The Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), has invited bids to develop 1.2 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar projects at 19 different locations of BCCL in Dhanbad, Jharkhand.

Apart from the design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, storage, testing, and commissioning of the projects, the successful bidder will also have to take care of the projects’ operation and maintenance for five years.

The estimated cost of the project is ₹44.66 million (~$598,435), and interested bidders will have to pay an amount of ₹558,250 (~$7,480) as the earnest money deposit (EMD). The time for the completion of the project has been set as 120 days.

The last date to submit the bids is December 14, 2020, and the opening of technical bids will take place on December 15, 2020.

To participate in the competitive bidding process, the bidder should have successfully committed similar works during the last seven years. The bidder should have completed three similar projects, each costing not less than 40% of the estimated cost of the project, or two similar projects, each costing at least 50% of the estimated cost of the project, or one similar completed project costing at least 80% of the total cost of the project.

In the case of a joint venture, any of the partners should have the experience of completing a single project costing not less than 80% of the estimated cost of the project. For two works of similar nature, each costing not less than 50% of the estimated cost, anyone member should match the above requirement, or at least two partners should have completed one similar work costing not less than 50% of the estimated cost of the project.

Similarly, for three similar works costing not less than 40% of the estimated cost of the project, any partner can match the above requirement, or any two partners should have completed at least one similar project costing not less than 40% of the estimated cost, or all the three partners should match the requirement.

For the financial criteria, the tender said that the bidder’s average annual financial turnover in the last three financial years should be at least 30% of the project’s estimated cost.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, Jharkhand has so far tendered 21 MW of rooftop solar power projects.

Recently, the Eastern Coalfields Limited issued a notice inviting tender to set up 1.415 MW of rooftop solar systems at 11 of its premises spread across 26 locations in West Bengal and Jharkhand. Eastern Coalfields is a coal producer and operates coal mines in Jharkhand and West Bengal.

In December last year, the Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) had announced a tender to develop 20 MW of solar projects at Piparwar, located in Jharkhand. The scope of work included the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of 20 MW of solar projects.