The Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) has issued a request for proposal (RfP) to set up 3 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar projects on Chandigarh Municipal Corporation buildings.

Bids must be submitted by January 29, 2026. Bids will be opened on January 30.

Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹3 million (~$33,392.13) and a document fee of ₹10,000 (~$111.31) plus 18% GST.

Selected bidders must submit a performance guarantee of ₹7.5 million (~$83,480.32). They must sign a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA).

The scope of work entails the design, installation, testing, and commissioning of the solar projects. It also involves providing operation and maintenance services for the 25-year PPA period.

Successful bidders must obtain the connectivity and the approvals for the projects’ grid connection and gross metering. They must also provide power transmission up to the interconnection points where metering is done for energy accounting. They must maintain the transmission system up to and including the interconnection point.

The projects must have a minimum expected electrical energy generation of 1,300 kWh/1kW system on the low-tension side during the first operational year. From the second year, these projects will be allowed a 1% decrease over the minimum expected generation caused by the solar module’s degradation factor.

The solar projects must maintain at least 80% of the annual committed generation. They will be allowed a grid downtime of 0.5 kWh/kW/hour round the year for power outages between 9 A.M. and 4 PM.

Selected bidders must ensure a minimum annual project availability of 98%. They will be allowed 48 hours for fault rectification. Additionally, they must provide a 25-year warranty with power generation degradation capped at 20% of the minimum rated power generation. The degradation must not exceed 10% after 10 years.

The project must use TOPCon/HJT DCR modules with a minimum capacity of 500 W.

Only components from the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers must be used.

The projects must be completed within 180 days.

Delays in achieving project commissioning milestones will attract a penalty of ₹1,000/kW per two weeks, capped at ₹5,000/kW. Failure to achieve at least 80% of the committed expected generation will also incur penalties.

Successful bidders failing to meet the minimum 1,300 kWh/kW benchmark will pay a shortfall fee based on the highest rent quoted per unit. They may also be mandated to add modules to the project.

Bidders must have installed and commissioned solar projects of at least 1,500 kW capacity through any government agency, state nodal agency, or public-sector undertaking. Bidders must have executed any of the following similar works:

• Three similar works, with a minimum value of 40% of the estimated contract value
• Two similar works, with a minimum value of 50% of the estimated contract value
• One similar work, with a minimum value of 80% of the estimated contract value

Bidders must have a service center within 50 km of Chandigarh with qualified staff. Otherwise, selected bidders must open a center within one month of the work order submission.

Bidders must have a minimum average financial turnover of ₹60 million (~$667,842.60) in the last three financial years.

In August 2024, CREST invited bids for installing grid-connected rooftop solar systems with a cumulative capacity of 1.5 MW at government-owned residential buildings in Sectors 27 and 46.

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