As it is more efficient and cost-effective if internationally accepted measures are adopted where appropriate, the World Bank staff is encouraged to inform partner countries undertaking PV projects that procurement specifications for procuring PV components, products or systems for use in Bank-assisted projects should comply with at least one or more of the following as determined by the Bank’s procurement advisors:
(a) Photovoltaic quality labeling programs such as the Global Approval Program for Photovoltaics (PV GAP), which provides a PV Quality Certificate and also a PV Quality Mark or Seal, a visible label observable by an acceptance interest, such as the user, the purchaser, the installer, the World Bank, a local certification officer, etc. attesting to a product’s quality;
(b) The relevant international consensus standards issued by IEC, ISO, or similar standards of standards development organizations with international standing, or PVRS specifications issued by PV GAP when international consensus standards are not available;
(c) A Conformity Assessment Certificate (CAC) issued by IECEE-PV; or in the absence of (a), (b) or (c),
(d) The appropriate National-level Standards or project-level procurement specification as deemed appropriate by the responsible local authorities.
The latter three are applicable especially for bulk procurements rather than in helping consumers to judge the quality of a product directly by referencing a visible mark or seal on the product in question.
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