Contract award for fee-based services: Research related to Areas on ENERGY (Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Energy Access) in the Philippines

The Ateneo de Manila University, through the Ateneo School of Government, intends to award a contract for fee-based services to carry out research and capacity development activities that will better facilitate the country’s transition to clean energy, promote energy efficiency, and broaden energy access in the Visayas. This contract will be under the project titled “Clean Energy Living Laboratories (CELLs): The development of centers of excellence on energy access, renewable energy, and energy efficiency” current being implemented by the Ateneo de Manila University, though its School of Government. The general objective of the project is to increase the awareness and knowledge on rural electrification, energy efficiency and renewable energy, through the creation of a national Centre of Excellence for SE4All and SDG7.
 
 
About the Ateneo de Manila University - School of Government
 
The Ateneo School of Government (ASOG) is the public sector arm of the Ateneo de Manila University. The School’s long-term mission is to teach and work with effective and ethical public servants. It aims to contribute in building prosperous, sustainable, just, and happy communities in the Philippines, empowered by democratic, participatory, transparent, and accountable governance institutions and processes.

As a graduate school for leadership and public service, ASOG's academic and executive education programs bridge the gap between classroom wisdom and real-world policy decision- making and governance. Through its research and extension programs, and its work with public, private, and community organizations, ASOG continues to develop and foster innovative ideas and approaches in areas such as leadership, poverty eradication, climate change, social accountability, and politics.  
 

Objectives
 
The beneficiary of the award will support the research agenda of the Access to Sustainable Energy Programme – Clean Energy Living Laboratories (ASEP-CELLs) Project. The CELLS, as hosted by academic institutions, are connected physically and virtually supported by civil society organizations (CSOs) and private sector partners. They are envisioned to work together towards the empowerment of key stakeholders to effectively respond to energy challenges as well as seize opportunities for sustainable production and consumption through knowledge management, education and capacity building, and awareness building.

To pursue this mandate, ASEP-CELLs will engage a Third-Party Research Institution to formulate unifying framework that will guide policies and activities that are geared towards increasing access to energy, particularly in the area of rural electrification. The project proponent is expected to perform the following tasks:

1. Undertake an inventory of areas without access to electricity which are designated as “unserved areas”;
2. Undertake an inventory of areas which have access to electricity but experience regular power outages. These are designated as “under-served areas”. It should be noted that both unserved areas and under-served areas may be on-grid or off-grid based on DoE’s classification.
3. Determine the most effective and efficient way to address the problems of unserved and under-served areas in term of increasing access to electricity.

 
Expected Tasks of the Contractor
 
The project proponent is expected to perform the following tasks:
 

1. Undertake aforementioned inventories and coordinate with the Department of Energy to avoid duplication of effort particularly with regard to the HEIS;
2. Identify appropriate development frameworks, applicable non-renewable and renewable energy technologies, and implementation strategies.[1]
3. Undertake an inventory of major efforts to increase access to electricity.[2] This will include the DoE programs (including missionary electrification), the efforts of SPUG of National Power Corporation, the various renewable energy projects—including those promoted by ASEP—and the Qualified Third Party Program. Progress in these programs should be reported.
4. Discuss in-depth two case studies of successful efforts to address both unserved and under-served areas. One possibility is the province of Romblon.
5. Coordinate with the Manila Observatory to incorporate HEV (hazards, exposure and vulnerability) factors in the assessing the feasibility of various options.
6. Provide methodologies to provide optimum energy mix by location.
7. Identify regulatory issues that affect the access to energy and collaborate with ASEP-CELLs project in addressing these regulatory issues.
8. In collaboration with ASEP-CELLs, look into the ramifications of Republic Act No. 11357, An Act Granting Solar Para Sa Bayan Corporation a Franchise to Operate Micro-grids in the Remote and Unviable, or Unserved or Underserved Areas in Selected Provinces of the Philippines in terms of increased access to electricity.
9. Develop an online portal that presents the results of the study and provides tools for capturing and sharing information on energy implementation. The project proponent will collaborate with Manila Observatory on this deliverable and at the same time assist MO with its ICT requirements for the HEV mapping. This is intended to enable MO establish its own online portal. Both portals will be linked to the ASEP-CELLs website.

 
Main Outputs:
 
The aforementioned tasks are expected to lead to the following outputs:
 

1. A comprehensive report on the results of the inventory (including major efforts to increase access to electricity), evaluation of the various options for increased access to energy, and the methodology to provide an optimum energy mix by location.
2. Published Technical White Paper based on research gathered from comprehensive report.
3. Printed booklet summarizing findings, highlighting case studies, and presenting energy development frameworks.
4. Online portal as described above. This will be a community-driven online open data sharing platform that contains geospatial data that is relevant to energy and electrification. It will contain the following standard features:

• Standardized map of the Philippines with the ability to overlay data and export into downloadable maps or reports
• Allow for different types of data points and maps, e.g. energy sources, electrical lines, population data, electrification data, etc.
• Filter by location, energy source, energy type, size, coverage area, etc.
• Opportunity database
• Partner map / project database (private / public)
• Capability building, training and support, technical resources

Publications
 
The project has to produce at least two reports that are publishable in peer-reviewed journals or as peer-reviewed policy papers. Publishable means that by the end of the project duration, the report can be submitted to a peer-reviewed. This is inclusive of the aforementioned published technical white paper.
 
