Green Economic Recovery Fund (GERF)

Results Based Financing (RBF)

Professional - Technical Services Provider Prequalification Instructions & Questionnair e

Tanzania

November 2020 1

Published by:

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Dag-Hammarskjöld-Weg 1-5 65760 Eschborn, Germany E [email protected] I www.giz.de

Energising Development E [email protected] I www.endev.info

SNV E [email protected] I www.snv.org

Authors: SNV Tanzania

Cover photo: Russell Watkins, FCDO (Formerly DFID)

Disclaimer: The GERF-RBF for mainland Tanzania is a competitive private sector fund hosted within TIB Development Bank (TIB) and under program coordination by SNV – Netherlands Development Organisation. As coordinator the program, SNV will maintain and use the right, when necessary, to alter, amend or cease any terms, conditions and/or approved activities of the GERF RBF Fund as outlined herein.

Content

1. Introduction ...... 4 1.1 Background ...... 4 1.2 Green Economic Recovery Fund (GERF) ...... 4

2. Pre-qualification Instructions ...... 6 2.1 Service Provider Requirements ...... 6 2.2 Application Questionnaire ...... 7

3. Submission Requirements ...... 8 Annex 1: Prequalification Questionnaire ...... 9 A. General Information ...... 9 B. Product & Service Track Record ...... 10 D. Eligibility ...... 11 E. Conflict of Interest ...... 12 F. Sworn Statement ...... 12

1. Introduction

1.1 Background SNV Netherlands Development Organization is an international NGO with a trusted presence in Tanzania for more than 40 years. Currently SNV is working throughout mainland Tanzania in three main sectors of Agriculture; Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); and Energy.

The overall goal of SNV Tanzania in the Energy sector is to contribute to improving the livelihoods of rural and peri-urban people in Tanzania by accelerating the dissemination and use of renewable energy products and services. SNV Tanzania is involved in three energy sub-sectors including Solar, Improved Cook Stoves and Productive Use of Energy. The SNV Energy team currently comprises of 18 advisory staff spread over five locations of Arusha, Mwanza, Kigoma, Mbeya and Dar es Salaam, working with extensive local partner networks.

In 2013, SNV began active implementation of a project in Results Based Financing (RBF) for Pico-Solar PV lighting applications in the Lake and Central Zones of Tanzania. By closure of the program in August 2020, the RBF Fund enabled €2.9M in performance-based financing to the private sector in delivery of greater than 128,000 solar systems throughout the rural extents of the Lake and Central Zones of Tanzania.

Despite success of the RBF Fund in the Lake and Central Zone regions, the advent of the global COVID-19 pandemic at the opening of 2020 has demonstrated significant impacts to the sustainability of firms and vulnerable rural markets throughout Tanzania. While the Government of Tanzania has worked diligently and exceptionally to limit economic impact potentials of COVID-19 experienced within Tanzania, the response of countries globally to the pandemic has exerted pressures in production, transport and trade that risk hampering national recovery efforts of clean energy product and service providers. The combined effects of diminished supplies, shifting consumer market profiles and substantial re-orientations to operational realities for firms have expressed themselves uniquely amongst players across the national extents of the solar sector.

The Green Economic Recovery Fund (RBF-GERF) will build upon successfully established RBF mechanisms and structures established by SNV EnDev from 2013-2020 to support recovery of the firms at a national scale throughout mainland Tanzania with attuning of the RBF incentives to include expanded economic impact parameters as emerging since the opening months of 2020. For the period of 2020-2021, the GERF RBF Fund will open with €1,277,500.00 in RBF incentives available to the private sector to assist in the recovery of pico-PV solar and small solar home system consumer markets throughout mainland Tanzania.

1.2 Green Economic Recovery Fund (GERF) The Green Economic Recovery Fund (RBF-GERF) will build upon successfully established RBF mechanisms and structures established by SNV EnDev from 2013-2020 to support recovery of the firms at a national scale throughout mainland Tanzania with attuning of the RBF incentives to include expanded economic impact parameters as emerging since the opening months of 2020. For the period of 2020-2021, the GERF RBF Fund will open with

€1,277,500.00 in RBF incentives available to the private sector to assist in the recovery of pico-PV solar and small solar home system consumer markets throughout mainland Tanzania.

The GERF RBF program will continue to be driven by three main sets of actors: (i) a Financial Institution hosting the RBF Fund and as represented by Tanzania Investment Development Bank (TIB), (ii) (Pico) Solar Import-Suppliers, and (iii) Rural Agents and Consumers. SNV’s main role in the program will be to broker relations amongst actors that ensure fair, transparent and verifiable financial transactions throughout management of the fund.

SNV Tanzania invites applications from eligible, competent, qualified, expert Solar companies to pre-qualify for the supply of quality solar products in line with the “Green Economic Recovery Fund (GERF) – Results Based Financing (RBF)”.

