The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has invited bids for the development of grid-connected solar projects up to a capacity of 1,000 MW.

The tender has been floated under the Develop Build Demonstrate Transfer (DBDT) program.

The deadline for the submission of bids is November 18, 2019, while the opening date for the techno-commercial bids has been scheduled for November 19, 2019.

The cost of bid documents is ₹22,500 (~$316.348). The maximum capacity that a single bidder can bid for is 300 MW.

The scope of work for the project includes the design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, and commissioning of a capacity ranging between 50 MW to 300 MW (in multiples of 10 MW) on a turnkey basis. The scope of work also includes the operation and maintenance of the projects along with the installation of the SCADA system for remote monitoring, module cleaning system, and all associated electrical and civil work, including the evacuation of power.

Regarding the technical criteria, the bidder should either have designed and commissioned solar power projects of a cumulative installed capacity of at least 40 MW. Out of this capacity, one of them should at least have been of 10 MW.  Apart from this, an interested bidder should have executed an industrial project either as a developer or as an EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) contractor of at least ₹2.1 billion (~$29.6 million) in the last ten years.

The average annual turnover of the bidder should not be less ₹2.1 billion (~$29.6 million) during the preceding three financial years.

In recent months, NTPC, a government-owned entity, has floated several tenders for the development of solar projects across the country.

For instance, in September 2019, it had issued an enlistment tender for the supply of Balance of system package for its solar PV projects. In this, the scope of work included the design, engineering, manufacturing, and commissioning of solar projects, excluding the supply of solar PV modules.

Previously, Mercom also reported that NTPC had announced a tender for 1,200 MW of solar projects to be set up anywhere in India.

Image credit: Axium Solar