Consultant

Solar Powering to 100 Milk Chilling Centres, To Empower Women’s Entrepreneurship for Small and Marginal Women on Milk Value Chain

Need :

SSP seeks a vendor to supply, install, and commission solar-powering to 100 milk chilling units, empowering small and marginal women farmers in rural India. Each unit requires high-efficiency solar panels (2.6 KWp), a 5 KVA inverter with dual MPP trackers, and a 5 KW off-grid power conditioning unit (PCU) within a 120 sq ft area per unit.

Project In Brief :

About SSP Organization: Established in 1998, Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) transformed a government program into a community-led initiative post-Latur earthquake. Focusing on women in water-scarce regions, SSP operates across seven Indian states, especially Marathwada. SSP has empowered over 350,000 women leaders, impacting more than 6 million lives. Their initiatives span 3,274 villages in 30 districts, focusing on Climate Resilient Farming, Clean Energy, Water and Sanitation, Health and Nutrition, and Women’s Entrepreneurship.

About The Project:

Project Summary and Need:

Dairying is a major income source for 27.6 million rural Indians, mainly small or marginal farmers. Remote areas face unreliable electricity, making refrigeration hubs unviable. Limited electricity and cold storage facilities restrict their income potential. Diesel generators are costly and environmentally harmful. Solar power provides a clean, cost-effective solution, saving 6 tons of CO2 per center. Our project will install 100 solar-powered milk chilling hubs to enhance market access, resource availability, and empower millions of rural women in dairy farming. Empowering women in livestock rearing, this project offers sustainable livelihood opportunities and promotes digital literacy for competitive growth.

Assignment in Brief:

Supply, install, and commission 100 solar-powering to 100 milk chilling units to empower small and marginal women farmers by improving their access to cold storage facilities and enhancing their income potential.

Outputs and Deliverables:
  • Supply and installation of 100 solar-powered milk chilling units.
  • Training for local operators and maintenance staff.
  • Comprehensive manuals and guidelines for operation and maintenance.
  • Equipment must meet national and international standards with provided certifications.
  • Timely delivery and installation at agreed locations.
  • Minimum 5-year warranty with responsibility for maintenance during warranty period.
  • 30% on contract signing, 30% on delivery, 30% on installation, and 10% post 3-month successful operation.
  • Provide comprehensive training and manuals for local operators and maintenance staff.
  • Maintain confidentiality and indemnify against liabilities arising from equipment or actions.
  • 30-day notice for termination; force majeure provisions apply.

Contract Period:

CONTRACT PERIOD for the consultancy will be for the project duration, targeted to end on March, 2026, subject to the discretion of SSP management. The contract will be governed by standard terms of service contracts of the organization, shared with shortlisted candidates upon request.

Qualification & Experience:

We are looking for reliable and innovative manufacturers of solar panels to partner with us on this impactful project. Ideal partners will have:

  1. Proven Expertise: Vendors must have qualifications in providing technical services for solar installations with a minimum of 5 years of experience and a demonstrated track record in similar assignments.
  2. Quality Assurance: Commitment to delivering durable and reliable products.
  3. Sustainability Focus: Alignment with our mission to reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy.

Remuneration:

REMUNERATION will be competitive with norms in the social sector. Interested candidates should submit a financial offer reflecting their minimum expectations.

Selection Process

A shortlist of up to three vendors will be established based on expressions of interest.

Evaluations will consider updated resumes, financial offers, and references, focusing on:

  • Proven expertise in similar projects.
  • Quality assurance and sustainability focus
  • Cost-effectiveness of the financial offer

Preference will be given to candidates with successful prior associations with SSP. The final selection will be made by the SSP Management Committee, which may conduct telephonic interviews. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Application Process: Please mail your expression of interest, including previous work samples, a timescale-based financial offer, a quotation for 100 solar-powered units including GST, and at least two independent references to sspindia1@gmail.com and connect@swayamshikshanprayog.org

Closing Date for Applications: 27th July, 2024.