EBS of Suriname Tenders 26 Community Solar-Storage Microgrids and Water Supply Facilities

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 1, N.V. Energie Bedrijven Suriname (EBS), the national power company of Suriname, officially launched an international competitive tender for the Bio-SWEET project, procuring design, supply, and installation services for solar photovoltaic-battery energy storage microgrids and supporting water supply infrastructure. The project is divided into two lots, covering 26 communities in the interior of Suriname, with a bid submission deadline of 12:00 on October 30. The project is financed by the Inter-American Development Bank and co-financed by the Low Carbon Energy Fund through non-reimbursable investment financing.

Lot 1 is located in southern Suriname, covering 10 indigenous communities including Kwamalasamutu, Apetina and its Tutu Kampu satellite village, Pelelu Tepu, Palumeu, Alalapadu, Kawemhakan, Sipaliwini, Coeroeni, Amatopo, and Kumakapan. It involves the construction of 11 energy systems and 11 water supply systems, with the scope of work including the design, equipment supply, and installation of photovoltaic power generation, battery energy storage microgrids, and water supply infrastructure, with an estimated construction period of 30 months.

Lot 2 covers the Matawai area and Duwatra-Bekiokondre, divided into 5 clusters. Clusters A to D cover 14 Matawai communities including Bethel, Pusugrunu, Tevreden, Sukibaka, Pijetie, Padua, Boslanti, Pniel, Wanhati, Vertrouw, Misalibi, Nieuw Jacobkondre, Baling, and Bilawatra, while Cluster E covers the two communities of Duwatra and Bekiokondre in the Upper Suriname River area. This lot likewise procures photovoltaic-battery energy storage microgrids and water supply systems, with an estimated construction period of 24 months.

This procurement adopts the international competitive bidding procedure under Inter-American Development Bank rules, and firms from eligible countries may participate. The tender documents require bidders to have at least US$2.3 million in working capital, an average annual turnover of no less than US$6.1 million over the most recent specified period, and at least 5 years of experience in the design, supply, installation, or construction of power, water supply, or similar infrastructure; bidders must also have completed at least two similar projects and be equipped with qualified technical personnel meeting the relevant technical standards for photovoltaic and battery energy storage systems.

Bio-SWEET stands for "Biobased Economy for Empowering Indigenous Communities in Suriname through Water, Energy, and Communication Access," with project number SU-L1076 and loan contract number 5930/OC-SU. EBS is responsible for project execution. Payments under part of the contracts for the two lots will use financing funds from the Inter-American Development Bank, with co-financing provided by the Low Carbon Energy Fund for People and Planet through the non-reimbursable investment financing agreement GRT/LE-21150-SU.

EBS requires bid documents to be submitted before 12:00 on October 30. Electronic bidding is permitted, and late documents will not be accepted; bid opening is at 12:15 on the same day. All bid documents must be accompanied by a bid security declaration. Suriname's natural resources authorities disclosed at the end of August that Bio-SWEET is currently in the implementation preparation stage, with contractor award expected in early 2027 and infrastructure construction expected to commence in mid-2027.