Construction of Six Solar-Powered Irrigation Model Farms in Red Sea State, Eastern Sudan (Re-bid)
01Project Overview
02Project Background
Agricultural irrigation in Sudan has long relied on diesel pumps and an unstable grid supply. Public information from the World Bank's Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy and Digital Access Transformation in Sudan project (ASCENT-Sudan, Project ID P507788) records that the project is Phase 11 of the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation multi-phase programmatic approach (ASCENT MPA) and aims to improve energy and digital access for select communities in Sudan. The project uses a results-based financing (RBF) mechanism to enable private companies to provide solar energy and digital connectivity solutions for farmers, agri-businesses, schools, clinics, SMEs, telecom infrastructure and households, with the Trade and Development Bank (TDB) and its wholly owned subsidiary the Trade and Development Fund (TDF) acting as third-party recipient and implementor. Solar-powered irrigation model farms fall within this direction of replacing diesel pumping with solar energy and improving the reliability of energy used in agriculture.
This invitation to bid is issued by UNOPS as a re-bid for the construction of six solar-powered irrigation model farms in Red Sea State. The notice states that the works are executed under the UNOPS General Conditions of Contract and that bidders must price the works in accordance with the irrigation system technical specification, the electrical technical specification and the lot-based bills of quantities attached to the notice. Vendors must be registered as a UNOPS vendor on UNGM and logged in, must respond through the UNOPS eSourcing system, and may request clarifications on the tender through that system.
03Scope of Work & Technical Specifications
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Scope of Works | Construction of six solar-powered irrigation model farms |
| Farms | Awleeb and Gunub I, Awleeb and Gunub II, Salom, Sinkat I, Sinkat II, Tokar |
| Lots | Bills of quantities issued by lot, including LOT 1 and LOT 2 |
| Irrigation System | Pipe-supported and pressurised irrigation systems, with pressure line profiles and valve and fitting connection details |
| Solar Pumping System | Each farm is provided with a solar pumping system, including solar panel mounting details |
| Water Storage | Each farm has an elevated water tank, with ladder, fence and manhole details |
| Electrical Works | Pump switch houses with the associated electrical technical specification |
| Technical Attachments | Irrigation system technical specification, electrical technical specification, solar pumping system descriptions, design brief and lot-based bills of quantities |
| Contract Conditions | UNOPS General Conditions of Contract and the construction contract for small works |
| Submission | Submission through the UNOPS eSourcing system, with UNOPS vendor registration on UNGM |
04Key Commercial Terms
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Payment Terms | UN agencies' works contracts usually provide for payment in instalments against progress and acceptance milestones, with a retention for the warranty period |
| Performance Security | Works contracts commonly require a performance security of a percentage of the contract price, provided as a bank guarantee |
| Advance Payment | Works contracts commonly provide no advance payment, or make any advance conditional on an advance payment guarantee |
| Warranty Period | Civil works and equipment installation are commonly warranted for at least 12 months |
| Currency | Offers are usually priced in US dollars using unit rates against the bill of quantities |
05Bidder Eligibility Requirements
06Key Milestones
07Evaluation Criteria
- All bids first undergo a technical compliance review covering the construction methodology, compliance with the technical specifications and the completeness of the lot-based pricing
- Only bids meeting both the technical and commercial requirements proceed to the price comparison
- The contract is normally awarded to the lowest-evaluated compliant bidder
