Remote Monitoring for 2025 Global LEAP Awards Solar Generators Competition

CLASP serves at the epicenter of collaborative, ambitious efforts to mitigate climate change and in the global movement for clean energy access, through appliance efficiency. Our mission is to improve the energy and environmental performance of the appliances & equipment we use every day, accelerating our transition to a more sustainable world. We work together with governments, experts, industry, consumers, donor organizations and others to propel policies and markets toward the highest-quality, lowest resource-intensive appliances possible.

CLASP has worked in more than 100 countries since its inception in 1999. CLASP is headquartered in Washington, DC, with teams in Europe, Kenya, India and Indonesia. We’re mission-driven and committed to a culture of diversity, transparency, collaboration, and impactful work. See our Team Page to learn more about us

The Global LEAP Solar Generators Competition will identify the best solar generators currently available, based on safety, performance, ease of use and value for money. The Competition is intended to drive innovation and performance in early-stage product markets, while also building valuable technical and commercial market knowledge.

Solar generators – also referred to as “solar inverters”, “zero- emission generators”, “AC solar home systems” and “power stations” – receive power from solar PV modules, store power in a battery, and provide electrical energy through AC and optional DC power outputs. Some systems may also allow for AC charging from the electrical grid; however, they are not intended to be fully grid dependent. Solar generators offer renewable energy alternatives to fossil-fueled generators for powering households and businesses in energy-constrained settings.

The 2025 Global LEAP Awards Solar Generator Competition is managed and operated by CLASP and funded by ZE-Gen. ZE-Gen is a collaborative initiative by The Carbon Trust and Innovate UK, with funding from the IKEA Foundation and the UK Government via the Transforming Energy Access platform.

The field evaluation component of the Competition entails installation and use of solar generators in approximately 20-30 homes, small businesses and institutions in peri-urban areas in Lagos State, Nigeria. Remote monitoring devices will be connected to the solar generators to measure, record and transmit key product performance data. Additionally, user information and feedback will be systematically collected to provide real-world insights about product design, usability and impacts.

CLASP is seeking a firm or consortium to lead the development and deployment of remote monitoring devices that measure and transmit performance data of solar generators for the field evaluation component of the Global LEAP Solar Generators Competition. The Remote Monitoring Partner (the “Partner”) will design/build custom Remote Monitoring System (RMS) hardware, adapt existing solutions, or procure off-the-shelf equipment capable of measuring, recording and transmitting key product performance data according to the requirements defined by CLASP. The Partner will then connect RMS devices to installed solar generators and ensure full functionality of the RMS, including accuracy and reliability of stored and transmitted data. The Partner will compile and analyze product performance data that shall be presented in an online platform and in formats that facilitate its use by the Competition judges.

CLASP will also contract a User Data Collection Partner that will be responsible for gathering and analyzing user information for the Competition’s field evaluations. The request for proposals for the User Data Collection Partner is available at this link. Interested and qualified applicants are welcome to submit proposals for both roles. Refer to the “Submittal” section, below, for additional information.

Contract Timeframe: January 2026 – December 2026

Deadline for Application: 12 December 2025

Application includes registering as an Implementation Partner and submitting the technical proposal as per the instructions below. If applicable, applicants may submit confirmation/evidence of a local partner in Nigeria by 26 December 2025.  This does not extend the application deadline.

Deadline for Questions: 05 December 2025

All questions must be written in English and submitted by email to globalleap@efficiencyforaccess.org

The Partner will be responsible for the timely and successful execution of the following work for the development and implementation of field evaluations for the Global LEAP Solar Generators Competition. All activities and tasks must be conducted in close consultation with CLASP.

Task 1: Field evaluation design support 

• Review and provide feedback on the draft protocol for remote monitoring of solar generators; The guidance document clarifying the exact metrics to be monitored is under development and will be adapted for the winning bidder and provided for review at the start of the contract. Refer to the RMS section below, which describes the general expectations for monitoring.

