NHPC has invited bids from engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors for a 600 MW interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected solar photovoltaic project and associated power transmission lines. The project will be developed in the Deora village of the Jaisalmer district in Rajasthan.

Apart from the EPC services, the successful bidder will also have to take care of the operation and maintenance of the project for ten years. The project has to be completed in 18 months from the date of issuance of notification of award.

The last date to submit the bids online is August 31, 2021, while the last date to submit the bids offline is September 6, 2021. The pre-bid meeting will be held on July 28, and the bids will be opened on September 8.

The tender has specified that bidders must have executed cumulative solar projects of 100 MW, including ground-mounted, rooftop, floating solar projects on an EPC basis as contractors or developers before the bid submission date. Of this, the bidder must have completed at least one project of 50 MW at a single location. In addition, bidders must have provided operation and maintenance services for at least one solar project with a minimum 50 MW capacity for at least six months.

Bidders should also have a minimum average annual turnover of over ₹18 billion (~$241.77 million) in the preceding three years. In addition, bidders’ net worth must be positive in three out of the five preceding years. To participate in the bidding process, bidders must also have a working capital of at least ₹3 billion (~$40.29 million).

In May 2021, NHPC awarded the EPC contract to Tata Power Solar Systems to develop a 40 MW solar project in the Ganjam district of Odisha. As per the BSE filing, the total estimated value of the contract was ₹1.88 billion (~$25.76 million). NHPC had invited bids from EPC contractors for the 40 MW solar power project in July last year.

Mercom had earlier reported that NHPC invited bids to develop a 100 MW ISTS-connected ground-mounted solar power project at the ultra-mega renewable energy power park in the Koppal district of Karnataka.

Predominantly a hydropower generator, NHPC diversified into developing solar projects in June 2020. The company had announced that it would act as an intermediary procurer through solar developers.

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