Call for Request for Application (RFA) for Grant Program

USAID Urja Nepal Program

Call for Request for Application (RFA) for Grant Program

RFA-URJA-2024-004

The USAID Urja Nepal Program (Urja Nepal) is supported by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Deloitte Consulting LLP. Urja Nepal aims to create a financially viable electricity sector that provides affordable, reliable, and secure power and enables the entry of private sector investment into the Nepal market through following four objectives: 

    Objective 1: Utility Performance and Relevant Sector Policies are Improved.

    Objective 2: Advanced Energy Systems Deployed

    Objective 3: Increased Private Sector Engagement

    Objective 4: Cross Border Electricity Trade between Nepal and its Neighbors Advanced

Project Description

Nepal’s electricity distribution system of Nepal faces multiple challenges that interrupt supplies of electricity. These challenges include temporary tripping(a momentary loss of network connectivity) and unplanned outages which are often caused by factors like vegetation growth near conductor, bird related faults, etc. Unfortunately, these problems are often exacerbated by the non-automated characteristics of most of Nepal’s distribution system. For example, when a fault occurs in a specific part of a distribution feeder, the entire feeder must be shut down to locate and rectify the issue, a process that can take hours. With an automated distribution system, these temporary faults could be detected, isolated, and resolved with minimal human intervention. 

The situation is critical in underdeveloped areas like inner Madhesh and the hilly regions. In these remote areas, a single feeder is responsible for supplying electricity across vast distances. As a result, when issues arise at a specific point along the feeder, repair teams must traverse kilometers before they can pinpoint the problem and address it. This situation directly affects the reliability of electricity supply to the residents in these regions, who predominantly belong to socio-economically disadvantaged communities. 

As a pilot program to help address this issue, Urja Nepal is launching the grant activity “Improvement of Electricity Distribution System Reliability” in the service area of the following Community Rural Electrification Entity (CREE).

Name of CREE: Samudayik Gramin Vidyut Sahkari Sanstha Ltd.

Location: Bagmati Municipality, Sarlahi District, Madhesh Province

CREE supply area: Ward no. 5 (part), 8, 9 and 10

Substation: Barahathawa substation

Feeder: Solati

Number of households: 1996

Project Requirements

The grants program aims to implement modern distribution automation tools such as sectionalizers and auto-reclosures to improve distribution system reliability in the identified CREE. To that effect, grant applicants should also consider opportunities to incorporate internet of things (IoT) devices to also support activities related to commercial, operational, and utility safety performance standards.

The key activities under the grants program shall be include but not limited to the following activities:

• Distribution system mapping
  • Administer a household survey on a representative sample population to understand the current purposes of electricity use and the obstacles to increasing electricity consumption.
  • Conduct GIS mapping of the distribution network of the CREE including assessment of existing status of power supply reliability. 
• Distribution system modeling
  • Model distribution system based on the system mapped. 
• Smart meters implementation: 
  • Determine the optimum number of smart meters required.
  • Procure, test, and install smart meters in the distribution network. 
  • Capture data to potentially identify insights for loss reduction, theft minimization, defective meter identification, meter reading errors, and estimating potential unmetered energy supply.
• Load break switch optimization
  • Determine optimum number of load break switches.
  • Procure and install the load break switches.
  • Interface the load break switches with the distribution system.
  • Conduct on-site testing of the operation of load break switches. 
• User interface design
  • Develop a user interface for real-time visualization of the distribution network.
  • Develop a user interface for monitoring the status of load break switches. 
• System testing and commissioning
  • Generate testing and commissioning reports.
  • Conduct continuous operation testing of the developed system. 
• Reporting and monitoring
  • Prepare a report incorporating activities undertaken and their impact on enhancing the distribution system reliability and performance.
  • Incorporate key performance indicators (KPIs) to reflect customer service outcomes, as measured by SAIDI and SAIFI indices.
  • Utilize cloud-based data acquisition techniques to store necessary performance data.
  • Provide training to build the capacity of the CREE management on use and maintenance of automated distribution systems.

For further information, please refer to the application instructions below, including the detailed RFA with full application requirements.

In view of the above background, the USAID’s Urja Nepal program invites applications from eligible partners to carry out the grant activity “Improvement of Electricity Distribution System Reliability”. Urja Nepal requests technical and budget applications (using a provided template) from eligible applicants who are registered or have the legal authority to do business in Nepal with the following documents, by August 2, 2024. Requests should include the following:

• A completed technical application.
• A completed budget application
• Budget supporting documents, including the budget narrative, as applicable
• A copy of the applicant’s valid legal registration
• Organizational profile and/or chart.
• Operation policies and procedures
• Statutory audit report of fiscal year 2079/080
• CVs for project personnel (if necessary)

To apply, applications must be submitted online through the Fluxx Grants Portal. To do so, interested applicants must:

1. Register on the portal at https://dgrants.fluxx.io/apply/Urja
2. Receive the login credentials at their registered email.
3. Apply for the grant as per the instruction from the portal.

The detailed RFA document can be obtained by following this link or send a request to info@urja-nepal.com with RFA-URJA-2024-004 in subject line.

Issuance of this RFA does not obligate Deloitte and/or Urja Nepal to award a grant, nor will it pay any costs associated with the preparation or submission of application. Furthermore, Deloitte and/or Urja Nepal reserve the right to reject all applications, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of Deloitte and/or Urja Nepal.

The final award is contingent upon USAID approval.