Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), a government undertaking, has invited bids for the supply of 6,568,000 multicrystalline and monocrystalline passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) solar cells.

The bids are restricted to domestic manufacturers.

The scope of work includes the supply of 6,480,000 multicrystalline solar cells 5BB (busbars) 157 mm in dimension and 4.72 W, 60,000 multicrystalline solar cells 5BB of 157 mm and 4.67 W, 10,000 solar cells 5BB of 157 mm and 4.62 W.

Similarly, the successful bidder should supply 14,400 mono PERC solar cells 5BB of 158.75 mm2 and 5.62 W, 2,664 mono PERC solar cells 5BB of 158.75 mm2 and 5.44 W, and 936 mono PERC solar cells 5BB 158.75 mm2 and 5.27 W.

The last date to submit the bids is December 31, 2020, and the opening of bids will also take place on the same day.  There is no requirement for the bidder to submit an earnest money deposit (EMD) for the tender.  Any bidder from a country that shares a land border with India will be considered eligible to participate in the tender only if the bidder is registered with the competent authority.

As per the tender document, preference will be given to bids from local vendors, and offers of local vendors with less than the minimum local content of 20% will not be considered for the tender.

Benefits and facilities applicable to micro and small enterprises (MSEs) will be available. Out of the 25% purchase preference for MSEs, 3% will be reserved for women-owned MSEs. Out of the 25%, 25% (6.25% of the total) will be earmarked for SC/ST owned MSE firms.

The bidder’s minimum average annual financial turnover during the last three financial years should be at least ₹30 million (~$406,172).

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, BHEL has floated tenders for 24,322,000 solar photovoltaic cells as of November 2020.

Recently, BHEL floated a tender for the supply of 18,000 monocrystalline PERC solar cells. Earlier, it also invited bids for the supply of 286,000 multicrystalline PV cells.

Previously, Mercom reported that BHEL had invited bids to manufacture and supply 12 million solar cells. The tender was open to both international and domestic manufacturers.