Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Multi-Site Solarization of Rural Public Facilities in Zambia ( 500 sites) : Identification of Suppliers for System Design, Supply, Installation, Commissioning, and Maintenance

New clarification added: Could you please confirm whether experience in the installation of off-grid solar systems at schools, public institutions, or similar facilities will be considered as eligible experience? Such projects typically involve the installation of solar generation systems along with associated distributed electrical infrastructure and networks, similar to the scope involved in mini-grid projects.A : We confirm that experience in the installation of off-grid solar systems at schools, public institutions, or similar facilities is relevant .To address your query please find  the criteria:"Experience in at least 3 similar Fully Integrated Off-Grid Solar Projects completed in rural/remote areas in Subsaharian Africa (preferably in Zambia) in the last 5 years. Similar projects means projects showing the bidder has experience managing a large number (at least 20 sites) of rural mini-grids in parrallel, involving the supply, installation, testing, commissioning and maintenance of solar PV systems."When submitting your bid, please ensure you complete Form C: Capacity, Experience, clearly detailing that you have completed at least three (3) of these multi-site projects in Sub-Saharan Africa over the last five years, and that your experience demonstrates the capacity to manage at least 20 of these facility sites in parallel. Please provide the supporting documents demonstrating the satisfactory completion

New clarification added: Kindly advise if the document self disclosure is inluded or where i can find itA : Yes, the Self-Disclosure form is included in the tender package as Form F: Self-disclosure. It can be found inside the "_ EOI 2026_62944 - Returnable Schedules .docx" document, which is available for download in the "Documents" tab of the eSourcing system 

New clarification added: Please clarify and advise regarding this question from esourcing: Do your company hold a Class A license for "Supply and Installation of Solar EnergySystems" from ERB? Actually Zambian Energy Regulation framework, the ERB issues a single, comprehensive license for the supply and installation of solar energy systems and does not classify renewable energy solar installers into alphabetical classes (such as 'Class A'). A : We can confirm that a valid ERB license for the “Manufacture, Supply, Installation and Maintenance of Renewable Energy Generating Equipment” fully satisfies the mandatory ERB registration requirement for this EOI.To clarify how this works within the eSourcing system:The Mandatory Requirement: The Pass/Fail shortlisting criterion (Criteria 2.3) requires bidders to possess a "valid Energy Regulation Board (ERB) Solar Dealer/Installer license". The corresponding document upload for this license in the Document Checklist is marked as mandatory. Your current ERB renewable energy license is the correct document to fulfill this requirement.The Optional "Class A" Question: The question in the Supplier Detailed Profile asking whether your company holds a "Class A license for 'Supply and Installation of Solar Energy Systems' from ERB", along with its corresponding document upload in the checklist, is marked as optional. This specific question was included strictly for information-gathering and market assessment purposes.Please upload your current, valid ERB license for "Manufacture, Supply, Installation and Maintenance of Renewable Energy Generating Equipment" to the mandatory ERB license placeholder to successfully comply with the submission requirements

New clarification added: Hi, we have noticed a request for submission of form A, "Document name :  Form A: Form of ApplicationDocument category :  Bid submission form Document is mandatory." Is there an attached template for it?A : Yes, the template for Form A: Form of Application is provided. It is located within the consolidated document titled "_ EOI 2026_62944 - Returnable Schedules .docx". You can find and download this document from the "Documents" tab under the "Tender Information" section in the eSourcing platform.

New clarification added: We have currently applied for the ERB license, and as per the application process, it may take up to 3-4 weeks for the final license to be sanctioned. Will the application proof be enough as the Solar License document, as it is compulsory?A : Application proof is enough for now, please send us the license approval as soon as obtained through the esourcing system

New clarification added: Could you please clarify the maximum number of JV partners allowed for this EOI stage?A : There is no maximum limit on the number of partners allowed in a Joint Venture (JV) for this EOI stage. You may engage multiple qualified partners, provided that you clearly outline the proposed proportion of responsibilities and the type of works to be performed by each entity in Form B: Joint Venture Partner Information

New clarification added: We would appreciate your clarification regarding Form E (Dispute Details) and Form F (Self-Disclosure) in the case of a Joint Venture.Could you please confirm whether these forms should be completed and signed by each Joint Venture partner individually, or whether they should be completed and signed once by the Lead Company on behalf of the Joint Venture?A :Please be advised that in the case of a Joint Venture, Form E (Dispute Details) and Form F (Self-Disclosure) only need to be completed and signed once by the designated Lead Company on behalf of the entire Joint Venture.

