The vendors for this project have been chosen based on stringent requirements. Currently, the SoUL project has five vendors who supply SoUL kits. They are selected through a formal tendering process as per norms.
In July 2013, a tender was floated where a draft request for Proposal (DRFP) was advertised in English and Hindi newspapers. On the closing day of the tender, financial bids were opened and the lowest bids (Cost of the lamp fixed at Rs. 350) were selected under the Annual Rate Contract (ARC). In this first phase of tendering, three vendors were selected.
1. Thrive Solar Energy Pvt. Ltd.
Located in Hyderabad, Thrive Solar Energy Pvt. Ltd. supplies SoUL kits to BAIF Development Research Foundation, Watershed Organization Trust (WOTR) in Maharashtra and to Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), Ashagram, BAIF and Sahjeevan in Madhya Pradesh.
2. Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd.
Located in Bangalore, Tata Power Solar Systems Ltd. supplies SoUL kits to Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) in Rajasthan.
3. Sirius Solar Energy Systems Pvt. Ltd.
Located in Hyderabad, Sirius Solar Energy Systems Pvt. Ltd. supplies SoUL kits to the Centre for Advanced Research in Development (CARD), Gramin Vikas Trust (GVT) in Madhya Pradesh, Harsha Trust in Orissa, BAIF Development Research Foundation and GVT in Rajasthan.
In a second tendering process that took place in May 2014, two more vendors were selected for the supply of SoUL kits.
Located in New Delhi and Haridwar, Gautam Solar Ltd. supplies SoUL kits to BAIF Development Research Foundation and GVT in Rajasthan.