Coal India (CIL) has invited bids to set up a 300 MW grid-connected ground-mounted solar project at the Khavda Solar Park in Gujarat.

The last date to submit the bids is September 23, 2024. Bids will be opened on September 24.

The scope of work covers the design, engineering, procurement, supply of equipment and materials, erection, testing, and commissioning of the project. It also includes the supply, packing and forwarding, the transportation of PV modules up to Khavda Solar Park, including the transit insurance of crystalline solar modules with nominal wattage and dimensions as mentioned in the scope of supply for the 1500V system voltage.

The successful bidder will also be responsible for the project’s five-year comprehensive operation and maintenance.

Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit of ₹5 million (~$59,576). The commissioning period is up to January 31, 2026, or the actual COD of the Associated Transmission System of Khavda Solar Park (KPS-2), whichever is earlier, subject to the minimum time period of 12 months from the date of LOA.

The project should have a minimum capacity utilization factor of 28% at the time of delivery.

A company or a joint venture/consortium of no more than three companies can submit bids. The lead member should have a minimum participation share of 50%.

Bidders can qualify through one of the following routes:

Route I

Bidders should have experience in the EPC execution of ground-mounted solar projects on a turnkey basis, including the design, supply of modules, installation, and commissioning of projects with a cumulative capacity of 100 MW, with projects of capacity not less than 30 MW in the last seven financial years.
Such projects must be in operation for at least six months.
A certificate of commissioning must be submitted.

Route II

Bidders should have experience in executing ground-mounted solar projects as a developer of at least one grid-connected solar project with a cumulative capacity of 100 MW, with projects of capacity not less than 30 MW in the last seven financial years.
Such projects must be in operation for at least six months from the date of commissioning.
A certificate of commissioning must be submitted.

Bidders will be considered qualified if they have received the award for executing the reference work from the project owner or any intermediary organization.

The bidders’ average annual financial turnover during the last three years, ending March 31, 2024, should be ₹39.2 million (~$46.72 million).

In case the bidder is a joint venture/consortium, the turnover of the individual partners will be added for each financial year and furnished as the turnover of the bidder for that particular financial year.

The net worth of the bidders as of the last date of each of the last three financial years should be positive.

In February, Coal India invited expressions of interest to empanel engineering procurement, and construction-cum-operation and maintenance contractors for ground-mounted and floating solar power projects.

The empanelment is for two years with a further two-year extension provision.

Subscribe to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker to stay on top of real-time tender activity.