New clarification added: The downloadable forms list proof of experience as commissioning certificates and contracts but the website requests references. Are we still allowed to submit the contracts and commissioning certificates as evidence?A : Yes, you are allowed to submit contracts and commissioning certificates as evidence of your experience.According to the Request for Expression of Interest (EOI) criteria and "Form C: Capacity, Experience," acceptable forms of proof for your listed projects explicitly include contracts/Purchase Orders, completion (or commissioning) certificates, and client references.While the eSourcing system's document checklist labels the upload fields as "Client references" for the mandatory proof of experience, you can safely upload your completion certificates or contracts into those slots to satisfy the requirement

New clarification added: Please clarify whether applicants applying as a Joint Venture are required to complete Form B: Joint Venture Partner Information only, or if they are also required to complete Form A: Form of Application.A : Please be advised that applicants applying as a Joint Venture are required to complete both Form A (Form of Application) and Form B (Joint Venture Partner Information).Form A (Form of Application) is mandatory for all bidders, regardless of whether they are applying as a single entity or a Joint Venture. This form serves as the official expression of interest and certifies that all information provided in the submission is true to the best of your knowledge and needs to be signed by the leading entityForm B (Joint Venture Partner Information) must be completed in addition to Form A whenever an application is submitted as a Joint Venture. This schedule captures the specific details of the partnership, including the names of each partner, the designated leading partner, and the proposed proportion of responsibilities between the entities

New clarification added: We kindly seek clarification on whether a bidder may submit more than one bid under this tender. Specifically, we would like to know if a company is permitted to submit a bid individually and also participate in a separate bid as part of a Joint Venture (JV).Your guidance on this matter will be greatly appreciated.A : Please be advised that a company is not permitted to submit more than one proposal, neither individually nor as a member of a Joint Venture (JV).A firm that participates as a participant —whether independently or as a JV member—in more than one proposal will cause the disqualification of all proposals in which the firm is involved.

New clarification added: Respected authority, we require a clarification regarding the neccessary conditions to be fulfilled for having a JV partner in Zambia for this project. What are the requirements to be fulfilled and documents to be attached with this EOI for seccessfully meeting the rquirements of having a JV partner?A : To successfully submit your EOI as a Joint Venture, the following documents are mandatory:FORM B (Joint Venture Partner Information): This form must be fully completed and signed by all partners of the Joint Venture. It must clearly outline the names and contact information of each partner, designate the leading partner authorized to bind the JV, and specify the proposed proportion of responsibilities (in percentages) along with a clear indication of the type of works to be performed by each entity. The JV agreement  can be asked during the evaluation

New clarification added: We note that the usual scope for off-grid solar PV system installation is usually basic and not complicated, hence the project is largely on logistical and financial capacity rather than scope. This may disadvantage a number of local firms on that basis, especially if many sites are clustered together as one lot. In line with UN’s sustainable procurement practices that promotes increased local content or geographical sourcing, supplier diversity, inclusivity and sustainable practices. Is there any component within this invitation that is specifically for local firms?  A :UNOPS is fully committed to sustainable procurement principles, including promoting local content, supplier diversity, and inclusive economic development.1. We confirm that the awards on the tender to come will be divided into smaller lots.2. While this is published as an international tender, the procurement strategy and shortlisting criteria have been designed to ensure local Zambian firms play a substantive role in the project.The EOI requires that bidders must possess a valid Energy Regulation Board (ERB) Solar Dealer/Installer license and demonstrate a local Presence (Zambia or Southern Africa)Local entities are expected to play an active and substantive role. This includes leading the on-the-ground installation and commissioning and providing responsive in-country after-sales services

