EPC Contractor for Upgrading of the Mini-grid (Construction of a new 1 MWp Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Plant, 1.5 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and Expansion of Grid) and Rehabilitation of the 212 kW Mini hydro) at Semonkong

Request for Bids

Plant

Design, Supply and Installation

(Without Prequalification)

Employer: Lesotho Electricity Company (Pty) Ltd

Project: Lesotho Renewable Energy and Energy Access Project (LREEAP)

Contract title: Design Build Contractor for Upgradation of Mini-Grid with Solar PV / BESS with Associated Distribution Infrastructure and Rehabilitation of Small-Hydropower Plant plus one (1) year of Operation and Maintenance at Semonkong

Country: Lesotho

Credit No.: 6532-LS

RFB No: LS-LEC-478458-CW-RFB

Issued on: 6th November, 2025

• The Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Lesotho Renewable Energy and Energy Access Project (LREEAP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds toward payments under the Contract for” Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Lesotho Electricity Company mini-grid at Semonkong”.

• The Lesotho Electricity Company (Pty) Ltd (LEC or “Employer”) now invites sealed Bids from eligible Bidders for Design Build Contractor for Upgradation of Mini-Grid with Solar PV / BESS with Associated Distribution Infrastructure and Rehabilitation of Small-Hydropower Plant plus one (1) year of Operation and Maintenance at Semonkong”.

The works include but are not limited to:

• Mini-grid architecture

• Design, supply, transportation, installation and commissioning of a fully functioning mini-grid consisting of a Small Hydropower plant (210kW), a solar PV plant (1MWp), and a BESS (1MW/1.5MWh). The existing diesel generators shall also be integrated in the mini-grid.

• Design, supply installation and commissioning of an appropriate SCADA and Energy Management System (EMS) for optimal operations of the Mini-Hydropower-solar-BESS-diesel mini-grid.

• The EMS shall be locally operated and controlled and include all necessary components. This includes necessary Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS’) for critical components.

• Small Hydropower

• Remedial works to the main weir.

• Implementation of riverbank protection works.

• Decommissioning of existing intake equipment, including trashrack, intake sliding gate and sediment flushing gate.

• Design, supply, transportation, installation and commissioning of new intake equipment.

• Decommissioning of Surge Chamber trashrack and flushing valve.

• Design, supply, transportation, installation and commissioning of new Surge Chamber equipment as listed above.

• Decommissioning of penstock pipework.

• Design, supply, transportation, installation and commissioning of new penstock pipework.

• Decommissioning of existing 190 kW Francis type turbine generating unit, including all associated controls systems and associated electrical and mechanical auxiliaries.

• Design, supply, transportation, installation and commissioning of new Small Hydro turbine generating unit(s) and associated electrical and mechanical auxiliaries, digital control systems and communication systems.

• Design and implementation of necessary civil works and upgrades to accommodate the proposed generating equipment in the powerhouse. Remedial works to existing powerhouse.

• Solar PV

• Design and implementation of necessary civil works and upgrades to accommodate the proposed new equipment (access roads, solar PV power plant site, etc.).

• Design, supply, transportation, installation and commissioning of a 1 MWp turnkey solar PV power plant including but not limited to solar PV modules, foundations, mounting structures, junction boxes, inverters, transformers, switchgear, all DC, AC and communication cabling, earthing systems, weather stations, SCADA, control room, fencing and grid connection.

• BESS

• Design, supply, transportation, installation and commissioning of a turnkey BESS (minimum 1 MW / 1.5 MWh usable energy measured on the AC-side of the inverter) including but not limited to batteries, inverters, control systems, transformers, protections, cables, earthing systems, lightning protection, foundations, fencing and grid connection

• Power Distribution

• Prepare electrification survey for approval by the Project Manager

• Design, supply and delivery of at least 100 new customer connections and related distribution infrastructure

• Operation and Maintenance

• One (1) year of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of the mini-grid.

• Provision of operation and maintenance manuals

• Comprehensive training and hand-over to the Employer

• Supply of five (5) years of spare parts.

• Bidding will be conducted through national competitive procurement using a Request for Bids (RFB) as specified in the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016 updated February 2025 (Sixth Edition) (“Procurement Regulations”), and is open to all eligible Bidders as defined in the Procurement Regulations.

• Interested eligible Bidders may obtain further information from the LREEAP LEC Project Implementation Unit (PIU), Mr. Leloko Mokhutsoane Project Coordinator (Acting) LREEAP email: [email protected] Cc [email protected] and inspect the bidding document during office hours 08H00 to 1700 hours at the address given below.

• The bidding document in English may be purchased by interested eligible Bidders upon the submission of a written application to the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee of LSL 6000.00 (Six Thousand Lesotho Loti). The method of payment will be a direct deposit (EFT or cash deposit) into the below shown banking details. The reference for the payment shall be “LREEAP ENERGY TENDER”. After making the deposit into the account, bidders shall submit proof of payment (POP) to the office of Director Finance at the Ministry of Energy 2nd Floor, Africa House, Government Complex, Kingsway, Maseru to obtain a receipt which (the receipt) will then be sent to the below email address to obtain the bidding document by via email. The banking details are as follows:

Account Holder: Central Bank of Lesotho

Account Name: Main Revenue Epicor 10

Bank Central Bank of Lesotho (CBL)

Account Number: 0101403715016

BIC Code: CBLELSMXXX

Address: Corner Airport and Moshoeshoe Roads, Maseru, Lesotho.

Branch Code: 586611

• Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 11th December, 2025 at 10H00. Electronic bidding will not be permitted. Late Bids will be rejected. Bids will be publicly opened in the presence of the Bidders’ designated representatives and anyone who chooses to attend at the address below on 11th December, 2025 at 10H30. Bidders are notified that there will be a pre-bid meeting on 18th November, 2025 to be held at the Semonkong Urban Council Offices Boardroom, at Semonkong at 10H00. A site visit to the Project site shall be convened on the same day; 18th November, 2025 at 11H30 at the Semonkong LEC Office.

• All Bids must be accompanied by a Bid-Securing Declaration using the form provided in the bidding document.

• Attention is drawn to the Procurement Regulations requiring the Borrower to disclose information on the successful bidder’s beneficial ownership, as part of the Contract Award Notice, using the Beneficial Ownership Disclosure Form as included in the bidding document.

• The address referred to above is:

Lesotho Renewable Energy and Energy Access Project (LREEAP) LEC

Attention: Mr. Leloko Mokhutsoane

120 Lancers Road, Opposite the New State House,

Maseru West, Lesotho

Email: [email protected] Cc. [email protected]