The publications will be consistent with the Ateneo Loyola Schools’ criteria of journals, books, and conferences that are indexed by Scopus.
 
 
Grant Support
 
Under the program, grants will be provided to researches related to Energy (renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy access) in the Philippines. Field validation for research, inventory, methodologies and frameworks will be limited to the two case studies as noted in the deliverables.

Grants up to PhP 2,670,000 will be provided to the proposed activities with six (6) months implementation period. The approved activities are expected to commence implementation immediately.
 
 
Applications
 

1. Eligibility Check

• Grant beneficiaries and contractors must ensure that there is no detection of subcontractors, natural persons (including participants to workshops and/or trainings and recipients of financial support to third parties), in the lists of EU restrictive measures. The lists of persons, groups, entities subject to the EU restrictive measures are maintained by the Service for Foreign Policy Instrument and published (see www.sanctionsmap.eu)

• The Nationality Rule and the Rule of Origin must be followed. Participation in tender procedures managed by the EU External Action Beneficiary(ies), herein identified as the ADMU-ASoG, is open on equal terms to all natural and legal persons effectively established in a Member State or a country, territory or region mentioned as eligible by the relevant regulation/basic act governing the eligibility rules for the grant as per Annex a2 to the Practical Guide.

 
Tenderers must state their nationality in their tenders and provide the usual proof of nationality under their national legislation. If the basic act or the other applicable instruments so require, the tenderer must prove the origin[3] of the supplies acquired under the grant. Where rules of origin need to be respected[4] and the unit cost on purchase is above € 5000, contractors must present proof of origin to the ADMU-ASoG at the latest when the first invoice is presented. The certificate of origin must be made out by the competent authorities of the country of origin of the supplies and must comply with the rules laid down by the relevant Union legislation. Where supplies may originate from any country, no certificate of origin needs to be submitted.
 

2. Proposal Requirements

• Project Proposal
• Organizational profile (history, qualification and track record) based on the following:

1. Grant management experience, including with Global Fund or any previous international donor funding and with grants involving complex coordination and partnerships 
2. Program management experience in contracting out or implementing proposed activities
3. Advocacy experience and relationships with policy makers
4. Engagement and experience working in energy access, renewable energy, and energy efficiency and on the five thematic areas of the grant – financial sustainability, strategic information, service delivery, community system strengthening and enabling environment.
5. Relationships and engagement with other civil society organizations and key populations

• Submit the following supporting documents:
  1. Document confirming registration and/or accreditation 
  2. Articles of Incorporation (or equivalent) 
  3. Strategic Plan (or equivalent) 
  4. Mission / Vision Statement 
  5. Organizational Chart 

 
Guiding Principles
 
The selection of the awardee is guided by the principles as articulated in the European Union’s External Action Guide on procurement policies:
 

• Value for money, ensuring a process with the best price-quality ratio, or as appropriate, to the tender offering the lowest cost and highest impact.
• Effectiveness and efficiency; ensuring time and cost-effectiveness.
• Impartiality and transparency; ensuring bidders are treated fairly and equally.
• Competition; ensuring all eligible bidders have equal opportunities.

 
 
Steps in the Selection Process
 
Step 1 (November 12-25, 2019)        Call for Requests for Proposals issued
Step 2 (November 26-30, 2019)        Assessment of proposals, eligibility and selection

• Proposal due on November 15, 2019
• Review and shortlisting
• Interview and selection

Step 3 (December 1-15, 2019)           Finalization of awardee work plan, budget, and contracts
 
 
Selection Rating
 

Capacity Area/Selection CriteriaWeight

Program management capability and experience through direct program delivery and sub-contracting to implement partners, including monitoring and evaluation.40%

Grant management capability and experience, financial and operational management of funds and reporting.35%

Organizational governance and coordinating mechanisms25%

 
 
General Instructions
 
The project concept note must be submitted by 25 November 2019 to Mr. Jan Augustin V. Villela (jvillela@ateneo.edu). For inquiries and additional information related to the request, you may contact the EU CELLs Project Management Office through (02) 8426 6001 ext. 4640.
 

[1] The project proponent is expected to conduct a review of all major energy sources (oil, coal, nuclear, geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind, tidal, OTEC) and make an overall assessment of their feasibility in the Philippines. Cost estimates of each source should be provided. Costs estimates will include investment recovery and actual generation costs.

[2] An example of this is the largest solar-battery micro-grid in the Philippines located in Paluan, Occidental Mindoro.

[3]           For the purpose of this annex, the term "origin" is defined in chapter 2 of Regulation (EC) No 450/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 laying down the EU Customs Code (Modernised Customs Code).

[4]           Under the CIR (i.e. not IPA I) and the EDF supplies may originate from any country if the amount of the supplies to be procured is below 100.000 € per purchase.