Convergence Energy Services (CESL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services (EESL), has invited bids to select bus operators for the procurement, and operation & maintenance (O&M) of 5,690 electric buses and the development of allied electric and civil infrastructure under the ‘National E-Bus Program (Phase-I).’

The last date to submit the bids online is November 4, 2022. Bids will be opened on the same day.

This unified tender calling for proposals for the provision of mobility services benefits from the participation of Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Telangana, and Arunachal Pradesh. This is the first tender under the ‘National Electric Bus Program,’ which aims to deploy 50,000 e-buses across the country.

Bidders should submit an earnest money deposit for each lot as given below:

The successful bidder should furnish 3% of the contract price as the performance security within 28 days from the receipt of the letter of award. The successful bidder will also have to submit 10% of the contract price with an initial validity of 90 days as a contract performance security.

The benefits and facilities applicable to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) will be available under this tender. Of the 25% purchase preference for MSEs, 3% has been reserved for women-owned MSEs, and 4% has been earmarked for SC/ST-owned MSE firms.

If the price quoted by an MSE falls within the price band of L1+15%, such MSE will be allowed to supply 25% of the total tendered quantity by bringing down its price to the L1 price.

Bidders should have previously manufactured and delivered at least 25 electric buses or 1,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to date in India.

Bidders should have ownership and operation experience of at least one year for a minimum of 25 electric buses or 1,000 CNG buses in India to date.

For Lot 1, bidders should have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹1.38 billion (17.32 million); for Lot 2, it should be ₹556.9 million (~$6.98 million); for Lot 3, it should be ₹560.3 million (~$7.03 million) during the last three financial years. Similarly, for Lot 4, the minimum average annual turnover should be ₹1.17 billion (~$14.68 million); for Lot 5, it should be ₹158 million (~$1.98 million); for Lot 6, it should be ₹3.3 million (~$41,417); and for Lot 7, it should be ₹757.4 million (~$9.51 million) during the last three financial years.

The net worth of bidders should be positive and not have eroded by more than 30% in the last three financial years.

If the operator fails to deliver the required quantity on time, a sum of 0.5% of the value of the delayed equipment for each week of delay, subject to a maximum of 5% of the total contract value as liquidated damages, will apply.

In January this year, CESL invited bids under the ‘Grand Challenge’ program to select bus operators for the procurement, operation, and maintenance of 5,450 electric buses, 135 double-decker electric buses, and allied electric and civil infrastructure on a gross cost contract.

Earlier, CESL had invited bids to empanel vendors to lease an estimated 1,000 electric four-wheelers (E4Ws) for various government departments and other clients across India.