |
| Quantities | Quantities of each item of equipment and works are listed item by item in the bill of quantities (BOQ) |
| Delivery Period | 210 days |
| Margin of Preference | No margin of preference applies to this contract |
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04Key Commercial Terms
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Contract Form | A goods and related services contract under the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, awarded as a lump-sum, single-stage delivery contract |
| Disbursement Method | The borrower processes payments using the direct payment disbursement method defined in the World Bank Disbursement Guidelines for Investment Project Financing, except for payments that the contract provides to be made through a letter of credit |
| Bidding Document Fee | Non-refundable, in the amount of USD 50.00 or ETB 8,000.00 or equivalent in a freely convertible currency; the bidding document is issued to bidders' representatives in person and payment is made in cash to the buyer's designated Commercial Bank of Ethiopia account |
| Bid Submission | A two-envelope process applies, with the outer envelope marked "Original Bid" and the inner envelope marked "Technical Part"; electronic bidding is not permitted and late bids are rejected |
| Performance Security | Projects of this type financed by the World Bank normally require a performance security expressed as a percentage of the contract price, generally provided in the form of a bank guarantee or an on-demand guarantee |
| Taxes and Insurance | Contracts of this type generally place local taxes, transport insurance and erection all-risks insurance on the contractor, to be included in the offered price |
| Defects Liability and Warranty | The defects liability period in comparable projects is generally 12 months, during which defects in equipment and installation are rectified free of charge |
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05Bidder Qualification Requirements
01
Financial Capability
The bidder must submit audited financial statements, or other financial statements acceptable to the purchaser where auditing is not required by the law of the bidder's country, for the last five years prior to the bid submission deadline (1 January 2021 to 2025), demonstrating the current soundness of its financial position. In a joint venture, each member must meet this requirement
02
Average Annual Turnover
Minimum average annual turnover, calculated as total certified payments received for contracts in progress or completed within the last five years (2021 to 2025), of USD 1,875,000.00 or equivalent; in a joint venture this may be met by all members combined
03
Specific Experience
Successful and substantial completion within the last five years of contracts similar in nature and complexity to the goods and related services, meeting either of the following: at least one contract of not less than USD 1,500,000.00 or equivalent, or at least two contracts each of not less than USD 750,000.00 or equivalent
04
Joint Venture Experience
In a joint venture the experience requirement may be met by all members combined, and each member must demonstrate successful and substantial completion of at least one contract of not less than USD 750,000.00 or equivalent within the last five years
05
Forced Labour Declaration
The bidder, and in a joint venture each member, together with proposed subcontractors, suppliers or manufacturers, must declare on the Forced Labour Performance Declaration form any contracts suspended or terminated in the past five years for breach of forced labour obligations, and any other contractual remedies applied including the calling of a performance security by an employer
06
Documentary Evidence
Documentary evidence that the goods conform to the technical specifications and usage standards must be furnished with the bid, including ISO or equivalent quality certificates, product datasheets and catalogues, and the necessary operational and user manuals
06Key Milestones
25 Sep 2026
Notice Published
Available in person from the Engineering Procurement Lead Executive office of the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands, 4th Floor, Kazanchis, Addis Ababa, on working days between 08:30-12:30 and 13:30-17:00 Ethiopian time
Bidding Documents Available
2 Nov 2026 at 14:00 Ethiopian time; electronic bidding is not permitted
Submission Deadline and Opening
210 days
Delivery Period
31 Dec 2028 (World Bank Horn of Africa Groundwater for Resilience Program)
Programme Closing Date
07Evaluation Criteria
Rated Criteria — Technical and Non-Price Factors60%
- Technical and non-price factors are scored in accordance with the evaluation process set out in the bidding documents, covering conformity of the offered goods with the technical specifications and usage standards in Section VII, Schedule of Requirements, equipment performance and configuration, the delivery, installation and commissioning arrangements, after-sales service and spare parts, and comparable project experience
- Rated criteria are scored, and the weighted result together with the bid price determines the ranking of bids
Bid Cost40%
- The bid price is scored in accordance with the evaluation process set out in the bidding documents, and the price score is weighted with the rated criteria score to determine the evaluation result
