Supply, delivery and installation of solar-powered borehole water pumping system – agricultural research council (eastern cape)

Compulsory site briefing: date and time not specified in document. Venue not specified. Attendance is compulsory and failure to attend leads to disqualification.

Returnable Documents:

• Signed Declaration of Acceptance of Special Conditions for the RFQ must accompany the bid on the closing date.
• Data sheets for solar modules/panels must be submitted with all bidding documents (official PDF from manufacturer, not copied from internet).
• Compulsory site briefing must be attended.
• Failure to provide the above listed documents will lead to disqualification.

then back to PDF will not be allowed.

Bidders must be registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) (implied by government tender). They must have the capacity to perform the work, including access to a qualified electrician with appropriate qualifications (not just Single-Phase Tester). They must be able to provide manufacturer data sheets for solar modules from approved brands (Jinko Solar, Canadian Solar, JA Solar, etc.). They must be able to attend the compulsory site briefing. They must be able to provide all required documentation and comply with all specifications. No explicit financial or legal criteria are listed, but standard government procurement rules apply.

• Borehole is 150m deep, approximately 40m distance to shade net tanks and 30m to garage.
• Water test: Chemical and microbial analysis per SANS 241-1-1:2015 at SANAS accredited laboratory. Drinking water test parameters: EC, pH, SAR, Langelier, Ryznar, Turbidity, Colour, Odour, TDS, TSS, Free Cl, F, SO4, NH4-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Mn, Fe, Al, HPC, Heterotrophic plate count, Total coliforms, Faecal coliforms. Irrigation water test parameters: EC, pH, COD, SAR, Langelier, Ryznar, TSS, F, Cl, SO4, NH4-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, Alkalinity, CO3, HCO3, Ca, Mg, Na, K, B, Mn, Fe, Faecal coliform, TDS.
• Survey work: alignment/mounting of solar modules to North Facing Position, done before mounting and submitted to ARC.
• Electrical installation: qualified electrician signing off CoC must be in control on site. Single-Phase Tester cannot work with DC and cannot sign off on DC installations (including solar PV).
• Concrete collar around borehole: shallow circular collar, volume 0.08m3, concrete mix: 20L water, 42kg Portland cement, 0.07m3 stone aggregate (10mm), 0.07m3 river sand, strength 30MPa after 28 days.
• Borehole cap to prevent foreign material entry.
• Borehole yield test certificate must include: yield rate (L/s and L/hr), static water level, dynamic water level, installation depths.
• Water distribution system: trenching 500mm below ground, 40mm high pressure pipe from borehole to shade net tanks (4 x 5000L tanks), including irrigation connectors and accessories.
• Solar modules: Monocrystalline, 550W x 6, aligned true north, tilt angle 20-35 degrees. Approved brands: Jinko Solar, Canadian Solar, JA Solar, RenewSys, Trinasolar, SunPro, Risen, Haitai Solar, Astroenergy or equivalent.
• Pump: 1.1 kW centrifugal borehole pump with non-return valve, pressure head 150m, flow 4 m3/hour. Pump and solar PV capacity may change based on borehole yield test results.
• Solar pump controller: 1.1 kW with built-in MPPT, dry-run protection.
• Level sensor for submersible pump (dry-run protection).
• Float level switch in 2000L tank for pump control.
• Protection cabinet: overload protection (fuses), main switch ON/OFF, surge arresters (SPD), central grounding point.
• Grounding: equipment grounding (solar module frame, mounting structure, enclosures, metal frames, conduits to grounding electrode) and system grounding (current carrying conductors to negative/neutral to grounding electrode).
• Enclosures: suitable protection against outdoor conditions.
• Mounting structure: steel structure, painted with two layers (rust-proof and thick finish) or galvanized, height 3.5m, structurally strong to withstand winds, can mount 6 solar panels, concreted around structure.
• Cables: PV red and black solar cables, pump power supply cable (submersible wire 6-10mm, 2-4 core), grounding wires, other related cables.
• Lithium batteries 5kW and inverter 5kW stored and mounted in garage approx. 30m from borehole. AC and DC control boxes provided. Power connected to irrigation control box, solenoids, booster pump approx. 40m to shadenet.
• Lightning protection and earthing for solar PV: proper grounding, surge protection, adherence to safety guidelines. Only registered qualified electrician allowed to work on electrical installation. SPT cannot issue CoC for solar installations.
• Test-pumping of boreholes: Step-drawdown test (4-6 x 1-hour steps, yields: 1/3, 2/3, 1, 1.5 times expected yield), Constant discharge test (24-72 hours at constant rate, variation >5% requires restart), Recovery test (until water levels recover to <5% of total drawdown, or three identical readings, or time equal to constant discharge test). Data collection includes date/time, static water level, borehole depth, distance to observation boreholes, pump installation depth, water strike depths, borehole diameter, rainfall, drawdown, discharge rate. Pump must have non-return valve. Flow measurement methods: bucket and stopwatch, flow meter, orifice weir, V-notch weir. Observation boreholes monitored, rested at least a day before pumping.

