The Dhanbad Division of East Central Railway has invited bids for state-wise empanelment of agencies to implement 2.017 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar power projects through public-private partnerships and on a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer basis.

The projects would be developed in two capacity ranges — (i) above 10 kW and up to 100 kW, and (ii) above 100 kW and up to 500 kW. Bidders can quote for one or all the capacities.

The projects must be commissioned within 240 days of receiving the work order. The developers must also provide comprehensive operation and maintenance services for 25 years.

The last day to submit bids is June 4, 2024. Bids will be opened on the same day.

The cost of the bid document is ₹34,810 (~$416). Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹1.07 million (~$12,815)/MW of the quoted capacity.

Selected bidders must submit a performance security of ₹1.6 million (~$19,162)/MW and a bid process management fee of ₹75,000 (~$898)/MW within 30 days of signing the power purchase agreement.

The empanelment will be valid for one year, with the possibility of an extension for another year based on the developer’s performance and requests from zonal railways.

The generated solar power will be utilized by the Indian Railways through the net metering system.

The successful bidder must enter into a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Railways after receiving the letter of award, which may also need to be signed at a divisional level if required by the public utilities or Zonal Railways.

Bidders must have experience installing a minimum aggregate 200 kW capacity of grid-connected rooftop solar systems as a developer or engineering procurement and construction (EPC) company.

Those with experience installing and commissioning a minimum aggregate 1 MW capacity of any grid-connected systems as developers or EPC contractors in any sector such as residential, social, industrial, commercial, government, or any other client can also submit bids.

Bidders must have had an average annual turnover of ₹15 million (~$179,651) during the last three years. They should also have had a positive net worth in all the previous three financial years.

The projects developed under the tender will not include any central financial assistance.

Only domestically manufactured modules in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) must be used in the projects. Additionally, the tender has no provision for Central Financial Assistance either by MNRE or Railways.

Recently, the Pune Division of Central Railway invited bids for state-wise empanelment of agencies to implement grid-connected rooftop solar power projects in Maharashtra.

Earlier, the Sonpur Division of the East Central Railway invited bids to empanel vendors to install 1.1 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar power.

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