• Develop and deliver training program and resources for the Partner’s RMS field technician(s) who will be responsible for installation, field-based troubleshooting and/or repairs, and decommissioning of RMS units.

Task 2: Remote Monitoring System (RMS) design and development 

• Design and fabricate a prototype RMS device that meets the measurement and data transmission requirements specified in the remote monitoring protocol

• Set up a secure online platform that aggregates and presents data transmitted by RMS units, which is accessible to Competition administrators and judges

• Conduct field-based beta testing to confirm RMS measurement accuracy and reliable data acquisition, and to ensure consistent data transmission to the online platform

• Deliver RMS devices that meet the Competition’s needs for monitoring solar generator performance, as validated via beta testing and approval by CLASP

Task 3: System deployment, collection and remote monitoring 

• Support deployment and installation of solar generators, as well as user guidance for field evaluations in collaboration with CLASP and Competition nominees

• Install, configure and activate RMS units connected to all solar generators evaluated for the Competition

• Confirm RMS data transmission to the online platform and validate measurement accuracy

• Troubleshoot and repair instances of offline or malfunctioning RMS units, with a response time to be established with CLASP at the contracting stage

• Remove RMS units at the conclusion of field evaluations and transfer hardware to CLASP

• Support CLASP and Competition nominees for return of solar generator units used for field evaluation

Task 4: Data analysis 

• Compile and clean data collected from RMS units, ensuring data integrity, completeness, and alignment with the evaluation framework

• Organize and analyze RMS data in a secure web-based platform, using formats convenient for use by Competition judges

• Ad-hoc support for analysis and interpretation of RMS data by CLASP and Competition judges

• Deliver a memo no more than 20 pages, which summarizes lessons learned and recommendations based on experiences and outcomes from remote system monitoring for the Competition

The performance of solar generators deployed for field evaluation will be monitored to provide comparable data about system functionality. The Global LEAP Competition will use system performance data in combination with information submitted by manufacturers, laboratory testing, and user feedback to identify best-in-class solar generators.

Remote monitoring systems connected to solar generators will measure key performance parameters, automatically store data locally, and regularly transmit data to an cloud-based online platform. The RMS will measure input voltage and current from PV modules and from the AC grid (if applicable), as well as the current and voltage at the solar generator’s output ports (AC and DC, if applicable). Monitoring and evaluating the electrical inputs and outputs of deployed solar generators allows Competition judges to understand if products deliver reliable energy under real-world conditions such as low/no solar irradiance, unavailable/unstable AC grid, and diverse load profiles from common domestic appliances.

RMS units appropriate for the Competition must meet the following requirements:

• Measures voltage and current at the precision, accuracy and interval agreed upon with CLASP; The RMS shall be capable of measuring voltage and current up to the following expected limits:

• PV array DC input maximum: 120 A, 700 V DC

• Electrical grid AC input maximum: 120 A, 300 V AC

• Solar generator DC output maximum: 50 A, 50 V DC

• Solar generator AC output maximum: 120 A, 300 V AC

• Stores data locally at a frequency specified by CLASP, with capacity for storing at least 3 months of data

• Transmits data to an online platform with cloud storage at least every 24 hours

• Easily connects to a diverse set of solar generator models and configurations

• No hard-wired connections to the solar generator’s internal circuitry

• Does not require user interaction, and does not impact the user experience

• Does not impact solar generator performance; RMS should not be powered by the solar generator

• Continues operating during grid outages; RMS should not be powered directly by the local electrical grid

The Partner shall work under the supervision of CLASP, and produce deliverables on the timeline summarized below.

The selected Partner must be an established firm or a consortium of individuals that has a strong track record of technical, operational and analytical expertise relevant to the scope of work described above. The Partner must demonstrate the capacity to provide remote monitoring hardware that meets the Competition’s needs, either through design and fabrication of custom units, modification of preconfigured hardware, or sourcing commercially-available devices. The Partner shall have a strong record of providing online data aggregation services, as well as the ability to analyze, interpret and report technical data for practical use by diverse stakeholders.

