Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has invited bids for the supply of 1.046 million monocrystalline passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC) solar cells.

The solar cell should be five busbars in length and 158.75 ± 0.5 x 158.75 ± 0.5 mm in dimension. They must have a thickness of 200 ± 20 microns with a wattage of ≥5.54Wp.

The last date to submit the bids is October 27, 2022. Bids will be opened on the same day.

The cells should be without visual defects, edge chips, cracks, or deep scratches. There should be no printing defects or misalignment of busbars on either surface. The cells should have a homogenous silicon nitride coating, and there should not be any color variations.

The cells should be delivered in a single lot within 45 days from the date of manufacturing clearance.

The offer must be quoted by the original solar cell manufacturers. An authorized channel partner can also submit an offer on behalf of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM); however, the credentials of the OEM will be considered for evaluation. If the offer is submitted by both OEM and the authorized channel partner, only the bid of OEM will be considered for further evaluation.

The OEM should have a minimum of 1.5 million solar cells (mono PERC) per annum production capacity. The OEM should have supplied 500,000 mono PERC solar cells to a reputed solar module manufacturer in the last three years.

The OEM should have an established quality assurance system implemented and be certified against ISO:9001:2015. It should have a well-established in-house laboratory and testing facility with the required workforce to perform routine in-process and finished product testing.

The minimum average annual turnover of bidders during the last three financial years should be at least ₹24 million (~$291,684).

If the vendor fails to deliver the total quantity within the stipulated period, they will have to pay liquidated damages equivalent to 0.5% of the undelivered portion per week, subject to a maximum of 10% of the total contract price.

Micro and small enterprise (MSE) vendors quoting within the lowest price band (L1) + 15% will be allowed to supply 25% of the requirement subject to the acceptance of the L1 price. If the L1 bidder is not an MSE, all the MSE vendors who quote within L1 + 15% will be allowed to match the L1 price.

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% for women-owned MSEs.

In August this year, BHEL floated a tender for the supply of 2,860,000 mono PERC solar cells.

Earlier, BHEL had invited bids for the supply of 10.27 million mono PERC solar cells with a wattage output of 5.38 W.

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