The Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited (MePDCL) has invited bids to develop 50 MW off-grid rooftop solar power projects at various locations in the state.

These projects will receive Central Financial Assistance from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), under the guidelines for off-grid solar projects issued by MNRE in July 2020.

Under the third phase of the program, off-grid solar power projects of up to 25 kW can be installed in areas where grid power has not reached or is not reliable. The program has now been extended to March 31, 2021.

Apart from the design, supply, testing, and commissioning of the projects, the successful bidder will also have to provide comprehensive maintenance for five years with a free replacement warranty of spare parts with defects.

The last date to submit the bids is November 30, 2020, and the pre-bid meeting will take place on November 16, 2020.

Interested bidders will have to pay an amount of ₹ 400,000 (~$5,377)/MW as the earnest money deposit.

The time for the completion of work allowed is three months from the date of the work order, and it would be extendable by three months in case of justified delays.

The benchmark costs set by the (MNRE) are given below:

To participate in the bidding process, the bidder should have supplied solar components or installed projects having a cumulative capacity of not less than 2 MW as of the bid opening date. The bidder can quote for a minimum capacity of 5 MW and a maximum capacity of 50 MW.

In terms of financial criteria, the bidder’s minimum average annual turnover should be 25% of the bid capacity for the previous three financial years. For public sector undertakings (PSUs), the average annual turnover should be 10% of the bid capacity in the last three financial years. The bidder’s net worth should be positive and at least 10% of the bid capacity as of March 31, 2020. For PSUs, the net worth should be positive, and 5% of the bid capacity on March 31, 2020.

As per the tender documents, the solar modules should be made of multicrystalline silicon solar cells and should have a capacity of at least 250 Wp. For a 25 kWp solar system, the modules should be 24 V, 300 Wp, or above.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, Meghalaya has so far issued tenders for 23 MW of solar projects under various programs in the state.

Recently, MePDCL floated an expression of interest for installing 10 MW of solar projects under component A of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM–KUSUM) program.

The north-eastern state has also floated an empanelment tender for 10 MW of residential rooftop solar systems.