New clarification added: Clarification on ERB Licence Classification RequirementThe document checklist requires bidders to confirm whether they hold a Class A licence for “Supply and Installation of Solar Energy Systems” from the Energy Regulation Board (ERB).However, based on our understanding of the current ERB Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy licensing section, the licence category relevant to solar energy activities appears to be stated as:“Manufacture, Supply, Installation and Maintenance of Renewable Energy Generating Equipment.”We have not identified any sub-classification under this renewable energy licence activity such as Class A, Class B, Class C, or C1.Kindly clarify whether this ERB licence satisfies the requirement for a Class A licence for Supply and Installation of Solar Energy Systems as stated in the document checklist/questionnaire.A : We can confirm that a valid ERB license for the “Manufacture, Supply, Installation and Maintenance of Renewable Energy Generating Equipment” fully satisfies the mandatory ERB registration requirement for this EOI.To clarify how this works within the eSourcing system:The Mandatory Requirement: The Pass/Fail shortlisting criterion (Criteria 2.3) requires bidders to possess a "valid Energy Regulation Board (ERB) Solar Dealer/Installer license". The corresponding document upload for this license in the Document Checklist is marked as mandatory. Your current ERB renewable energy license is the correct document to fulfill this requirement.The Optional "Class A" Question: The question in the Supplier Detailed Profile asking whether your company holds a "Class A license for 'Supply and Installation of Solar Energy Systems' from ERB", along with its corresponding document upload in the checklist, is marked as optional. This specific question was included strictly for information-gathering and market assessment purposes. Please upload your current, valid ERB license for "Manufacture, Supply, Installation and Maintenance of Renewable Energy Generating Equipment" to the mandatory ERB license placeholder to successfully comply with the submission requirements

New clarification added: We would appreciate your clarification regarding the local partner requirements in Zambia.Considering the scale of the assignment, which may involve the installation and long-term maintenance of more than 500 sites, we believe that engaging multiple qualified local partners would help ensure successful implementation, adequate geographical coverage, business continuity, and sustainable maintenance services throughout the contract period.Could you please confirm whether it would be acceptable for a bidder, Consortium, or Joint Venture to engage more than one local partner in Zambia, provided that each partner holds a valid Energy Regulation Board (ERB) Solar Dealer/Installer License?Thank you for your guidance and clarification.A : Yes, it is perfectly acceptable and welcomed to engage more than one local partner in Zambia. Given the scale and geographical distribution of the 500 sites, engaging multiple qualified local partners is a sound strategy to ensure successful implementation, adequate coverage, and responsive long-term maintenance.Please be advised that for this specific tender, partnerships cannot be structured as a consortium arrangement; submissions must be formulated strictly as a Joint Venture (JV).While engaging multiple local partners who each hold a valid Energy Regulation Board (ERB) Solar Dealer/Installer License is highly advantageous, please note that to pass the mandatory criteria at this EOI stage, only at least one member of the Joint Venture is strictly required to hold the ERB registration and meet the local presence requirement. Should you intend to utilize several local partners in the JV formation, at least  one of  the partners is required to maintain a valid ERB registration.If you choose to submit as a Joint Venture with multiple local partners, please ensure that you complete Form B: Joint Venture Partner Information. Your submission must clearly outline the names of all partners, designate the leading partner, and specify the proposed proportion of responsibilities (in percentage) with a clear indication of the type of works and roles to be performed by each entity

New clarification added: We would appreciate your clarification regarding the following financial capability requirement:"The bidder has sufficient liquidity, demonstrated by the ratio of average current assets / current liabilities over the last three (3) years, which must be equal to or greater than one (1)."As a group with significant ongoing CAPEX investments exceeding USD 20 million, our annual liquidity ratio may fluctuate from year to year. We therefore understand that the requirement refers to the average ratio over the three-year period, rather than requiring the ratio to exceed 1.0 in each individual year.Could you please confirm:Whether the ratio should be calculated based on the average of the last three years and, if so, whether the relevant period may be either:2022–2024 (if the 2025 financial statements are not yet available), or2023–2025 (with the 2025 financial statements submitted in draft form pending final consolidation)?In the case of a Consortium or Joint Venture submission, how the financial capability assessment (average current assets / current liabilities ratio) will be evaluated. Specifically, please confirm whether the requirement will be assessed based on:the combined financial position of all Consortium/JV members;the average ratio of the Consortium/JV members taken together; orcompliance by at least one member of the Consortium/JV, as is usually applied in UNOPS procurement processes.Thank you for your clarification.A : The EOI criteria require sufficient liquidity demonstrated by the ratio of "average current assets / current liabilities" over the last three years. This requirement refers to the average over the three-year period, as calculated in Form D: Financial Situation Form, and does not strictly require the ratio to be equal to or greater than 1.0 in every individual year . Additionally, in case of JV , the calculation is done under the  base on all JV partners combinedRegarding the years , please revert to the answer on financial statements

