Manipur State Power Distribution Company (MSPDCL) has invited bids to empanel vendors to install 1 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar systems of various capacities on residential buildings under Phase-II of the Rooftop Solar Program of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

The rooftop systems will be installed in the operational areas of the distribution company.

The successful bidder must take care of the project’s comprehensive operation and maintenance activities for five years.

The last date to submit the bids online is June 30, 2022. Bids will be opened the following day.

The bidder should furnish the performance bank guarantee (PBG) for installation and commissioning based on the allocated capacity.

PBG amount = INR [Amount (cost discovered)] Lakhs X 3% X Allocated Capacity in MW.

The bidding process under the program is for 1 MW comprising of Part A, B, and C

• Under Part-A (1 to 3 kW – total capacity of 400 kW), the bidder can apply for a minimum aggregate capacity of 40 kW and a maximum of 80 kW
• Under Part-B (Above 3 to 10 kW – aggregate capacity of 500 kW), the bidder can apply for a minimum aggregate capacity of 50 kW and a maximum of 100 kW
• Under Part-C (Above 10 to 100 kW – total capacity of 100 kW), the bidder can apply for the minimum aggregate capacity of 10 kW and a maximum of 20 kW

The project must be completed within 12 months from the date of issuance of the allocation letter.

The MNRE will provide central financial assistance (CFA) up to 40 % for rooftop solar systems up to 3 kW capacity. For rooftop systems of capacity above 3 kW and up to 10 kW, the CFA of 40% would be applicable only for the first 3 kW capacity, and for capacity above 3 kW, it would be 20%.

For group housing societies or residential welfare associations, CFA will be limited to 20% for installing the rooftop system to supply power to common facilities. The capacity eligible for CFA will be limited to 10 kW per house.

Bidders must quote the price for the solar systems based on the benchmark cost provided by MNRE.

They should have designed, supplied, installed, and commissioned grid-connected solar power projects having an aggregate capacity not less than 250 kW, which should have been commissioned before the submission of bids.

Bidders without minimum prior experience installing grid-connected solar power projects will not be allowed to submit price bids.

Bidders must have an average annual turnover of the bidder of at least ₹15,000 (~$191.85)/kW of the capacity offered in any of the last three financial years preceding the bid submission deadline. Their net worth should be equal to or greater than ₹5,000 (~$63.95)/kW of capacity offered in the bid.

Solar modules with a minimum capacity of 250 W should be used for the project, and their efficiency should be at least 16%.

In June last year, the Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency invited bids to set up a 50 MW grid-connected solar project at Jiribam in Manipur. The ceiling tariff for the project was set at ₹3 (~$0.041)/kWh.

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