The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has invited bids for 500 MW of grid-connected solar projects under an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) package in the state of Maharashtra.

The projects under this tender can range anywhere between 100 MW and 500 MW. The scope of work includes the design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, packaging, forwarding, transportation, installation, and commissioning of the projects on a turnkey basis.

The tender has been floated under the open category of solar cells and modules. The last date for the submission of bids is January 2, 2020. 

The scope of work also includes the operation and maintenance of the project, including switchyard and power evacuation systems for three years. The contractor must also set up a system for the evacuation of power from 33 kV main pooling switchgear to substations at appropriate voltage levels through tie-transformers, including telemetry, communication, and SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems.

Interested bidders are expected to pay a bid security amount based on the capacity.

Bidders are expected to have previous experience working on similar projects with a cumulative installed capacity of 40 MW or higher, of which at least one project should be at least 10 MW and should be operational for at least six months.

The bidder must also have executed similar projects worth at least ₹2.2 billion (~$30.7 million) in the last ten years, with at least one of them having operated successfully for at least one year. Eligible bidders must also have had an average annual turnover of ₹2.2 billion (~$30.7 million) in the last three financial years.

Earlier today, Mercom reported that the NTPC invited bids to develop 923 MW of solar projects under the domestic content requirement (DCR) category. The tender was floated under tranche II of the second phase of the central public sector undertaking (CPSU) program, which is a part of the National Solar Mission.

Recently, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) issued a Request for Selection for the long-term procurement of power from 500 MW of intra-state solar power projects (Phase-IV).