The Bahrain International Circuit, which hosts the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix, has announced the launch of an international public tender for a solar carport project at the circuit.

The tender was floated in partnership with Bahrain’s Sustainable Energy Authority. The last date for submission of bids is June 9, 2021.

A request for proposal has been issued via the government tender board for the project to be constructed on a ‘build, own, operate, and maintain’ basis. The grid-tied solar photovoltaic carport project is of a minimum 3 MW capacity. The winning bidders will enter a 20-year contract period.

Prospective bidders will pay an initial bond of 5,000 BHD (~$13,264), valid for 180 days, and a tender fee of 100 BHD (~$265).

Bidders are requested to enclose with their bids the initial bond for the amount specified above or at the rate of 1% of the tender value, whichever is lesser, provided that no initial bond’s value is less than 100 BHD (~$265), except for the two envelope tenders.

For two envelope tenders, bidders must enclose the initial bond of 5,000 BHD (~$13,264). The initial bond should be in the form of a certified cheque, bank guarantee, insurance policy, or cash valid for 180 days.

Bidders are expected to enclose a copy of a valid commercial registration certificate in line with the tender’s subject and a copy of a valid certificate of compliance with the employment percentages for Bahraini manpower.

Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) are eligible to obtain 10% preference in the financial evaluation stage when submitting the ‘SMEs Classification Certificate’ during bidding for this tender. The certificate is awarded by the Ministry of Industry Commerce and Tourism to the SMEs and can be obtained when applying on the SMEs registration system. Vendors must be registered on the tender board’s e­-tendering system.

The new project is expected to deliver enough energy to power the entire Formula 1 race weekend. It supports Bahrain’s commitment to increase renewable energy use in the country and Formula 1’s plan to have net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. The plans will reduce the venue’s carbon footprint and generate significant savings on overall energy costs.

In June last year, Maruti Suzuki India Limited announced that it had commissioned a 5 MW solar carport project in Gurugram.

One of India’s largest rooftop solar carport has been developed at Cochin International Airport by Tata Power Solar. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation also has a multi-level rooftop solar carport set up at Unity One Mall in Rohini, Delhi.