Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has invited bids to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with vendors for procuring multicrystalline and monocrystalline passivated emitter and rear cells (PERC) cells for manufacturing solar modules to meet the annual capacity of 200 MW.

The cells should be 5 busbar in length and 156.75 ± 0.5 x 156.75 ± 0.5 or 158.75 ± 0.5 x 158.75 ± 0.5 mm in dimension. The thickness of the cells should be 200 ± 20 microns. The diagonal variation of the solar cells should not be more than 0.5 mm. The power output of the multicrystalline solar cells should be 4.67 W, and the power output for the mono PERC solar cells should be 5.37 W.

The last date to submit the bids is August 16, 2021.

The solar cells should be delivered at the rate of 15 MW (equivalent number of cells) every 30 days from the date of the purchase order. The cells must be free of cracks, holes, cuts, edge chipping, missing gridlines, patches, spots, marks, and mechanical damage. Also, the cells should have a homogeneous silver nitride coating.

Preference will be given to indigenous vendors under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

BHEL has stated that 25% of the tendered quantity has been reserved for micro and small enterprise (MSE) suppliers. Out of the 25% tendered quantity reserved for MSE suppliers, 6.25% has been earmarked for procurement by MSEs owned by Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe entrepreneurs, and 3% has been reserved for women-owned MSEs.

If the MSE vendor participating in the tender quotes within the price band of lowest (L1) + 15%, he will be allowed to supply 25% of the requirement subject to the acceptance of the L1 price.

To participate in the bidding process, the bidder should have a minimum of 200 MW/annum of in-house crystalline silicon solar cell manufacturing capacity. The bidder should have supplied at least one million crystalline solar cells to Indian module manufacturers or module manufacturers from other than the country of origin of the vendor during the last two years.

As per the tender document, 98% of the price of materials supplied along with 100% taxes and duties and freight charges will be paid on a pro-rata basis within 45 days from the date of receipt of goods. For imports, 100% of the price of materials supplied will be paid within 45 days from the date of the airway bill.

In April this year, BHEL invited bids for the supply of 750 MW of monocrystalline silicon solar modules to be used in the 500 MW Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited’s solar park at Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh.

Earlier, BHEL had invited bids for the supply of 18,000 monocrystalline passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) cells, 5BB (busbars) of 5.62 W output, and 18,000 multicrystalline solar cells, 5BB of 4.72 W output.

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