The Narmada Hydroelectric Corporation Limited (NHDC) has announced two empanelment tenders for its solar projects.

In the first tender, NHDC has invited bids for the empanelment of engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) agencies for providing the balance of system (BoS) for its solar projects. The contract will also include five years of comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) activities. NHDC is a joint venture between NHPC and the government of Madhya Pradesh.

The period of empanelment will be 24 months. The last date for the submission of bids is June 22, 2020.

For category A (up to 100 MW), the bidder should have executed solar power projects of a cumulative installed capacity of at least 40 MW. Out of the total capacity, one project should have been of at least 10 MW. Similarly, for category B (above 100 MW), the bidder should have executed solar power projects of at least 80 MW. Out of the total capacity, at least one project should have been of 20 MW or higher capacity.

The reference projects should have been in successful operation for at least one year.

Regarding the financial criteria, the average annual turnover of the bidder for the last three financial years should be ₹2 billion(~$26.52 million) for the category A and ₹4 billion(~$53.03 million) for category B. The net worth of the biddershould not be less than 100% of the bidder’s paid-up share capital.

In another tender, NHDC invited bids for the empanelment of experienced solar modules manufacturers for supplying to solar power projects. The last date for the submission of bids is June 22, 2020.

To take part in the bidding process, the bidder should be an original solar module manufacturer with a module manufacturing capacity of a minimum of 1 GW/year.  The bidder should have manufactured and supplied solar modules of at least 130 MW capacity in any one financial year in the last seven years.

Further, the tender noted that after the empanelment, NHDC would participate in the 1.5 GW solar tender announced by Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL) in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

Recently, RUMSL extended the deadline to submit bids for 1,500 MW of grid-connected solar projects to be developed across three solar parks in the state of Madhya Pradesh. RUMSL has extended the deadline for bid submission for 450 of grid-connected solar PV projects at Shajapur Solar Parkto July 15, 2020. The new bid submission deadline for 500 MW of grid-connected solar projects at Neemuch Solar Park is now August 4, 2020.Further, the new date for the submission of bids for 550 MW of solar projects at the Agar Solar Park is now July 1, 2020.

This tender was initially floated in 2018. However, due to impending central and state elections, the tenders were delayed, the state authorities had earlier informed Mercom.

Previously, Mercom also reported that NHDC invited bids from EPC contractors to set up 25 MW of floating solar capacity.