The Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has invited online bids for the installation of grid-connected rooftop solar projects under the capital expenditure (CAPEX) model across government buildings at various locations in Uttar Pradesh.

The pre-bid meeting will be held on June 17, 2021, and the last date for submission of bids is June 25, 2021; technical bids will be opened on the same day.

The contract includes a comprehensive five-year maintenance warranty for installations in the 10 kW to 100 kW range; the tentative rooftop solar capacity to be installed is 5 MW, which may vary depending upon the demand from various sources.

Once prospective bidders are selected, an agreement based on the rate contract, valid for 12 months, would be entered. The work must be completed within four months from the date of award of work or as specified by UPNEDA.

As per the Ministry of Finance guidelines, bidders do not have to submit an earnest money deposit but must submit a notarized bid security declaration in the prescribed format. Eligible bidders include firms registered under the Companies Act, 1956/2013, a registered partnership or a limited liability partnership, and system integrators.

The net worth of eligible bidders on the last day of the preceding financial year (2019-20) must not be less than 100% of the paid-up share capital.

Bidders must have a valid test report of the complete system and its various components issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories-accredited test lab.

The modules used in the project should be sourced only from the models and manufacturers included in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers as published by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

The eligible bidders’ financial turnover (an individual company’s turnover and not that of any group of companies) in the last three financial years (FY 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20) should be at least 30% of the estimated cost.

If the date of the incorporation of the original equipment manufacturer is less than three years, the average turnover in respect of the completed financial years after the date of incorporation would be taken into account to consider eligibility.

Only those bidders who have continuously supplied and installed the same or similar products for 30% of the bid quantity to central or state government organizations (including local body or autonomous institutions working under it), public sector undertakings, or public listed company, in the last three financial years (2017-18, 2018- 2019,2019-2020), before the bid opening date would be considered eligible.

In March 2021, UPNEDA had floated tenders to empanel agencies for 18 MW of captive grid-interactive rooftop solar projects to be set up at government buildings in the state.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, including the latest tender, UPNEDA has so far floated tenders amounting to 153.6 MW for rooftop solar installations.