Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has issued a tender for the supply of 145.54 metric tons (MT) of module mounting structures for its 5 MW solar project in Bhopal.

The module mounting structure supply quantities must comprise of columns, rafters, purlins, bracings, sag angles, SMB angles, earthing strips, purlin splice, purlin cleat, column plates, and column splice. They must have a varying thickness from 1.6 millimeters to 6 millimeters and different quantities as per design requirements.

The last date to submit the bid is May 3, 2022. Bids will be opened on the same day.

Bidders do not have to pay any tender fee or earnest money deposit amount for this tender.

The successful bidders are required to submit a performance bank guarantee (PBG) of 10% of the contract value within ten days of the issuance of the letter of award (LoA) only if the total contract value is above ₹2.5 million (~$32,637). Contract values lesser than that will not attract PBG charges.

Vendors must offer one module mounting structure table prototype within ten days of BHEL providing the complete drawings. The final drawing must be issued after prototype approval, after which the mass manufacturing must begin. The vendor has to deliver the material within four weeks from the issue of mass manufacturing clearance of the final drawings.

The module mounting structures must be supplied per the drawings approved by BHEL. For galvanization, the structures must be hot-dip galvanized with an average coating thickness to be a minimum of 80 microns, and local coating thickness shall be a minimum of 70 microns for protection against corrosion. For steel sections with thickness above five millimeters, the minimum galvanization thickness should confirm IS-4759, which is hot-dip zinc coatings on structural steel and other allied products.

The supplied module mounting structures will be warranted for a minimum of 18 months from the date of supply.

To be eligible for the fabrication capacity, bidders must be manufacturers with an in-house cold forming facility with a minimum capacity of 145 MT per month for profiles listed by BHEL. They must provide the capacity proof for any one month within the past three years showing a minimum of 145 MT per month. For a hot-dip galvanization facility, bidders must have either an in-house galvanization facility or have a hot-dip galvanization facility in one of its subsidiary companies or have a tie-up with another company for hot-dip galvanization works.

Bidders must have an average annual turnover of ₹5.25 million (~$68,538) or more during the last three financial years, and they must have a positive net worth.

If the vendor fails to deliver the structures within the stipulated time, they will be charged liquidated damages equivalent to 0.5% of the total contract price per week. This will be subject to a maximum of 10% of the total contract price, excluding elements of taxes, duties, and freight., if the vendor fails to deliver the structures even after that.

Previously, BHEL had invited bids from original equipment manufacturers to enter into a memorandum of understanding to supply 42,000 MT of MMS.

Last May, BHEL invited bids for the supply of 2,250 MT of MMS (3mm and above) for the 500 MW solar project at Neemuch Solar Park in Madhya Pradesh.

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