2. Pre-qualification Instructions

2.1 Service Provider Requirements Firms may submit their applications to participate in GERF RBF Fund at any time throughout the period of November 2020 through January 18th, 2020. Applications will be assessed for compliance to admissions standards on a monthly basis throughout the GERF RBF operations.

Firms must clearly demonstrate that products they will avail through the GERF RBF program meet the following requirements:

Item Eligible Pico and Solar Home System Products to be Provided Code 37 “Pico-Solar” defined as per the guidelines of IFC’s Lighting Global Program and in accordance with product quality assurance as defined by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards. Pico-Solar herein will be described as ‘Off-Grid lighting products or systems that are stand-alone, rechargeable and can be installed, assembled and used easily without minimal assistance from a technician and typically have three key components:

i. electricity source, most commonly a small 1-10W solar panel; ii. a modern rechargeable battery, increasingly lithium-ion; and iii. a modern lantern or lamp, usually with an LED (light emitting diode) bulb.’

Pico-solar products will include also larger plug and play solar home system (SHS) applications providing upwards of 350W of energy.

Upon assessment of basic eligibility as a Pre-Qualified Service Provider and before finalization of contracting, firms will further be required to: (i) Registered in Tanzania since at least June 2019 with documented evidence of: a. Company Registration (BRELA) b. Trade License / Business Permit c. Memorandum and Articles of Association

(ii) Tax compliance a. TIN Registration b. VAT Registrations c. Tax Clearance Certificate

(iii) Proof of holding a valid business account with TIB Development Bank and/or a TIB recognized financial institution legally registered for operations in Tanzania

(iv) External independent audit report of the last financial year

(v) Proof of payment all statutory social insurance contributions, employee related taxes, etc.

(vi) Organisational Code of Conduct demonstrating provisions for corruption, fraud and safeguarding

(vii) Evidenced provision of quality solar product sales and service delivery to end consumers on a commercial basis that are inclusive of: a. Private sector operations as a (i) manufacturer and distributor of its own solar products and/or (ii) third party solar product distributor

b. Verifiable sales activity with rural consumers in Tanzania since at least June of 2019 through to present date of their application to the GERF c. Verifiable sales past and future sales activities are for products possessing: • Current or historically valid Verasol (formerly IFC-Lighting Global) Quality Assurance (QA) compliance or Verasol/IFC-LG QA equivalency • At least a one year warranty and/or direct consumer facing after sales services • Lithium-based battery technology or alternatively deep-cycle, long life lead-acid batteries

(viii) If a participant receives funding from other funds / donors etc., this has to be made clear in the GERF application of the firm indicating at least the name and contact details of the funder and the areas that the funding is provided for.

(ix) Pass a due-diligence inspection to ensure solar product authenticity and firm operations.

(x) Provide evidence of verifiable sales activity with rural consumers in Tanzania since at least June of 2019 through to present date of their application to the GERF.

All technical service providers approved through the pre-qualification application process will be registered on the SNV Tanzania Approved Service Providers database for a period of 24 months during which they will be eligible to make sales of solar products and make claims to the fund as prescribed by the Green Economic Recovery Fund (GERF) Results Based Financing (RBF) Operational Guideline.

Prospective applicants will not be considered qualified unless in the judgment of SNV Tanzania they possess capability, experience, and qualified personnel to satisfactorily execute the contract for services.

2.2 Application Questionnaire Carefully read the instructions before completing the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (Annex 1) and compiling your required documentation for assessment of eligibility. Note that submission of false information will lead to automatic disqualification.

• Responses to the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire must be in accordance with the requirements for information in the document.

• Applicants must fill all sections and provide all requested documents.

• Applicants should note that this call for pre-qualifications does not amount to any contractual obligation.

• The Pre-Qualification Questionnaires which are NOT filled out completely and submitted in the prescribed manner with all requested attachments and certificates will not be considered.

It is understood and agreed that the pre-qualification data on prospective applicants is to be used by SNV Tanzania in determining, according to its sole judgment and discretion, the qualifications of prospective bidders to perform in respect to service category as describe by Client.

3. Submission Requirements

Submissions must include one hard copy of all documents. This hard copy must be marked “original”. Applicants must also provide one data storage device (CD or USB Flash) containing electronic copies of the complete application and all provided documents. No electronic submissions will be accepted.

The application for prequalification must be submitted in a sealed envelope, clearly labelled: • ‘Pre-qualification for ‘Green Economic Recovery Fund (GERF) Results Based Financing (RBF)’

• The sealed envelopes should be addressed to ‘SNV Technical Services Prequalification’ and submitted to any of the following addresses:

SNV Tanzania Office Physical Address Phone Dar Es Salaam Plot 1124, Chole Rd, Masaki +255 22 2600 340 Arusha Off Philips – Impala Road, Kijenge Area +255 27 254 3179/3185 Mwanza Plot 116, Block D, Balewa Rd, Isamilo Area +255 783 098413

Interested applicants may obtain the Pre-Qualification Application Package for the RBF Stage program from the SNV Tanzania website at http://www.snv.org/country/tanzania.