• Survey work must be done before mounting solar modules to guide alignment/mounting to North Facing Position, submitted to ARC.
• Qualified electrician must be in control on site for solar installation and sign off CoC.
• Project management: service provider must organize activity schedule for project execution in consultation with ARC project manager/personnel, allowing time for coordination.
• Handover and commissioning: comprehensive training for farmer on use of solar powered borehole (operation and maintenance), provide standard operating procedure (SOP) in English, soft copy sent to ARC-VIMP:MP&IC division for comments.
• Borehole test-pumping methodology:
• Step-drawdown test: 4-6 x 1-hour steps at incrementally increasing rates. Yields: Step1 – 1/3 expected yield, Step2 – 2/3 expected yield, Step3 – equal to expected yield, Step4 – 1.5 times expected yield. Yield must be constant during steps, measured at least 3 times. Recovery monitored until water level recovers to ~1m of static water level or ~12 hours.
• Constant discharge test: 24-72 hours at constant rate. If water level drawn down to pump inlet, stop pump immediately and monitor recovery. Yield constancy critical; variation >5% requires restart. Water level measurements per SANS 10299-4:2003.
• Recovery test: measure water levels until recovery to <5% of total drawdown, or three identical readings, or time equal to constant discharge test duration. Data collected: date/time, static water level, borehole depth, distance to observation boreholes, pump installation depth, water strike depths, borehole diameter, rainfall, drawdown, discharge rate.
• Pump must have suitable power drive and correct pumping capacity. Pumping rate must be constant. Pump inlet at main water strike, or 3-5m from bottom if unknown. Pump must have non-return valve.
• Flow measurement: bucket of known volume and stopwatch (most reliable), flow meter (only when discharge pipe full and flow not turbulent), orifice weir, V-notch weir.
• Observation boreholes: monitor water levels during test, rest area boreholes at least a day before pumping.

• Water tests must be done according to SANS 241-1-1:2015 standards at a SANAS Accredited Laboratory.
• Test report must be provided with conclusions.
• Drinking water test parameters: EC, pH, SAR, Langelier, Ryznar, Turbidity, Colour, Odour, TDS, TSS, Free Cl, F, SO4, NH4-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Mn, Fe, Al, HPC, Heterotrophic plate count, Total coliforms, Faecal coliforms.
• Irrigation water test parameters: EC, pH, COD, SAR, Langelier, Ryznar, TSS, F, Cl, SO4, NH4-N, NO3-N, NO2-N, Alkalinity, CO3, HCO3, Ca, Mg, Na, K, B, Mn, Fe, Faecal coliform, TDS.