Technical Expertise 

• Experience designing, developing and deploying remote monitoring systems (RMS) for off-grid PV and grid-connected energy systems with battery storage

• Background in sensor-based data acquisition systems and IoT, including hardware-software integration and wireless data transmission

• Demonstrated capacity to develop and manage secure, cloud-based data aggregation platforms and dashboards for remote system monitoring

• At least one contributing member of the firm or consortium should have an advanced degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or related discipline

Field Implementation and Operations 

• Demonstrated ability to design, plan, coordinate and execute field evaluation protocols in remote and underdeveloped settings

• Experience training and managing field technicians for installation, troubleshooting and decommissioning of RMS

• Capacity to promptly respond to requests for remote and on-the-ground technical support, including the ability to dispatch technicians to RMS units installed in Nigeria during the period of field evaluations (the cost of technicians, whether in-house or subcontracted, is the responsibility of the Partner)

Data Analysis and Reporting 

• Experience processing electrical data from energy systems, including data validation, analysis, visualization and ensuring data quality

• Proven capacity to prepare technical reports and analytical outputs, and to convey technical content to non-specialist stakeholders

Project Management and Collaboration 

• Demonstrated ability to design, plan, coordinate and execute field evaluation protocols in remote and underdeveloped settings

• Record of delivering RMS hardware, software and related services to time-sensitive projects in coordination with international partners

• Excellent communication and coordination skills, including experience working remotely with international organizations

Register as a Consulting Partner

Interested parties must register as a CLASP Consulting Partner

Submit Technical and Financial Proposals

Interested parties should submit separate technical and financial proposals electronically, in English, via this form link (preferably in PDF format). The files should be named as per the following example:

[CONTRACTOR_NAME] _Technical Proposal_ RFP YYYY-MM-DD

[CONTRACTOR_NAME] _Financial Proposal_ RFP YYYY-MM-DD

The length of the technical proposal should not exceed 20 pages and should include:

• Summary of the approach and methodology for the design, implementation, and management of the project

• To the degree possible, provide information regarding the RMS equipment to be used for this project, acknowledging that details may change once the remote monitoring protocol is finalized

• Proposed timeline for all  tasks, milestones, and deliverables for the project within the timeframe indicated above

• Background and experience of conducting similar activities

• A summary of qualifications and experience of key personnel that will execute the project

The financial proposal (in USD) should include a detailed budget with all direct and indirect cost estimates for executing the project, including a breakdown (in days) of the level of effort and costs associated with each team member that will be engaged in the project.

CVs and related summaries of experience and qualifications of proposed project team staff should be included in an Annex and should not exceed 10 pages.

Applicants proposing to serve as both the Remote Monitoring Partner and the User Data Collection Partner should explain in their technical proposal the benefits and synergies of integrating these functions into a single assignment. The financial proposal should present the budget solely for the Remote Monitoring Partner tasks, as well as a separate budget for carrying out both roles that reflects any resulting efficiency gains and cost savings.

Optional At This Stage – Fill Out Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) 

All contractors must fill out the PQQ before working with CLASP. This can be voluntarily completed at the RFP stage but will be mandatory if a contract is awarded.

The PQQ is a thorough due diligence screening aimed at gathering legal and financial information on prospective partners/vendors. Contract awards are conditional upon passing the due diligence screening. Organizations that have already completed the PQQ do not need to complete it again unless the structure of the business has changed. If you are unsure, please email Andrea Testa (atesta@clasp.ngo) to determine next steps.

A committee appointed by CLASP will evaluate proposals received. Selection of qualified companies or organizations will be based upon the following criteria:

• Technical Evaluation Factors

• Financial Evaluation Factors

All bids will be evaluated and ranked using Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS), with 80 percent of the score according to the technical proposal, and 20 percent to the financial proposal. The detailed evaluation criteria can be found in Annex A.