Deadline for submission of applications for the 15th Dec 2020 at 2:00pm (East Africa Time, EAT)

Only Approved Service Providers will be contacted.

Annex 1: Prequalification Questionnaire

A. General Information

Name of Organization/ Firm /Company

Postal Address

Physical Location of Business Premises Town / District, Region: Street: Plot: Buidling Name: Floor: Outside of your registered physical premises listed above, list the general location (City, District, Region) of any and all offices in Tanzania from which you operate to provide services

Primary Contact Person for this EOI Name: Mobile Number: Email:

Nature of Organization (e.g. Sole Proprietorship, Private Limited company, Public Limited Company, Partnership etc)

Company/ Firm /Organisation’s Operations Year Established/Registered: Duration of Operation: Objectives, Mandate, Mission of the Firm / Organization:

Company/ Registration No. (Attach Copy) – Companies / Firms Only VAT Registration No. (Attach Copy) Tax Clearance No. (Attach copy) TIN Registration No. (Attach Copy) - All Applicants Trade Licence/ Business Permit (Attach Copy) Names of the Proprietor, Directors or Partners Name: Nationality: Position Held:

Name: Nationality: Position Held:

Financial, Organizational and Economic Information of Applicants Firms/ Companies must provide copies of the following documents: External independent audit report of the last financial year Memorandum and Articles of Association Proofs and confirmations that statutory social insurance contributions, taxes, etc. required by the national laws have been paid Organisational Code of Conduct for staff of the applicant demonstrating provisions for corruption, fraud and safeguarding

B. Product & Service Track Record In the table below, please indicate details of the solar product(s) you intend to supply including name of manufacturer, unit name, size, manufacturer, etc. Manufacturer Unit name System Size Other Details - Descriptions

In the table below, please outline experience in comparable works in solar product and service delivery.

Provide specfic detail relating to the current scope and orientation of your business.

Business Model Despcription

Warranty – After Sales Services Description

Avg. Annual Turnover / Gross

Office Localities

No. Permanent Staff (M / F)

No. Sales Agents (M/F)

Total Unit Sales (Historical)

Avg Monthly Unit Sales (Current)

Briefly outline a maximum of three (3) relevant past and present partnerships, contracts, financing, project contracts, memberships, etc. that are simlar to the needs of the Professional-Technical Service Provider application. 1 Financier / Donor Contractor Contact Value of Contract Duration of Contract Description of Works

2 Financier / Donor Contractor Contact Value of Contract Duration of Contract Description of Works

3 Financier / Donor Contractor Contact Value of Contract Duration of Contract Description of Works

SNV reserves the right to contact the contact persons indicated without any further permissions from the applicant.

C. Organizational Capability Demonstrate key lead staff with sufficient technical and managerial skills to undertake works in the area that is being applied for. Specifically, list the staff employed by your firm / organization / company that would undertake lead reporting-communication with SNV.

Names Lead Staff - Personnel Name: Position: Assigned Role:

Name: Position: Assigned Role:

Specifically, include copies of the CVs of the staff as listed above when submitting your completed pre-qualified professional-technical services application package.

D. Eligibility Do any of the following apply to your Firm / Company / Organization and/or to (any of) the Director(s) Partner(s) /Proprietor(s):

Have you or your principals been subject of legal proceedings for insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership or your business activities suspended for related reasons? If ‘Yes’, please provide details: No Yes

Have been convicted of a criminal offence related to business or professional conduct

If ‘Yes’, please provide details: No Yes Have you had any contracts terminated for poor performance in the last five years, or any contracts where damages have been claimed by the client If ‘Yes’, please provide details: No Yes

E. Conflict of Interest Please provide answers to the following statements:

To the best of your knowledge, have you or any employee or staff member of your organization or firm, ever been employed by SNV? If ‘Yes’, provide the name of the person in your organsiation, and a description of the employment period, including job description, the duration of the employment period and No Yes reasons for leaving.

Is any employee or staff member of your firm, company or organisation related (by blood, marriage or otherwise) to any employee of SNV in Tanzania? If ‘Yes’, please provide the name of your staff and the name of the SNV staff member they are related to. State the nature of the relationship. No Yes

F. Sworn Statement Having provided the pre-qualification information for the above call. We/I hereby state:

• That the information furnished in our/my application is accurate and true to the best of our/my knowledge. • We/I enclose all the required documents and information required for the pre-qualification evaluation.

Company/Firm/ Organization Stamp / Name Seal

Representative: Position:

Signature: Date:

Pre-Qualifiaction Questionnaire Supporting Document Checklist Company/ Registration (firms-companies only) VAT Registration Tax Clearance TIN Registration Trade Licence/ Business Permit External independent audit report of the last financial year Memorandum and Articles of Association Proof of payment all statutory social insurance contributions, taxes, etc. Organisational Code of Conduct demonstrating provisions for corruption, fraud and safeguarding CVs Lead Staff-Personnel

Funded by:

Coordinated and implemented by:

E : [email protected] I https://snv.org