INTRODUCTION

Supply & Delivery of 100Nos. of Improved Biomass Cookstoves and Supply, Delivery, Installation & Commissioning of 100Nos. of Mini Biogas Plants [RFQ/JSB-3/2408/45]

Sri Lanka is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, ranking within the top ten countries, consecutively over the recent years. Poverty in rural Sri Lanka has doubled from 15 to 32% from 2019 to 2022, particularly taxing already vulnerable communities. The rural economy, dependent on natural resources, has been battling increasing climate externalities for years, and has recently been subject to consecutive crises, starting with COVID19, the war in Ukraine increasing import prices, particularly fuel and, agricultural & production inputs, followed by the economic crisis. MSMEs, contributing 52% to the country’s GDP and accounting for 45% of employment opportunities, have borne the brunt of the economic crisis. The cost of energy has become a bottleneck for economic activity—crippling production systems, decimating livelihoods.

Data show that energy poverty has increased, particularly higher among women and the more vulnerable locations like the Northern province.  Energy sources continue to be unaffordable to the poorer demographics, largely concentrated in rural Sri Lanka, and have now been forced back into unsafe alternative energy options which cause indoor air pollution, premature deaths, and links to acute and chronic diseases. Rural women’s safety risks too are increased.

The project funded by the Japanese Supplementary Budget "Enhancing Rural Resilience in Sri Lanka through Energy Efficiency & the Adoption of Renewable Energy for a Just Transition to Net-Zero Pathways," is focused on the Mullaitivu District, a region that has historically faced numerous socio-economic and environmental challenges.

The primary objectives of the project are to enhance energy efficiency and promote the adoption of renewable energy technologies among rural households and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The lack of knowledge about alternative adaptive renewable technology (RET) options, low availability of appropriate and affordable options, and lack of capacity to utilize them, lack of access/ financing to invest in them, are identified as key barriers.

To address the aforementioned barriers on RETs, the project aims to introduce 100 mini-biogas plants and 100 improved cookstoves to selected beneficiaries in the Mullaitivu district. By increasing access to renewable energy solutions, this project aims to address energy poverty, improve living standards, and contribute to environmental sustainability in this rural area.

In this context the UNDP in Sri Lanka invites eligible suppliers to submit their quotations for below items.

LOT 01 - Improved Biomass Cookstoves - 100 Units

LOT 02 - Mini Biogas Plants - 100 Units

Interested suppliers must submit their offer directly in the system as instructed in the solicitation document, following the instructions in the available user guide. In case you have never registered before, you can register a profile using the registration link shared via the procurement notice and following the instructions in guides available in the 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.

Search for the specific tender using search filters and subscribe to the tender in order to get notifications in case of amendments of the tender document. If you need support with the online system, you can contact the contact details of this tender as indicated in the solicitation document.

Complete bids must be received by UNDP in the manner, and no later than the date and time specified in the portal as Close Date. If any doubt exists as to the time zone in which the Bid should be submitted, refer to http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/ . It shall be the sole responsibility of the bidders to ensure that their bid is received by the closing date and time.  UNDP shall accept no responsibility for bids that arrive late due to the courier company or any technical issues and shall only recognize the actual date and time that the bid was received by UNDP.

UNDP may, at its discretion, extend this deadline for the submission of bids by amending the solicitation documents. In this case, all rights and obligations of UNDP and bidders subject to the previous deadline will thereafter be subject to the new deadline as extended.

UNDP SRI LANKA