Solar on Schools - Expression of Interest
Tender Overview
About this tender
Overview The Ministry of Education (NZ) is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the Solar on Schools programme, which aims to install solar energy systems in schools nationwide. About The New Zealand Government's Solar on Schools programme was announced on 3 June 2026 as part of Budget 2026. It is a $30 million initiative aimed at installing solar energy systems in up to 500 schools nationwide over three years. The programme is delivered jointly by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and the Ministry of Education, combining $20 million from EECA's Community Renewable Energy Fund with $10 million from the Ministry. Schools selected for the programme will receive rooftop solar systems and, in some cases, battery storage, with around 150 schools also receiving energy management systems to help optimise energy use. Scope The EOI is split into two distinct but related parts: Planning and Design Delivery Instructions to Tenderers Tenderers may register for Planning and Design, Delivery, or both. The two services will be evaluated separately (Section 5) so that specialist planning and design firms and specialist installers are each assessed against the criteria relevant to their role. Further information is available within the tender documentation. Enquiries All contact is to be submitted via the GETS Question & Answer function.
How to respond to this tender
A strong tender response is clear, compliant, and backed by evidence. These steps apply to most Australian and New Zealand public tenders.
Read the requirements in full
Open the official listing and download the full tender pack. Note the response schedules, evaluation criteria, mandatory conditions, and the exact closing time and lodgement method.
Confirm you are eligible and it is worth bidding
Check licences, insurances, certifications, and any conformance requirements before you commit. A quick bid or no-bid decision saves days of wasted effort on a tender you cannot win.
Answer every criterion with evidence
Respond to each evaluation criterion directly and back your claims with concrete examples, referees, and past performance. Address the buyer’s stated need, not a generic capability statement.
Lodge early through the official portal
Submit through the source portal well before the deadline. Late or incorrectly lodged bids are almost always rejected, so leave time for uploads, portal errors, and last-minute questions.
