NTPC Limited has issued a notice inviting tender (NIT) from contractors for the operation and maintenance of a 10 MW solar project at its Talcher Super Thermal Power Station in Kaniha, Odisha, for three years.

The last date to submit the bids is May 6, 2022. Bids will be opened on May 10.

Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit amount of ₹200,000 (~$2,627). Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) will be exempted from paying the earnest money deposit.

The successful bidder must submit a performance security deposit in the amount equivalent to 3% of the contract value within 30 days of the issue of the letter of award.

To be eligible, bidders must have commissioned or managed the O&M of at least one grid-connected solar project with 5 MW or above capacity within the preceding seven years before the bid opening date. Alternatively, they must have commissioned and managed O&M of equipment, including invertor/photovoltaic modules in the solar projects, within the preceding seven years before the bid opening date.

The value of the orders executed by the bidder must not be less than ₹4.1 million (~$53,866) for one order. For two orders, the value must not be less than ₹2.6 million (~$34,158) each, and for three orders, the value must not be less than ₹2.1 million (~$27,587).

The average annual turnover of the bidder must not be less than ₹5.2 million during the last three financial years before the bid opening date. If the bidder does not satisfy this condition, their holding company would be required to meet the turnover criteria. The holding company must have a net worth equal to or more than the company’s paid-up share capital as of the last day of the preceding financial year.

Only Class-I local suppliers are eligible to bid. The local content requirement to categorize a bidder or supplier as a ‘Class-I local supplier’ is a minimum of 60%.

In February this year, NTPC had invited bids for the O&M of the 250 MW solar project at Ananthapuram in Andhra Pradesh and the 5 MW solar project in Andaman for three years.

Last December, NTPC invited bids for the comprehensive O&M of its 260 MW solar project at the Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan for three years.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, NTPC has so far floated O&M tenders for 610 MW of solar power projects.