Central Electronics Limited (CEL), a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Science and Technology, has invited bids for the design, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of decentralized solar systems ranging from 2 MW to 10 MW for a cumulative capacity of 25 MW at various substations in Maharashtra.

The successful bidder will also have to take care of the project’s operations and maintenance for 12 years.

The bids can be offered for the projects in two lots – Lot-A (14 MW) and Lot-F (11 MW). The districts where the substations for these projects are located include Washim, Buldhana, and Sangli.

The last date to submit the bids is January 19, 2022. Bids will be opened on the same day.

To bid for projects in Lot-A, bidders must have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹187 million (~$2.51 million) in the last three consecutive financial years. For Lot-F, bidders must have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹147 million (~$1.97 million) in the last three financial years.

The combined average annual turnover for both the lots applied for by the bidders will be considered for evaluation.

Bidders should have designed, supplied, installed, and commissioned a cumulative capacity of 5 MW of grid-connected solar power projects for any government agency, public sector undertaking, registered cooperative society, or private companies in the last five years as of the bid submission date. Out of the total capacity, at least one project should be of 1 MW or higher capacity and should have been installed at a single location.

They must submit a solvency certificate or creditworthiness of ₹50 million (~$670,330) from any nationalized or scheduled commercial bank.

The site and capacity will be allocated to the contractor as per the availability of sites and capacity. However, if there is a change of location to another state, the differential transportation charges will be considered and paid to the contractor.

The solar modules to be used in the projects should be warranted for peak wattage output, which should in no case be less than 90% at the end of ten years, and 80% at the end of 25 years.

If the contractor fails to commission the project beyond 90 days from the commercial operation date, CEL reserves the right to terminate the contract.

Last October, CEL invited bids for the supply, construction, testing, and commissioning of 147 MW (in 11 lots) of decentralized solar systems of capacity 2 MW to 10 MW at various substations in Maharashtra.

Earlier, CEL had invited expressions of interest to empanel engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors to develop 200 MW of solar projects anywhere in India.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, CEL has so far floated tenders for about 302 MW of solar power projects.