DEADLINE: 10TH OCTOBER, 2022
UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND (UNICEF)
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI) FOR SOLAR SOLUTION FOR OXYGEN GENERATING PLANTS
UNICEF Nigeria is seeking to pre-qualify solar power solution suppliers with experience in Nigeria with PV systems equipment, PV systems services, electrical wiring of facilities, and operation, maintenance, and monitoring services for the provision of turnkey solar power solutions to supply energy for PSA oxygen generating plants located in Oyo and Kano States.
Closing date for REoI: 10 October 2022 23:00 Abuja time
Reference: REoI Solar Solution for Oxygen Generating Plants
Background:
The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. This includes that all children can access and benefit from goods and services that provide an opportunity to survive, thrive, develop, and transform to reach their full potential, without discrimination or bias.
UNICEF supports the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and State Ministries of Health to improve access to quality maternal and newborn care through the implementation of Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child and Adolescent Health strategies and the Nigeria Every Newborn Action Plan (NiENAP). One important component of care, respiratory support, involves management of hypoxemia and timely provision of oxygen which can be the difference between life and death for small and sick newborns, children with pneumonia, and COVID-19 and surgical patients.
PSA plants are oxygen generating plants installed at health facilities to ensure a continuous supply of medical oxygen. The power supply must handle the start-up current for the feed compressor, high ongoing power demand, and total energy required for oxygen separation. In locations with insufficient grid, a dedicated diesel generator is provided.
Emissions from diesel generators contribute to the production of ground level ozone and particulate matter which both cause negative health impacts. Exposure to excessive ozone can cause problems breathing, trigger asthma, reduce lung function and lead to lung disease.
Operating costs for running a PSA plant with a generator or on the grid is quite high. Often high related energy costs of oxygen production, both grid power and diesel for generators, are not affordable. Energy costs are often passed onto patients, further impacting the most vulnerable. Renewable power solutions will move a significant portion of the operating expenses to upfront capital expenses which can be financed. Renewable power solutions have an estimated breakeven point of approximately 6 years, much shorter than the lifetime of the plant.
To respond to increasing and ongoing oxygen needs, UNICEF is looking to contract a qualified entity to provide cost-effective, reliable, clean renewable energy solutions to power oxygen producing technologies.
Term of References:
The products and services under the solicitation will be for a turnkey solution, from design to implementation and operation:
(1) Engineering design
Propose solutions to meet the energy requirements with solar energy for each oxygen plant.
Visit the hospitals where the solar system will be installed to refine the design and key parameters. Engage with the oxygen plant manufacturer and UNICEF Oxygen management team to understand the energy requirement of the oxygen plant (e.g., understand the loads and the characteristics of the composition of the loads). Any proposed intervention in the switchboard or other changes in the original conditions of the oxygen plant need to be discussed and agreed with the oxygen plant supplier.
Define the key parameter for the design of the solar solution (operational strategies, oxygen storage etc.).
Determine the key parameter of the solar system (size of PV Array, inverters capacity, preliminary budget, etc) at basic engineering level.
Define site preparation and mounting needs.
(2) Procurement, logistics, installation, testing, commissioning, and training
Procurement and logistics:
Procure the mounting structure, all the equipment, materials, cables fixtures, and other related to the construction of the solar system and the integration with the electrical system of the hospital and the oxygen plant.
The supplier will deal with international freight, customs clearance, insurance, local transportation and warehousing in case of need, to ultimately allow implementation based on turnkey supply model.
Installation:
- Assembly of the solar mounting structure and required civil works,
- Installation and electrical connection of the solar modules,
- Installation of a security fencing in case of need,
- Provision of all necessary fixtures, joints, fittings, cables,
- Installation of grounding system and lightning protection
- Integration with the electrical system of the hospital and the oxygen plant.
Test and commissioning:
Carry out a functionality test at solar plant. The functionality test shall be conducted under participation of respective hospital personnel and UNICEF staff. The functionality test report be signed by the contractor’s technician.
UNICEF reserves the right to appoint an independent inspection company to conduct a postdelivery inspection in any number of locations, either during or after installation, to verify the works performed and functionality of the Solar Systems.
Training
The contractor will develop and handle training material such as user manuals, user level troubleshooting procedures, cleaning procedures, etc. It is expected that within 15 days after commissioning training workshop take place at each hospital, in which guidance of the use and basic troubleshooting will be provided to the users of the system.
(3) Operation and Maintenance
The operation of the system should include permanent remote monitoring of the system during the first two years after the commissioning and acceptance of the system.
- Module cleaning and inspection (2 times per year)
- Inverters (according to manufacturer guidance)
- Junctions boxes and cabling (torque check once per year, fuses quarterly)
- Mounting structure
- Maintenance of the Project Site (vegetation control and fencing if there are)
Proposal for preventative maintenance plan and spare parts following the end of the initial two-year period
Locations:
One hospital in Oyo State and one hospital in Kano State.
Procedure for submission of Eol:
Interested suppliers are encouraged to complete the attached EoI form and return it to UNICEF by email:
Subject: REoI Solar Solution for Oxygen Generating Plants
Please note all UNICEF suppliers must comply with the UN Supplier Code of Conduct (see http://www.un.org/Depts/ptd/pdf/conduct english.pdf for details).
The following should be noted:
(a) Prices are not required at this stage
(b) Questions about e.g., conformity of the supplier’s products will not be attended to at this stage
(c) This REoI does not constitute a solicitation. Submitting an Eol does not automatically guarantee receipt of the solicitation document when issued
(d) UNICEF reserves the right to require compliance with additional conditions as and when issuing the final solicitation document
(e) UNICEF reserves the right to change or cancel the requirement at any time during the REoI and/or solicitation process.
