The Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society (CREST) has invited expression of interest (EoI) from engineering, procurement, and construction companies (EPC), manufacturers, and system integrators to empanel for setting up grid-connected rooftop solar systems of capacity 1 kW to 10 kW in Chandigarh.

The last date to submit the bids online is July 19, 2021, and the bids will be opened on July 22.

Interested bidders will have to submit ₹50,000 (~$673.32) as earnest money deposit (EMD). Micro and small enterprises have been exempted from paying the EMD.

The tender is open for all EPC companies, manufacturers, systems integrators to design, manufacture, supply, install, and commission the rooftop solar projects.

The materials to be used in the project should be as per the specifications mentioned. The document further states that if any specification was left out in the bidding document, then the same should be considered as per those laid down by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

The solar modules should have a warranty of 25 years, and the manufacturer should provide a warranty of five years for the complete solar system from the date from when the project is commissioned.

The document further specifies that no damage must be caused to the building rooftops while installing the rooftop systems. Any damage caused would wholly be the responsibility of the bidder, and the incurred cost will be recovered from the bidder.

The bidder should have its service network in and around Chandigarh within a radius of 50 km and provide the address of service centers.

To participate in the bidding process, the bidder should have completed a rooftop solar project of a minimum capacity of 1 kW for the 1 kW category, 2 kW capacity for the 1 kW-2 kW category, 3 kW capacity for the 2 kW-3 kW category, and 10 kW for the 3 kW-10 kW category.

To participate in the 1 kW category, the bidder’s minimum average financial turnover during the last three financial years should be ₹1 million (~$13,466); for the 1 kW-2 kW category, it should be ₹2 million (~$26,932); for the 2 kW-3 kW category, it should be ₹3 million (~$40,399); and for 3 kW-10 kW category, it should be ₹4 million (~$53,865).

Rooftop solar installations up to 3 kW will qualify for a subsidy of 40%. Installations above 3 kW and up to 10 kW will get a subsidy of 40% for the first 3 kW and 20% for the remaining capacity. For group housing societies and residential welfare associations, the central financial assistance (CFA) will be restricted to 20% for common facilities up to 500 kW.

The shortlisted agencies will be empaneled with CREST to install solar projects in Chandigarh only after submitting a performance bank guarantee valid for up to six years. Further, after exceeding the limit of the CFA claimed by empaneled agencies, the additional performance bank guarantee amounting to ₹100,000 (~$1,346) per ₹1 million (~$13,466) of CFA claim, valid for six years, should be submitted by the empaneled agencies in the form of a bank guarantee bond.

If a vendor is empaneled for one or more categories, the bidder must submit a single performance bank guarantee amounting to ₹200,000 (~$2,693). If any empaneled agency takes further work orders from the beneficiary without submission of the bank guarantee, then the empaneled agency will not receive the subsidy till the required bank guarantee is submitted with CREST.

If any empaneled agency does not execute any solar power project in Chandigarh under the EoI, the performance bank guarantee will be released after the expiry of the validity of this EoI at the empaneled agency’s request, and the non-performing empaneled party in categories up to 10 kW will be debarred from future tenders of CREST.

As per the tender document, the solar modules should have a warranty of 25 years from the date of commissioning of the project. The peak watt output of the solar modules should not be less than 90% at the end of ten years and 80% at the end of 25 years.

The solar modules should be manufactured using domestically manufactured solar cells. The modules must be approved by one of the International Electrotechnical Commission-authorized test centers or any of the Bureau of Indian Standards-accredited testing centers.

In January this year, CREST invited bids for setting up 2 MW (varying from 2 kW to 100 kW) of grid-connected rooftop solar systems at various government buildings and institutions in Chandigarh.

Earlier, CREST had tendered 560 kW of grid-connected rooftop solar photovoltaic projects through two separate tenders.

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