The West Bengal Power Development Corporation (WBPDCL) has issued a notice inviting tender (NIT) from engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors to set up two 10 MW grid-connected ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in two phases at the Santhaldih Thermal Power Station (STPS), Purulia, West Bengal, on a turnkey basis.

The last date to submit bids is November 22, 2021. The technical bids will be opened on November 24. The estimated cost of the solar project for phase-1 is ₹558.5 million (~$7.4 million), and for phase-2, ₹504.1 million (~$6.67 million).

Bidders must pay ₹21.25 million (~$281,605) as bid security. Both phases must be completed within 12 months from the date of issue of the letter of award (LoA).

The scope of work includes designing, engineering, manufacturing or procuring, supplying, erecting, testing, and commissioning two 10 MW grid-connected ground-mounted solar PV projects, including a warrantee obligation with five years of comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M).

The bidder must be a sole proprietorship or a partnership firm, or a company incorporated in India.  In the case of a joint venture (JV), the number of members cannot exceed three.

The bidder must have executed contracts in planning, designing, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of a grid-connected rooftop, or ground-mounted, or floating solar PV power plants, with a capacity of at least one 20 MWp or two 10 MWp or a higher capacity project at a single location.

The bidder must have installed the plants at any organization, public sector undertaking, or government organization during the preceding seven years and should be in operation.

The bidder must have at least one 20 MWp or two 10 MWp capacity solar PV O&M projects, operational in India or abroad for the last year ending at the last date of bid submission.

The bidder’s minimum average annual turnover (MAAT) during the last three financial years (FY) ending March 31 of the previous financial year must be ₹320 million (~$4.24 million). In the last financial year, the bidder’s net worth should not be less than 100% of the paid-up capital.

The lead member of the JV must meet at least 50% financial capacity requirement and at least 30% of the technical capacity. The combined MAAT of the members in such consortium must be ₹320 million (~$4.24 million), and the combined net worth of both partners should not be less than 100% of the bidder.

In August this year, the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) invited bids to empanel agencies to install 50 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar projects on residential buildings in West Bengal.

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