PFC Consulting (PFCL) has invited bids to empanel advanced metering infrastructure service providers (AMISP) to implement smart prepaid metering under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).

The last date to submit bids is February 3, 2025. Bids will be opened on the same day.

Bidders must submit an application fee of ₹100,000 (~$1,174.92) plus GST.

Bidders must submit a bid security deposit of ₹10 million (~$117,492) in the form of four unconditional and irrevocable bank guarantees of ₹ 2.5 million (~$29,373).

The scope of work involves the submission of technical proposals to empanel AMISPs for the smart prepaid metering program.

Bidders will be empanelled under the following groups:

• Group 1- Project size up to ₹200,000 ($2,349.84)
• Group2- Project size between ₹200,000 and ₹1 million (~$2,349.84 and  ~$11,749.2)
• Group 3- Project size between ₹1 million and ₹2 million (~$11,749.2 and ~$23,498.4)
• Group 4- Project size greater than ₹2 million (~$23,498)

Bidders must submit one technical proposal along with the group they are applying under.

The estimated project cost for different groups is as follows:

• Group 1- ₹1.8 billion (~$21.14 million) (considering 200,000 nodes)
• Group 2- ₹9 billion (~$105.74 million) (considering 1 million nodes)
• Group 3- ₹18 billion (~$211.48 million) (considering 2 million nodes)
• Group 4- ₹45 billion (~$528.71 million) (considering 5 million nodes)

The Ministry of Power has designated PFCL as one of the project implementing agencies for the program.

The empanelment of AMISPs will be for two years, coinciding with the expiry of the RDSS program. However, the empanelment of AMISPs would be valid even if the RDSS program is extended or gets subsumed into any new program.

The financial proposal of the bidders must include the project cost estimated by them including site survey, planning, designing, financing, engineering, manufacturing, supply, transportation, insurance, delivery at site, unloading, handling, storage, installation, integration, testing, commissioning, demonstration for acceptance, training, maintenance, operation and documentation of various AMISP components.

Bidders must factor in gross budgetary support while submitting financial proposals.

If the bidders fail to submit a financial proposal for the second time, the security deposit of ₹2.5 million (~$29,373) will be invoked for each instance.

Additionally, PFCCL may consider providing an additional payout to the AMISP on ₹/ meter basis.

PFCCL may, at its discretion, conduct an e-reverse auction.

In August 2024, Telecommunications Consultants India invited bids to select a consortium partner for the supply, installation, system integration, operation, and maintenance of smart meters, head-end system software, and a radio frequency/cellular communication network as part of the advanced metering infrastructure project in Kerala State Electricity Board-Phase-1.

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