Call for Tender—-Installation of Solar PV Systems for Fish Women and Mangrove Cutters

Job Description

The Energy Nexus Network (TENN)

No30F.A. O Drive, Aberdeen, Freetown, Sierra Leone Phone: +23279084220

Call for Tender

Installation of Solar PV Systems for Fish Women and Mangrove Cutters in Western Rural and Urban District.

About TENN:

The Energy Nexus Network (TENN) is a regional knowledge and facilitation hub for scaling decentralized renewable energy solutions using sustainable energy (SDG7) as a critical catalyst and entry point to improve major development outcomes.

The mission of TENN is to build resilient ecosystems around decentralized renewable energy. TENN supports actions on the energy ecosystem (i.e., enabling conditions/processes) that make the implementation of   DRE solutions feasible, sustainable, and scalable. TENN works as an aggregator, enabling dialogue across sectors and facilitating business, policy, and technical engagements across various scales to strengthen inter-sector linkages at the energy nexus with health, climate action, and Agri-value chain to improve social outcomes and alleviate poverty.

TENN provides advisory support to strengthen the institutional capacities of energy sector agencies, especially local institutions, and the civil society to address energy and energy-enabling development priorities in a coherent way. TENN is initially focusing on building programs in Energy-Health care Nexus and Energy-Livelihood Nexus to improve social and development outcomes.

Scope of operations:

• TENN is working with local and international partners to develop and strengthen local ecosystems for sustainable solutions around decentralized renewable energy access for underserved populations.
• TENN is serving as the regional energy ecosystem hub for innovating and scaling sustainable decentralized renewable energy solutions in rural areas through the GlobalSDG7Hubs,an initiative of the SELCO Foundation.
• TENN is championing initiatives that build strong ecosystems around energy access solutions in productive use applications for development as an anchor organization. The larger goal is to establish a strong network of local champion stakeholders across enterprises, innovators, sectoral champions in health, education, livelihoods, financing institutes, and policy makers who would help in unlocking energy access solutions for the poor in the region.

• TENN has positioned itself strategically in the West Africa region as an anchor organization and facilitation mechanism to attract international partners to design and implement programs/initiatives that have a sustained impact in the region.
• TENN has undertaken several needs assessments to identify energy entry points, designed and launched several pilot projects on Agri-values chains, healthcare, and livelihoods (especially small businesses targeting women) to improve last-mile energy services and solutions in remote rural areas.

Background:

The Energy Nexus Network (TENN) in partnership with GOAL-SierraLeone , “Resilience of the Blue Economy in Sierra Leone: Livelihood Enhancement and Natural Resource Restoration for  Coastal Communities of Western Rural and Urban Project”, funded by Sunflower Foundation through Community Foundation Ireland (CFI), is looking for Solar Energy Enterprises (vendors/solar energy procurement & construction companies) to procure and install solar system components for four (4) beneficiaries operating as micro businesses in their homes in a bid to providing them with alternative livelihoods opposed to mangrove cutting and for the preservation of products in both Western Urban and Rural Districts. TENN is looking forward to applications containing details for refrigeration and lighting systems as outlined in this application.

Targeted Communities: Western Rural District–Fogbo and Old Wharf communities

Technicaldetails/specificationsfortherefrigerationandsolarPVdesignaswellasthebillofmaterials are provided below. In addition, kindly note that the technical design is meant for DC Solar refrigeration and lighting. Also, note that you include the cost of the refrigerator and specifications in your bill of quantity (BoQ).

Publishing Date: 21st January 2026.

Deadline for response to call: 11th   February 2026. 

Bid Opening Date: 16th   February 2026.

Contracting date: 23rd February 2026

Installation timeline: Within 7 days of contracting

Point of contact:  tennprocurement.cfi@gmail.comforalltechnicalinquiries. Closing date for all inquiries: 5th February 2026.

Method of Submission: Please submit responses with all related documents including both technical and financial offers either in hard copies addressed to;

CFI- Procurement Committee,

The Energy Nexus Network (TENN)

30FAODriveAberdeen Freetown

Or

PDF sent via email to; tennprocurement.cfi@gmail.com

Response to call for application will be evaluated against:

Essential Criteria:

• Legal status and profile of company (e.g company registration, trade license, memorandum of association, evidence of site visit etc).

Award Criteria

• Quality – 60%

• Range of Experience: Applicants must provide at least two (2) completion certificates for similar work completed between 2023 and 2025. These certificates should demonstrate successful solar PV system installations of comparable scale and context. 

• Qualityofsolarsystemcomponents,appliances,andaccessoriesincludingwarranty:

The evaluation will be based on:

1. 1. Certifications and Standards Compliance: All components (PV panels, batteries, controllers, inverters, cables, refrigerators) must meet international safety and quality standards such as IEC, UL, or equivalent. Applicants must include product datasheets and evidence of certification in their technical proposal.
   2. Performance and Efficiency Ratings:
      Preference will be given to systems with high energy efficiency ratings, especially for PV modules (≥18% efficiency), inverters, and DC refrigerators with energy consumption under 1 kWh/day. These should be supported by technical datasheets and manufacturer test results.

• Durability and warranty:

Proposed systems must include:

• Minimum warranty period of 5 years for PV modules, 3 years for batteries, and 2 years for refrigeration appliances.
• The proposal must include manufacturer’s warranty documentation and service terms.
• PV modules must qualify to IEC 61701/IS 61701 based on product datasheets, guaranteeing use in tropical/humid environments. 

• Supplier Track Record and References:

• Applicants must demonstrate prior experience sourcing solar components from reputable brands. This includes:
• A list of manufacturers/suppliers previously used.
• At least two references from prior clients for similar installations, with contact details.
• Abilitytoprovidetrainingonoperationandmaintenancetolocaltechniciansatthesitesof installation.
• Ability to provide maintenance and after-sales services at short notice.

• Price30%:

• Cost- Effectiveness (Value for Money)
• Applicants must submit their most recent audited financial statements (2024) to demonstrate financial capacity to pre-finance and deliver the proposed systems.

• Delivery10%:

• Workplan

Technical Specification Load details–DC System

Solar System Design

Assumptions

• Sunshinehours:5hrs
• Loadefficiency:85%
• DOD: 80%
  

Considerations

1. 4 rooms with a corridor and a storage room or 6rooms
2. 1 sitting room with a light and a mobile charging unit
3. Refrigerators in any of the rooms
4. Instead of the USB port, a socket plug should be provided for mobile charging.

Bill of Materials

Notes:

• The total solar system capacity is 1 – 2.0 kWp
• Additionofextraloadswillnotbeencounteredinthesystemdesignandconnectingbeyond the mentioned capacity will result in system failure.
• Forplacingpanels–needapprox.50sq.ftshadow-freeareafacingsouth.
• Thebatteryroomshouldbeventilatedproperlyalongwithpassive/activecoolingmethods.
• Roof Structure: Tin Sheet.