Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL), a public sector undertaking has issued tenders for the operation and maintenance (O&M) work of solar projects aggregating 30 MW in the state of Gujarat.

This includes a 10 MW project for Gujarat State Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited (GSFC) and another 20 MW solar project for Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Limited (GACL) at Charanka in Gujarat.

In June 2018, BHEL had bagged orders worth ₹1.25 billion (~$0.019 billion) for the development of these two solar projects in the Gujarat Solar Park. Under the contract, BHEL was responsible for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of both the projects.

The last date for the submission of bids for this O&M tender is August 8, 2019.

The estimated cost is ₹38.3 million (~$0.55 million). Interested bidders will have to submit an amount of ₹0.77 million (~$0.01 million) as the earnest money deposit (EMD). The duration of work is five years from the date of site handover, which is likely to take place this month.

The tender states that interested bidders should have an average annual financial turnover of more than ₹7.7 million (~$0.11 million) in the last three financial years. Prospective bidder should also have carried out operation and maintenance work for a minimum cumulative capacity of 30 MW of solar projects or 100 MW of thermal power projects during the last seven years.

According to BHEL, the scope of work includes the specifications, drawings, cleaning, and removing all debris at the site. It also covers the supply of all materials, labor, and tools. Further, the facilities for drawing power and water required at the site for the execution of the work will also be arranged by the contractor at his expense and risk.

Recently, Mercom reported that BHEL had issued another operation and maintenance tender for rooftop and ground-mounted solar projects aggregating 1.42 MW at several locations of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in Assam.

Anjana is a news editor at Mercom India. Before joining Mercom, she held roles of senior editor, district correspondent, and sub-editor for The Times of India, Biospectrum and The Sunday Guardian. Before that, she worked at the Deccan Herald and the Asianlite as chief sub-editor and news editor. She has also contributed to The Quint, Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express, Reader’s Digest (UK edition), IndiaSe (Singapore-based magazine) and Asiaville. Anjana holds a Master’s degree in Geography from North Bengal University, and a diploma in mass communication and journalism from Guru Ghasidas University, Bhopal.