REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
Reference:
Source:
Publish Date:
Closing Date:
Request for Information: Solar refrigerators/freezers for Cold Chain Systems
UNICEF Supplies and Logistics
March 31, 2015
April 30, 2015
Summary
UNICEF has been involved in access to essential vaccines for decades. In line with Good Distribution Practice
(GDP) for health products including vaccines, UNICEF and partners are striving to protect the potency of time
and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products by advocating for quality assurance systems which
ensure that products are consistently stored, transported and handled under suitable conditions as required
by the product specification and/or marketing authorisation.
Together with partners, UNICEF has identified significant opportunities in expanding the Cold Chain through
the application of solar refrigeration technology at various tiers in the supply chain. With this Request for
Information, UNICEF Supply Division seeks information about appropriate existing and new technological
developments suitable for solar powered vaccine refrigerators and freezers, regardless of its status under
the WHO prequalification mechanism for this product category. We therefore invite industry, academia and
other interested parties to respond to this Request for Information.
Background
As an organisation, UNICEF strives to realize the rights of all children by emphasizing equity. Working with
the World Health Organization and others, UNICEF supports countries to counter preventable child deaths
with lifesaving interventions. These interventions include, among others, scaling access to routine
vaccination, support eradication of polio, and in general, support global strategies to introduce new and
underutilised vaccines to ensure equity in protecting children from preventable diseases. Significant
resources made available through global funding opportunities, including the GAVI Alliance and the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation, will drive these initiatives in the decade to come. These interventions will increase
pressures on supply chains not only to reach the most disadvantaged or excluded, but also to protect the
integrity of product quality from source to destination to avoid waste and/or harm.
Solar powered refrigerator/freezer is an area of critical importance as it significantly contribute to equity
through availing potent vaccine to remote and mostly hard to reach populations. This technology proved its
suitability not only for routine immunization programs but also emergency situations. There are currently
two types of technologies which are being used to power solar refrigerators as per WHO/PQS (Performance,
Quality and Safety) standard, these are Solar Battery Powered refrigerators and freezers and Solar Direct
Drive refrigerators and freezers. End users for this technology are mostly front line health workers who are
responsible to provide immunization service to the community.
The current UNICEF product portfolio is based on technologies prequalified under the WHO PQS mechanism,
and includes various sizes and technology of solar powered refrigerators such as Solar Battery Drive
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Refrigerators and Solar Direct Driver refrigerators. Refer to the most recent edition of the WHO PQS
catalogue.
Challenges in solar refrigeration
UNICEF supports countries beyond the initial procurement of Cold Chain equipment. As such there are a
number of challenges:
a) Identifying robust technology solutions that are appropriate for resource-limited settings.
b) Ensuring vaccine potency by deploying freeze- protection technology, controlling temperature
excursions and enabling rapid response to undesirable conditions, e.g. when excursions occur;
c) Ensuring that proper installation and commissioning is done with minimal expertise.
d) Conducting routine maintenance on timely basis by user who are most of the time a frontline
health workers.
e) Training on preventive and corrective maintenance of equipment.
Preferred Technology Requirements
In order to address the above challenges, UNICEF is interested in a spectrum of solar powered refrigeration
technologies. Innovative systems from other branches of industry are also of interest, specifically those that
rely on temperature controlled supply chains. Proposed solutions will be evaluated against these criteria:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
To what extent does the proposed solution address the above challenges?
To what extent does the proposed solution yield an optimum result at minimum cost and effort?
To what extent does the proposed solution meet the requirements for resource-limited settings?
Does the proposed solution have a long life span without excessive need for maintenance?
What are the requirements for maintenance and training, associated with the proposed solution?
What are other requirements that the consumer should be aware of, to ensure full functionality of
the proposed solution?
g) Describe the cost implications and complexity of installation and routine use of the proposed
solution.
Submissions
If you have an existing, new or emerging Solar powered refrigerator technology that has the potential to
strengthen the Cold Chain System supporting immunisation in resource limited settings, then we would like
to hear about it. You are encouraged to indicate any ongoing studies and research in this field, in which your
organisation or firm is involved, even if results may not yet be available. However, ideally, proof of concept
should be established. Technologies from other branches that could fit the profile could also be reported.
Submit your information, on or before the closing date, to the email address given below, with ‘RFI Solar
Powered Refrigerator/freezer’ in the subject line. Kindly include the following information:
a) Name of submitting entity;
b) Name and contact details of focal point;
c) Description (and visuals, if available) of the proposed solution(s), its developmental stage and how
it meets the requirements outlined above;
d) Indicative cost indication; and
e) Permission that the submission may be made public.
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Briefly describe to what extent the proposed solution meets the WHO minimum requirements, as per the
WHO PQS catalogue, irrespective of whether the solution is WHO prequalified or not.
A summary of the results from this RFI will be published in the public domain and may be presented at
meetings. Any information considered confidential should be marked as such. Submissions must be made by
email. Questions can be directed to the persons below. Responses to questions may be shared publicly.
Submissions and question to:
Questions can also be directed to:
Annika Salovaara
Health Technology Centre
UNICEF Supply Division
Oceanvej 10-12
2150 Nordhavn
Copenhagen, Denmark
http://www.unicef.org/supply
asalovaara@unicef.org
Dereje Haile
Health Technology Centre
UNICEF Supply Division
Oceanvej 10-12
2150 Nordhavn
Copenhagen, Denmark
http://www.unicef.org/supply
dhaile@unicef.org
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