New clarification added: We would appreciate your clarification regarding the financial statements requirement.As a group operating across several African countries through multiple subsidiaries, the preparation and consolidation of our group financial statements requires additional time. As a result, the consolidated 2025 financial statements are expected to be finalized in July 2026.In similar procurement processes conducted during the first half of the year, it is generally accepted to provide either:audited financial statements for 2022–2024 when the 2025 statements are not yet finalized;or financial statements for 2023–2025, with the 2025 statements submitted in draft form pending completion of the consolidation process.Could you please confirm whether either of these approaches would be acceptable for this tender?Thank you for your guidance.A : You may proceed with one of the following options:Option 1: You may submit your finalized, audited financial statements for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024. This will fully satisfy the requirement to provide audited statements for the last three completed exercises.Option 2: Alternatively, you may submit the statements for 2023, 2024, and 2025, utilizing the finalized audited statements for 2023 and 2024, and providing the unaudited/draft financial statements for 2025. If you choose this option, it is permissible to upload the unaudited statements provided you include a brief explanation statement detailing that the 2025 consolidation is still pending.Please ensure that whichever set of three years you choose to submit is accurately summarized and reflected in your completion of Form D: Financial Situation Form and submit the fiancial statements in the check list

New clarification added: We would like to kindly ask for confirmation regarding the submission structure.Our understanding is that, under UNOPS standard procurement rules, bidders may submit either as a Joint Venture or as a Consortium.Could you please confirm whether, for this specific tender, submission as a Consortium is also acceptable, or whether a Joint Venture is strictly required?We would appreciate this clarification, as a requirement to submit only as a Joint Venture may differ from our understanding of the standard UNOPS rules.A : Please be advised that for this specific tender, partnerships cannot be structured as a consortium arrangement; submissions must be formulated strictly as a Joint Venture. If you are submitting as a partnership, you must use Form B: Joint Venture Partner Information, and the roles, responsibilities, and proposed proportion of work (in percentage) for each entity must be clearly defined in your submission. While forming a Joint Venture is not mandatory for international bidders participating independently, it is highly recommended to help secure the mandatory local presence and licensing requirements

New clarification added: Q : Clarification: We need to give our Company data within the mentioned characters (5000 / 8000). Now want to know is it mandatory to upload the concern document also? If yes, how can we upload?  Cause URL link does not allow attaching a document.Q :With regard to the Supplier Detailed Profile Questionnaire (Capability, Quality Standards, Logistics, Turnkey & Maintenance Capabilities, and HSSE) on tender submission, we have noted that several questions require supporting documents to be attached. However, the questionnaire does not appear to provide an option or designated section for uploading or attaching these documents. Kindly advise.A : Any corresponding supporting documents must be uploaded separately in the "Document Checklist" tab, which is located next to the "Questionnaires" tab under the "Vendor Submission" section of the eSourcing platform

New amendment added #2:  Amendment No. 2 is hereby issued to incorporate the following changes:Deadline Extension (Closing Date): The deadline for bid submission is extended from 15 June 2026 at 2:00 PM CAT time to Monday , 29 June 2026 at 2:00 PM CAT time.Clarification Period Extension: The final date for clarification requests is extended from 9 June 2026 at 2:00 PM Haiti time to Monday, 22  June 2026 at 2:00 PM CAT time.All other terms & conditions of the original EOI  will remain unchanged. We anticipate receiving your proposals by the revised deadline of 29 June 2026 at 2:00 PM CAT time.Best regards,UNOPS Procurement

