Agency for New & Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT) has invited bids for the solarization of 9,348 grid-connected agricultural pumps ranging from 2 kW to 150 kW under Component C of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) program in Kerala.

Under Component C of the KUSUM program, the government aims to solarize 1.5 million grid-connected agriculture pumps of individual capacity up to 7.5 HP by 2022.

The last date to submit bids is September 20, 2022. Bids will be opened on September 22.

The estimated cost of the tender is ₹2.4 billion (~$30.12 million). Bidders will have to pay ₹500,000 (~$6,275) as an earnest money deposit.

The successful bidder will have to furnish a sum equivalent to 3% of the value of the contract as a security deposit.

Most than 80% of the sites are located in Thrissur, Kasargod, Malappuram, Palakkad, and Ernakulam districts.

The supply, installation, and commissioning of the work allotted should be completed within two months of the date of supply order.

Bidders should have service centers and authorized service providers in all districts of Kerala.

Bidders should have experience executing supply, installation, and maintenance of grid-connected or off-grid solar systems (solar pumps/rooftop systems/ground-mounted systems) of an aggregate capacity of 3 MW during the last five financial years. The works should have been executed for any government organization, the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), or public sector undertakings.

They should have a positive net worth for at least three of the last five financial years.

The minimum average annual turnover of bidders during the best three of the last five financial years should not be less than ₹100 million (~$1.26 million) for Group 1 and ₹20 million (~$251,026) for Group 2.

The distribution of 9,348 agricultural pumps under Group 1 and Group 2 is given below:

If the contractor fails to complete the work on time, liquidated damages at 0.5% per week of the contract value of work for every week of delay, subject to a maximum of 10% of the contract value, will apply.

ANERT has stated that it will be mandatory to use indigenously manufactured solar panels with indigenous solar cells and modules. Inverters, controllers and the balance of system should also be manufactured indigenously.

Only crystalline silicon cell modules of 335 W or higher capacity should be used for the project. Using indigenously manufactured solar panels with indigenous solar cells and modules is mandatory.

Last February, ANERT invited bids for a rate contract to solarize 500 HP of grid-connected agricultural pumps under Component C of the PM KUSUM program in Kerala.

Earlier, ANERT had invited bids from reputed manufacturers or EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) contractors for a rate contract to solarize 300 HP of grid-connected agricultural pumps under the KUSUM program in Kerala.

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