EoI26/03344/GTF_Sandbox Innovation Challenge

Call for Proposals for the Innovation Challenge

Objective of the Challenge: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is currently implementing “Greening the future, advancing rights and stability_Moldova” and intends to initiate an Innovation Challenge to support startups, private or state-owned enterprises, non-profits, and/or academic institutions to develop innovation in energy sector within the Sandbox mechanism. Innovation Challenge is organized under Activity 2.1.2. “Develop and implement a Sustainable Energy pilot in a sandboxed environment through which the government and partners will be able to test, evaluate, create a pipeline of eligible pilots for sandbox and scale-up technologically advanced solutions in EE and/or Renewable energy”.

The total estimated budget of the procurement is USD 80,000 (2 prizes up to $ 40,000 each).

Eligible applicants: Registered startups, private or state-owned enterprises, non-profits, and/or academic institutions, individuals and associations.

Applicants must be based in Republic of Moldova or demonstrate a clear intention to deploy their solution or project here.  Foreign legal entities can apply if they establish a branch in Moldova for the entire duration of the sandbox project. 

At the stage of applying, and regardless of organization type, the applicants must present an innovation addressing the call’s defined development challenge. The innovation should have a potential for financial sustainability and scaling. Furthermore, the applicants should engage users, partners, and stakeholder in the development of their innovation, ensuring viability in its specific context.  

Expected date of contract start: October 2026

Expected length of contract: up to 12 months

Estimated prize: up to US $40,000

Other information on this Innovation challenge and forms/templates are listed below:

Annex 1 - Guidelines for Sandbox Innovation Challenge

Annex 2 – Budget Template

Annex 3 – Evaluation Criteria

Annex 4 - Innovation Challenge Agreement Template
Annex 5 - Application Form

A Pre-Bid Information Session on UNDP Moldova Sandbox Innovation Challenge has been scheduled in Zoom.
Meeting details:
Date and time - August 24, 2026, 14.00 (Chisinau, Moldova Local Time).
Zoom Link - https://undp.zoom.us/j/84952335418?pwd=Spb1jGjdF4ZpmU4IGNcP1ulLUkfWsP.1
Meeting ID: 849 5233 5418
Passcode: 845816

When preparing your proposal, please be guided by the Instructions and Data. All the details regarding the background of the call, criteria for selection and evaluation can be found in the Terms of Reference. The applicants must submit their proposals using the forms and templates provided in the system.

Please note that proposals must be submitted  directly in the system responding to the questions and uploading required documents by the date and time indicated in the online portal. It is your responsibility to ensure that your proposal is submitted before the deadline. Proposals received after the submission deadline outside the online portal, for whatever reason, will not be considered for evaluation.

Proposals must be submitted directly in NextGenERP supplier portal following this link: http://supplier.quantum.partneragencies.org using the profile you may have in the portal.

Follow the instructions in the user guide to search for the tender using Negotiation ID: UNDP-MDA-01075 in this document.

In case you have never registered before, you can register a profile using the registration link: https://estm.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/fscmUI/redwood/supplier-registration/register-supplier/register-supplier-verification?id=TUW16eK6qsD94MNMxATNMoYCOHny7FmchTkUZsdOqrAW4sy6L5xSAB033Q%3D%3D and following the instructions in guides available in UNDP website: https://www.undp.org/procurement/business/resources- for-bidders. Do not create a new profile if you already have one. Use the forgotten password feature in case you do not remember the password or the username from previous registration.

Thank you and we look forward to receiving your Proposals.