New clarification added: (13) As this is an international tender, please confirm whether foreign bidders will be given a reasonable period after shortlisting to complete local licensing, registration or partnership arrangements, or whether all such requirements must already be fully in place at the EOI stage.A : All mandatory Pass/Fail requirements, including the ERB license and local/regional presence, must be fully in place at the time of the EOI submission. Bidders are expected to submit as a Joint Venture to meet these criteria if they do not hold them independently.(14) Please clarify whether forming a Joint Venture is mandatory for international bidders, or whether a single international bidder may participate independently while engaging local subcontractors or partners where required.A : Forming a Joint Venture is not mandatory. An international bidder may participate as a single entity as long as they independently meet all Pass/Fail criteria (including ERB licensing and local presence).(15) Please clarify the purpose of the questionnaires – are they intended for a decisive (pass/fail) evaluation, or primarily for information gathering? Noting that some sections are mandatory and others optional in the Documents Checklist, we would appreciate guidance on how they will be used in the evaluation.A : The detailed questionnaires (Supplier Information, Supplier Detailed Profile, and DRiVE) are used strictly for information gathering and market assessment. They are designed to help UNOPS understand the available technical capabilities, supply chain practices, and maturity of the market to appropriately structure the upcoming RFP. The responses to the questionnaires are not scored and are not used for Pass/Fail evaluation, though submitting the mandatory questionnaires themselves is a requirement to consider the EOI application complete(16) Could you please clarify an international company but has a subsisdary company or a local company in Zambia, does this enough for the international company to qualify as long as it has a local company or a subsidiary company in Zambia or should the local company meets all the requirments even thoug the international company meets the requirement?A : please find below a reminder about the criterias and how each JV partner must meet : Stage 1: Eligibility and Formal Criteria: Suppliers must not be included on any UN, World Bank, or other sanctions/ineligibility lists. Note: For Joint Ventures (JVs), each individual member must independently meet this condition.Stage 2: Shortlisting Criteria:Financial Capability: Minimum average annual turnover of USD 1,000,000 over the last 3 years. ( based on all JV partners combined).Liquidity: The ratio of "current assets / current liabilities" must be ≥ 1.0 for the years 2023-2025. ( based on all JV partners combined).Registration: Bidders must possess a valid Energy Regulation Board (ERB) Solar Dealer/Installer license. (At least one member of a JV must meet this).Experience: A minimum of 3 similar off-grid solar projects in Sub-Saharan Africa (completed in the last 5 years), demonstrating experience managing ≥ 20 sites in parallel. ( based on all JV partners combined).Local Presence: Must maintain a registered office, permanent technical team, or local partnership in Zambia or the Southern Africa region. (At least one member of a JV must meet this). 

