NTPC Vidhyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited, has invited bids to develop 3.5 MW (AC) of grid-connected solar projects at four airports in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan with the net metering facility.

The last date to submit online bids is February 8, 2022. Bids will be opened on the following day.

The scope of work includes the design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, packaging, forwarding, transportation, unloading, storage, erection, testing, and commissioning of 3.5 MW (AC) of grid-connected solar projects at the four airports. After commissioning these projects, the successful bidder must also provide three years of comprehensive operation and maintenance services.

The rooftop solar systems are to be installed at Safdurjung Airport Delhi (2 MW), Udaipur Airport Rajasthan (500 kW), Jabalpur, and Khajuraho Airports in Madhya Pradesh (500 kW each).

The bidder has to quote for the entire 3.5 MW package of all four airports. Any bid below 3.5 MW will be rejected. The bidder must quote the range of annual generation is as per the table below.

If the successful bidder, to whom the work is awarded, has quoted the annual generation more than the threshold generation (G2), the bidder must submit security in the form of a bank guarantee.

The bank guarantee for the annual quoted generation beyond G2 will be (G-G2) x R x ₹10.6384 million.

R = Rate (₹/kWh) at ₹4.00 (~$0.054)/kWh.

G = generation quoted by the bidder in the techno-commercial bid.

In March 2021, NVVN had invited bids from consultants to assess the potential and feasibility of ground-mounted and rooftop solar at the airports managed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). In November 2020, AAI had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NVVN to set up solar power facilities at its airports.

To participate in the competitive bidding process, bidders’ average annual turnover must not be less than ₹195.13 million (~$2.61 million) or in equivalent foreign currency in the last three financial years. Bidders’ net worth should not be less than 100% of their paid-up share capital in the previous financial year.

NVVN has not set any technical criteria for participating in the bidding process.

The successful bidder needs to furnish 3% of the contract value as performance security within 28 days of the notification of award.

The successful bidder must commission projects within six months from the date of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approval and intimation by NVVN. If the bidder fails to commission the projects in time, liquidated damage of ₹139,379 (~$1,866) per day will be levied, subject to a maximum of 5% of the total contract amount.

NVVN stated that the successful bidders must utilize crystalline silicon modules with a minimum efficiency of 15% and a peak power rating of not less than 300 W to develop solar projects.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, NTPC has invited bids to develop 18.8 GW of solar projects to date.