The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has invited bids for comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) of a 2 MW of rooftop solar project for three years at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (NSCBI) in Kolkata. The estimated cost of the project is ₹9.96 million (~$134,022).

The last date to submit the bids is May 15, 2021. The bids will be opened on May 17, 2021.

To participate in the bidding process, the bidder should have completed three similar works, each of ₹1.45 million (~$19,511) or two works of ₹1.81 million (~$24,355) each, or one work of ₹2.89 million (~$38,888) in a single contract of capacity not less than 1.5 MW for a rooftop or ground-mounted project in the last seven years.

As per the tender documents, the value of the executed works will be brought to the current costing level by enhancing the actual value of work at the simple rate of 7% per annum. This will be calculated from the date when the bid is submitted to the date the project is completed.

To qualify for the bidding, the bidder’s average financial turnover should be ₹921,000 (~$12,393) against the works executed during the last three years ending March 31 of the last financial year. Also, the bidder’s net worth should be at least ₹460,500 (~$6,196).

Purchase preference will be given to central public sector undertakings, and concessions will be provided to Indian micro-and-small enterprises.

The Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata also commissioned a 15 MW solar project at the end of 2017. The 15 MW solar project was tendered in 2015 and Sterling & Wilson won the engineering procurement and construction contract. Before the installation of this 15 MW ground-mounted project, Vikram Solar had commissioned the 2 MW rooftop solar project.

Earlier, AAI had issued a notice inviting tender from contractors for the operation and annual comprehensive maintenance of a 300 kW solar project. The tender was for three years, with the project located in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, AAI has issued tenders for over 102.1 MW of rooftop solar systems as of March 31, 2021.