New clarification added: (1) Could you please confirm that an international company which has a subsidiary or a local company in Zambia would be considered eligible to qualify, without requiring that local subsidiary to independently meet all the requirements, given that the international company itself meets them?A : please find below a reminder about the criterias and how each JV partner must meet : Stage 1: Eligibility and Formal Criteria: Suppliers must not be included on any UN, World Bank, or other sanctions/ineligibility lists. Note: For Joint Ventures (JVs), each individual member must independently meet this condition.Stage 2: Shortlisting Criteria:Financial Capability: Minimum average annual turnover of USD 1,000,000 over the last 3 years. ( based on all JV partners combined).Liquidity: The ratio of "current assets / current liabilities" must be ≥ 1.0 for the years 2023-2025. ( based on all JV partners combined).Registration: Bidders must possess a valid Energy Regulation Board (ERB) Solar Dealer/Installer license. (At least one member of a JV must meet this).Experience: A minimum of 3 similar off-grid solar projects in Sub-Saharan Africa (completed in the last 5 years), demonstrating experience managing ≥ 20 sites in parallel. ( based on all JV partners combined).Local Presence: Must maintain a registered office, permanent technical team, or local partnership in Zambia or the Southern Africa region. (At least one member of a JV must meet this).(2) We seek your clarification on the requirement for SIAZ membership. As we understand, SIAZ is an industry association and not a regulatory authority that issues operating licences. Could you please explain the rationale for making SIAZ membership a requirement? Also, would membership in other associations operating in the same sector, such as ZARENA, be considered acceptable?A : Membership in the Solar Industry Association of Zambia (SIAZ) is not a mandatory pass/fail requirement; it is requested as an optional document in the supplier profile questionnaire. Please provide all membership your company have.(3) Please confirm whether logistics arrangements (warehousing, fleet, etc.) may be finalised after contract award. These details depend directly on the number, size and location of the sites, which would only be known upon contract signature. Would a provisional logistics plan at this stage, to be refined after site confirmation, be acceptable?A : The detailed logistical information requested in the questionnaire is primarily for information-gathering and market assessment. While demonstrating a logistical footprint is important to prove capacity for a rapid multi-site rollout, UNOPS will review these specific questionnaire requirements and bidders should provide their current general capability to operate in the region.(4) As an international company, we may not yet have engineers permanently employed in Zambia. How will this be assessed? Would it be acceptable to demonstrate access to qualified engineers through partners or subcontractors, or is direct local employment a firm requirement?A : It is standard for international companies to partner with local firms. International bidders are strongly encouraged to form a Joint Venture or partnership with a local entity to meet requirements like local EIZ-certified engineering capacity, responsive in-country support, and maintenance. Please provide the information, it is not a PASS/FAIL criteria(5) The EOI states that this is an international tender, yet one shortlisting criterion requires a valid ERB Solar Dealer/Installer license. Please clarify whether international bidders not yet holding this license may still be shortlisted, provided they obtain the license before contract award or implementation.A : Operating an energy enterprise in Zambia requires ERB registration by law, and this is a mandatory Pass/Fail criterion at the EOI stage. International bidders who do not hold this license can meet this requirement by forming a Joint Venture with a local partner who already holds the valid ERB license.(6) Please advise on the requirement to provide equipment datasheets and manufacturer details at this stage, given that detailed technical specifications have not yet been provided. Could you share any additional guidance or typical performance parameters to enable us to submit meaningful information? Alternatively, would general product ranges or catalogues be acceptable for now?A : Providing technical datasheets at the EOI stage is optional. Detailed technical specifications will be fully defined in the upcoming RFP. Bidders can base any optional datasheet submissions on the general indicative capacities provided (e.g., 10 kWp, 25 kWp, 30 kWp).(7) Please clarify whether the 500 sites will be awarded under a single contract or divided into smaller regional lots.A : The awards will be divided into smaller lots.(8) Please indicate whether the design is expected to follow a standardised “plug-and-play” kit approach or require customised engineering for each site. We are able to accommodate either approach.A : The design is not plug and play and requires customization for each site as per the design requirements (9) Could you kindly provide an indicative timeline for the release of the formal Request for Proposals (RFP) following this EOI?A :The formal RFP is expected to be released in 2-3 months.(10) The vendor submission checklist marks Form B (Joint Venture Partner Information) as mandatory. Please confirm whether a Joint Venture is compulsory, or whether a single-entity bidder should submit the form marked “N/A”.A : Forming a Joint Venture is not mandatory, though it is highly recommended to secure local presence. Single-entity bidders participating independently should submit the Joint Venture form marked as "N/A".(11) Please clarify whether the optional submission fields will be scored or weighted during the EOI evaluation, or whether they are for information-gathering purposes only.A : The optional submission fields and detailed questionnaires are for information-gathering and market capability assessment only. They will not be scored or evaluated as part of the Pass/Fail shortlisting.(12) The shortlisting criteria refer to regional and local presence in Zambia and Southern Africa. Is local presence in Zambia a mandatory pass/fail requirement, or is presence elsewhere in the wider Africa region considered sufficient at this stage? We are prepared to establish local presence if required.A : Local and regional presence is a Pass/Fail criterion. While presence in the wider Southern Africa region is technically sufficient to meet the criteria, having a localized footprint or partnership in Zambia is highly recommended to ensure compliance with national ERB licensing and responsive long-term maintenance. 

New clarification added: We kindly request access to the full tender details and complete tender documents for the referenced tender.A : Please note that the current phase is a Request for Expression of Interest (EOI), which is a market assessment and shortlisting stage, rather than a formal solicitation. Therefore, detailed technical specifications and complete tender documents are not yet available

New amendment added #1: This Amendment 1 is issued to : a) Upload the :EOI clarifications  meeting minutes  including the answers to the questions raised during the meeting  held on 2 June 2026 EOI meeting presentation held on 2 June 2026 All other terms & conditions of the original EOI  will remain unchanged. We look forward to receiving your proposal  by 15 June 2026 at 2h00 pm CAT  Regards,Unops Procurement