Pricing must be provided per the Bill of Quantities (BOQ) with unit prices and totals for each line item:

1. Supply and installation of mounting steel structure (including concrete) – 1
2. Monocrystalline solar module 550W – 6
3. 1.1 kW borehole pump (with non-return valve) and 1.1kW built-in MPPT controller/solar pump, dry run protection including cable ties, base plate, control box, rope, high pressure pipe 40mm – 1
4. Protection cabinet with central grounding point, all switches and surge arrestors – 1
5. Submersible wire length, 4 core 10mm2 – 1
6. Solar cables, grounding wires and earth spikes – 1
7. Electrical installation and CoC – 1
8. Sundries – 1
9. Connection of irrigation control box, pump and solenoids to green energy – 1
10. Lithium Battery 5kW (including fuses holder) – 2
11. AC control box (2 way) – 1
12. DC control box (2 way) – 1
13. Inverter 5kW – 1
14. Borehole yield test – 1
15. PV red and black cables – 1

Total must be provided. No specific bonds, guarantees, or payment terms stated.

• Compulsory site briefing (failure leads to disqualification).
• Data sheets for solar modules/panels must be submitted with all bidding documents. Solar modules must comply with SANS/IEC standards and SABS approved.
• Data sheets must be official documents (PDF) from manufacturer; copied from internet and pasted into word then back to PDF not allowed.
• Data sheets must show: 12-year product warranty, 25-year linear power performance warranty, compliance with applicable IEC/international standards or SANS and SABS approved.
• Warranty requirements: Solar module 12 years product warranty, 25 years linear power performance warranty; Pump/motor minimum 1 year; MPPT solar pump controller minimum 1 year; Remaining components minimum 1 year; Workmanship warranty/guaranty for all installation 1 year; Solar module structural support 5 years. Warranties checked against products delivered onsite.
• All warranty and workmanship certificates must be submitted to ARC, including operation and maintenance manual, handed during commissioning.
• No specific CSD, tax, B-BBEE, CIDB, CIPC, or professional registration requirements stated in document, but standard government procurement rules apply.

• Only registered qualified electrician allowed to work on electrical installation. Electrician signing off CoC must be in control on site and supervise work effectively.
• Single-Phase Tester (SPT) cannot work with DC and cannot sign off on DC installations (including PV and three-phase). SPT cannot issue Certificate of Compliance for solar installations.
• Lightning protection and earthing for solar PV: proper grounding, surge protection, adherence to safety guidelines to minimize damage from lightning strikes.
• Grounding: equipment grounding (solar module frame, mounting structure, enclosures, metal frames, conduits to grounding electrode) and system grounding (current carrying conductors to negative/neutral to grounding electrode).
• Protection cabinet with overload protection (fuses), main switch, surge arresters (SPD), central grounding point.
• Enclosures must have suitable protection against outdoor conditions.

• Warranty periods: Solar module 12 years product warranty, 25 years linear power performance warranty; Pump/motor minimum 1 year; MPPT solar pump controller minimum 1 year; Remaining components minimum 1 year; Workmanship warranty/guaranty for all installation 1 year; Solar module structural support 5 years.
• Warranties checked against products delivered onsite.
• Compulsory requirements: Compulsory site briefing, data sheets for solar modules/panels submitted with bidding documents, solar modules comply with SANS/IEC standards and SABS approved. Data sheets must be official PDF from manufacturer; copied from internet not allowed. Data sheets must show 12-year product warranty, 25-year linear power performance warranty, compliance with applicable IEC/international standards or SANS and SABS approved.
• All warranty and workmanship certificates must be submitted to ARC, including operation and maintenance manual, handed during commissioning.
• The bidder shall provide signed Declaration of Acceptance of Special Conditions for the RFQ.

concrete collar around the borehole. This collar shall have the dimensions set out in, yielding a volume of 0.08m3. The concrete mix shall consist of water, Portland cement, stone aggregate (10mm), and river sand. Quantities of these materials sufficient to make 0.1m3 of concrete with the required strength of 30MPa after 28 days are (1) 20 litre of water, (2) 42kg (0.8bags) of Portland cement, (3) 0.07 m3 of stone aggregate and (4) 0.07 m3 of river sand.