Invitation to Bid: Provision and Construction of 12 Zero Energy Cool Units (ZECU) 209 views
Job Overview
INVITATION TO BID FOR PRIVISION AND CONSTRUCTION
N°: SFL/CROP-H/ITB/FY26/08 – Provision and Construction of Zero Energy Cool Units (ZECU)
Shelter For Life International (SFL), through the CROP-H Project implemented under the USDA Food for Progress Programmed, invites qualified and experienced firms, contractors, engineering companies and other eligible service providers to submit bids for the Provision, and construction of Twelve Zero Energy Cool Unit (ZECU) suitable for mango in the six agricultural regions of The Gambia.
The selected bidder shall be responsible for delivering a complete, functional, and sustainable ZECU solution, including provision of materials and equipment, construction, installation, testing, commissioning, user training and submission of all required documentation.
The facility shall provide temporary storage and preservation of fresh horticultural produce without reliance on grid electricity or powered refrigeration during normal operations. The provision and construction shall be appropriate for Gambian climatic and rural conditions and shall prioritize affordability, durability, food hygiene, safety, ease of operation and local maintainability.
Interested bidders must demonstrate relevant experience in the provision and construction of passive cooling systems, evaporative cooling facilities, agricultural storage structures, post-harvest infrastructure, water systems, rural construction, or similar projects.
Project background:
The CROP-H Project, implemented by Shelter For Life International under the USDA Food for Progress Programmed, aims to strengthen horticultural value chains, and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in The Gambia.
Farmers experience substantial post-harvest losses because fresh produce is highly perishable and vulnerable to heat, moisture loss, contamination, and deterioration. Limited access to electricity and conventional refrigeration in rural areas further restricts storage options, while existing cold-storage systems are often costly, complex, and difficult to maintain.
To address this challenge, SFL/CROP-H intends to develop and construct a Zero Energy Cool Unit (ZECU) for the temporary storage and preservation of horticultural produce without grid electricity or powered refrigeration during normal operations. The facility may use passive or evaporative cooling, potentially supported by charcoal cooling walls, controlled water distribution, an elevated water tank, a ventilated double roof, hygienic finishes, and storage shelving.
The final facility must be suitable for Gambian climatic and rural conditions, prioritize locally available materials, minimize operating and maintenance costs, ensure food hygiene and structural safety, and support long-term sustainability.
Purpose:
The purpose of this invitation is to contract a qualified service provider to supply, construct, install, test, and commission 12 complete Zero Energy Cool Units with the following internal dimensions (Length: 5.0 meters, Width: 2.4 meters, Height: 2.5 meters, Floor area: 12 m², Internal volume: 30 m³) The ZESU expected to be constructed and installed in (indicate the locations).
The ZECU shall use passive, evaporative or other technically justified zero-electricity cooling technology. It must include suitable insulation, ventilation, shading, drainage, pest protection, hygienic finishes, and organized storage.
The selected bidder shall be responsible for:
- Conducting all necessary site verification, surveys, and
- Provisioning the cooling, water supply, storage, distribution, and drainage
- Procuring and supplying all approved materials, equipment, and
- Constructing and installing the complete
- Providing construction, installation, and quality control
- Testing, commissioning, and demonstrating the performance of the completed
- Preparing an itemized Bill of Quantities (BOQ) and cost estimate in Gambian
- Providing an operation, maintenance, and monitoring
- Training users and operators in operation, hygiene, maintenance, and basic
- Submit final manuals, warranties, and completion of
- Assessing cooling performance, crop suitability, water requirements, risks, limitations, and climatic considerations.
The provision and construction proposal must explain the cooling process, heat-reduction measures, water management, and protection against humidity, pests, contamination, and physical damage. It should also identify suitable crops, expected storage conditions, water requirements, maintenance needs, and climatic limitations.
The BOQ and financial proposal must include all materials, labor, equipment, transport, site establishment, installation, testing, commissioning, training, and other costs required to deliver 12 complete and operational units. Construction and Provision costs must be presented separately from professional Provision, supervision, and other service fees.
Overall Objective:
The overall objective is to Provision and constructs an affordable, sustainable, and technically sound Zero Energy Cool Unit suitable for Gambian conditions and capable of reducing post-harvest losses without relying on grid electricity or powered refrigeration.
The specific objectives are to:
- Develop and construct a practical Zero Energy Cool storage facility suitable for rural farming
- Meet the required internal dimensions of 0 m × 2.4 m × 2.5 m.
- Assess and apply a suitable passive, evaporative or other zero-electricity cooling
- Provision and construct safe foundations, structural elements, roofing, walls, tank supports and storage systems.
- Provide efficient water supply, storage, distribution, and drainage
- Promote the use of locally available, durable, affordable, and maintainable
- Incorporate ventilation, shading, insulation, pest control, fire safety, hygiene, drainage, and security measures.
- Procure and install all materials, equipment and components required for a complete operational
- Define and demonstrate expected cooling performance, crop suitability, water needs, maintenance requirements and limitations.
- Provide clear operational, cleaning, monitoring, and maintenance
- Ensure that the completed facility is safe, feasible, cost-effective, durable, and
- Support budgeting, Provision, construction, commissioning, and future
- Improve product quality, market access and farmer income by reducing post-harvest losses.
The Bidder shall be responsible for all aspects of Provision, delivery, including packaging, transportation, and off-loading and construction. The zero-energy cool Unit will be constructed in twelve (12) community farms across the six agricultural regions whose location will be communicated. Prices quoted should remain valid for at least two months from the closing date of the tender. If the bidder wishes to express a longer validity period for prices, this is welcome.
This Biding Document includes Instructions to bidder, Technical Specifications and Administrative Requirements that Bidders will need to follow to prepare and submit their offer for consideration by SFL.
Eligible contractors can access the full tender documents by clicking on the link below: [Instruction_to_Bidders_ZECU.pdf, Attachments_Annexes_ZECU.docx , DESIGN AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION FOR ZERO ENERGY COOL UNIT (ZECU).pdf ]
All inquiries must be submitted in writing (crophprocurement@shelter.org) no later than October 26, 2026, before the bid submission deadline. Responses to questions that are relevant to all bidders may be circulated to all registered participants.
Offers must be submitted by email at the address below crophprocurement@shelter.org, For any additional information, refer to Adama Jarju
– Procurement & Logistic Officer: 7720949 / “SFL/ project #5022″ Submission deadline is Friday 06th of November 2026 at 1:00pm local time. Late Bids shall be rejected.
SFL reserves the right to accept or reject any Bids, to cancel the Provision process, and reject all Bids at any time prior to award of the Contract, without obligation to inform the affected Bidder/s of the ground for SFL action.
