Madhya Gujarat Vij Company Limited (MGVCL) has issued a tender to empanel vendors to install 700 MW of rooftop solar projects for residential consumers in urban areas under the Phase-II of Grid Connected Rooftop Solar Program of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

The last date to submit online bids is March 2, 2022. The techno-commercial bid will be opened on March 7. The pre-bid meeting will take place on February 19.

MGVCL has invited bids for eleven system capacities of rooftop solar under the capital expenditure (CAPEX) model. Bidders must submit the earnest money deposit (EMD) for each part.

The successful bidder should provide a performance bank guarantee of 3% of the total system costs of the allotted capacity within 30 days from the date of issue of the letter of award.

The scope of work includes the design, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of rooftop solar systems.

The projects should be commissioned within 12 months from the date of the letter of allocation or 24 months from the MNRE’s sanction to the Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited. After commissioning these projects, the successful bidders must provide comprehensive operation and maintenance services for five years.

To participate in the competitive bidding process, bidders should have installed and commissioned grid-connected rooftop solar projects with a total capacity of 250 kW in the residential sector before submission of bids.

For the open category, bidders who do not have the minimum required prior experience installing grid-connected rooftop solar projects would not be allowed to submit price bids. However, they will be allowed to implement rooftop solar projects subject to matching the lowest bid price.

Bidders’ average annual turnover should be ₹15 million (~$200,158) in the last three financial years. Furthermore, their net worth must be positive in the last three financial years.

MGVCL said that rooftop solar capacity up to 3 kW would be eligible for a 40% subsidy. Rooftop solar systems in the range of 3 kW to 10 kW will get a subsidy of 40% for the first 3 kW and 20% for the remaining capacity. Central financial assistance (CFA) will be restricted to 20% for common facilities up to 500 kW for group housing societies and residential welfare associations. The CFA will be calculated on the benchmark cost or cost discovered through the competitive process, whichever is lower.

The successful vendors must use ‘Made in India’ solar modules with a minimum capacity of 250 Wp and a minimum efficiency of 16%. Modules must also have a minimum fill factor of 75%. Solar modules should have a performance warranty of over 90% during the first ten years and over 80% during the next 15 years.

In October 2021, the Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited decided to allow registration of residential rooftop solar applications for up to 750 MW capacity from empaneled vendors for the financial years 2020-21 under the SURYA-Gujarat program.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, distribution companies (DISCOMs) of Gujarat have issued tender for 1,053 MW of rooftop solar capacity to date.

Harsh Shukla is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Previously with Indian Express, he has covered general interest stories. He holds a Masters Degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune.

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