Winrock is seeking applicants who intend to expand their work on solarizing community water pumps

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)
(PLEASE DOWNLOAD FULL DOCUMENT)

• Program Name: Demonstrating A Scalable Revenue Model for  Community Solar Water Pumping
• Country/Location: Oromia Regional State
• Request for Applications (RFA) No: 003
• RFA Issued: July 17, 2024
• Applications Due: July 31, 2024

SECTION 1: PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND AND BUSINESS MODEL

The Government of Ethiopia has outlined a comprehensive plan under Phase II of the One WASH National Programme (OWNP) that aims to increase water supply and sanitation access. This plan calls for the solarization of 6,352 water supply systems in rural, off-grid communities, including 4,000  systems in Oromia state and 500 systems in Amhara state. Currently, OWNP envisions that solar pumps will be provided to communities using donor and/or government funds.

However, there may be other business models for diesel pump solarization that could be scaled up more rapidly. Winrock’s project aims to demonstrate and test the BOOT model by facilitating contracts between rural communities and private solar developers for the replacement of diesel water supply pumps with solar pumps at ten demonstration sites. The Ministry of Water and Energy has given Winrock a letter supporting the project, and Winrock has signed MoUs with the Amhara  Bureau of Water and Energy and the Oromia Water and Energy Bureau (OWEB) to collaborate in identifying and supporting communities interested in participating as demonstration sites. If the pilot demonstrations are successful, the project will encourage OWNP to integrate this business model into its Phase II plan.

Under Winrock’s model (Figure 1), a local private solar vendor invests in the initial solar pump system and installation to replace the existing diesel pump. After the solar pump is installed, the community will continue to pay the same water tariff (typically 2 to 3 Birr per jerrican), and by paying a portion of water revenues to the solar developer monthly, the community will pay off the cost of the solar pump over time.

Winrock believes that a commercial market for solarization of diesel community water pumps will emerge from this demonstration project. The overall market is expected to be on the order of thousands of systems in Ethiopia, with more in other Sahel and East African countries.

SECTION 2: DE-RISKING INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY SOLAR WATER PUMPS

Winrock is de-risking the private solar developer’s investment in community solar water pumps in several ways:

1.  We have signed an (MoU) with OWEB, securing their support for this project;
2.  We conducted a technical site assessment to confirm that the water system infrastructure is in good condition, test the water quality, and verify the volume of water currently being consumed by the community;
3.  We confirmed that each community has a track record of collecting monthly water tariffs at a level suitable to cover repayment of the solar pump;
4.  Communities will be required to contribute at least 10% of the solar pump cost up front (to be decided during MOU negotiations);
5.  We will facilitate a three-way contract between the woreda, the community, and the private solar developer; and
6.  Winrock is able to offer an incentive payment for successful solar pump installation. There will be a separate application form for this incentive payment, open only to solar developers selected through this RFA.

SECTION 3: RFA PURPOSE

Winrock has identified six communities in the Oromia regional state that are interested in undertaking solarization of their diesel community water pumps using the BOOT model. Through this RFA, Winrock solicits competitive offers from private solar developers for solar pump system design, procurement, and installation. The cost of the solar pump system will be different at each site. In

Annex II, applicants must:

• Use the data in Table 1 to estimate the cost of procuring, installing, operating, and maintaining each solar pump system for 3 to 5 years; and
• Calculate the monthly payment (Birr/m3) that would be needed from the community to pay back the cost of the solar pump system within 3 to 5 years.
• Winrock will select the applicant(s) who demonstrate the interest and capability to expand work in this sub-sector and provide the best quality and cost to the community.

Table 1: Data on community sites

SECTION 4: COMMUNITY CONTRACT DELIVERABLES

The community contract deliverables and dates expected from the solar company are summarized in Table 2.

Table 2: Expected deliverables and dates per community

SECTION 5: ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

5.1 ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

This RFA is open to private solar developers with experience designing and installing community solar water pump systems in East Africa. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in Ethiopia.

Applicants must propose at least two key personnel: an Energy Engineer with 5+ years of experience in solar water pumping projects; and an Expert with 5+ years of experience in renewable energy technologies, business management, and/or a related field.

SECTION 6: INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Questions regarding this RFA can be submitted to SolarwaterpumpRFA@winrock.org  at any time, and we will respond directly. Applications must be in English, using Times New Roman font size 12, single-spaced. The Application Form (Annex I) must be no more than 7 pages in length. CVs of proposed staff do not count towards the page limit. Applications must be submitted via email to SolarwaterpumpRFA@winrock.org.  Please do not send files in ZIP format. Incomplete or late applications will be ineligible for review or award.

• A complete application will include the following:
• A completed and signed Application Form (Annex I)
• A completed Technical and Cost Details spreadsheet for each site the company is applying for (Annex II). For example, if the company applies for 3 community sites, a separate Technical and Cost Details spreadsheet should be submitted for each site.
• Brief bio or short resume (not more than 2 pages each) for each project personnel that demonstrates their qualifications and experience relevant to the project.
• Any additional information that is necessary to fully understand the company’s proposal.

SECTION 7: WEBINAR FOR BIDDERS

Winrock will answer questions from bidders during a Webinar on Monday, July 22, 5-6 pm Ethiopia time. Please email solarwaterpumprfa@winrock.org  if you would like to attend.

SECTION 8: APPLICATION EVALUATION CRITERIA

Winrock is seeking applicants who intend to expand their work on solarizing community water pumps if this demonstration project is successful. Applicants that propose competitive solar pump system costs and a reasonable monthly community payment will achieve a higher evaluation score in this competition.

Applicants must apply for at least two (2) sites. Evaluation criteria are summarized in Table 3. Up to two (2) awards will be made to the highest-scoring applicant(s).

Table 3: Evaluation Criteria

SECTION 9: OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS

9.1 DISCLAIMERS

Winrock reserves the right to reject any and all applications.

9.2 CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Applicants must provide disclosure of any past, present, or future relationships with any parties associated with the issuance, review, or management of this RFA. Failure to provide full and open disclosure may result in Winrock having to re-evaluate the selection of a potential applicant.

9.3 OTHER CONDITIONS

Applications must remain valid for at least 90 days.

Individuals are not eligible to receive funding under this solicitation.

For those selected for a results-based grant award, Winrock will work with the awardee to conduct a pre-award assessment of the company’s financial and administrative practices.

9.4 INCENTIVE PAYMENTS

As mentioned in Section 2 above, Winrock will allow developers selected through this RFA process to request a results-based incentive payment, to be paid upon successful installation of the solar pump at each site. The maximum possible incentive payment for each site is as follows, in US dollars: Qoolo Siri, $11,300; Kufi, $5,500; Toli Cheka, $6,500; Keresi, $11,500; Chalo, $13,000; Gudane, $12,000.

SECTION 10: ANNEXES

For Additional Information Please Check the Attached Documents