The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) has invited bids to empanel installers to set up 50 MW of grid-connected residential rooftop solar projects in its jurisdiction under Phase-II of the Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar Program of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

The last date to submit bids is February 16, 2022. Bids will be opened on February 18. The pre-bid meeting will take place on January 31.

The company invited bids under four categories. The rooftop solar capacity under Category A is 1 kW to 3 kW. For categories B and C, the capacity is above 3 kW to 10 kW and above 10 kW to 100 kW, respectively. The capacity for category D is 100 kW to 500 kW.

To encourage the rooftop solar systems installation across all areas in BESCOM jurisdiction, the capacity allocation of 50 MW is divided among three lots. Lot-1 consists of 30 MW to be installed in Bangalore North and South (only in Bangalore city). Lot-2 includes 10 MW in Bangalore rural areas of Ramanagar, Chikkaballapura, and Kolar districts. Lot-3 of 10 MW is to be installed in Chitradurga, Tumkur, and Davanagere districts.

The minimum bid capacity for a general category bidder is 1,000 kW, and for micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) bidder is 500 kW.

Bidders need to submit ₹554,000 (~$7,443)/MW as an earnest money deposit. The successful bidder must also submit a performance bank guarantee worth the cost discovered/kW*5%*allocated capacity within 15 days from the date of issue of the letter of award.

The scope of work includes the design, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of grid-connected rooftop solar capacity under the capital expenditure (CAPEX) model. After commissioning these systems, the successful bidders must also provide comprehensive operation and maintenance services for five years.

To participate in the competitive bidding process, bidders must have commissioned at least 30% of the minimum bid capacity as an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor in the last five years, and their EPC works should not be of less than ₹10 million (~$134,321).

Bidders’ annual turnover should not be less than ₹15 million (~$201,522) in the last five financial years. Their liquidated asset must not be less than ₹1.87 million (~$25,122) before the date of bid submission. For micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME), their annual turnover should not be less than ₹7.5 million (~$100,736) in the last five financial years.

The successful bidders should commission the projects within six months from the allocation or 15 months from the MNRE approval, whichever is earlier.

BESCOM said rooftop solar installations of up to 3 kW would qualify for a 40% subsidy. Installations from 3 kW to 10 kW will get a subsidy of 40% for the first 3 kW and 20% for the remaining capacity. Central financial assistance (CFA) will be restricted to 20% for common facilities up to 500 kW for group housing societies and residential welfare associations.

In 2020, BESCOM invited expression of interest for empaneled agencies to design, supply, install, and commission 30 MW of rooftop solar grid-connected power projects in Bengaluru.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, BESCOM has issued tenders for 10.7 MW of rooftop solar capacity to date.