The Punjab State Power Corporation (PSPCL)  has invited bids to set up 31.37 MW rooftop solar power projects at various office buildings, 66 kV grid substations, hydel projects, and thermal projects of PSPCL at different locations under seven packages.

The last date for the submission of bids is March 14, 2024. Bids will be opened the next day.

The bidding process pertains to seven packages, each associated with specific aggregate capacity and locations as indicated in the table below:

Bidders must provide an earnest money deposit equal to 2% of the project cost, with a maximum limit set at ₹2 million (~$24,087.08). Except Package 7, whose limit is set to ₹800,000 (~$9,634.51)

Upon the successful commissioning of the project, PSPCL will withhold 10% of the total project cost at the time of the final payment to the bidder. This amount will serve as performance security for maintenance.

The scope of work involves site survey, design, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning. It also involves providing a warranty and a five-year comprehensive maintenance contract for grid-connected rooftop solar projects.

In the context of this tender, the essential components of a grid-connected rooftop solar system include but are not restricted to the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers regulation-compliant mono-crystalline or bifacial solar modules in the required quantity, inverters/PCU and module mounting structures with a minimum ground clearance of 300 mm at the lowest point from the roof surface.

The e-tendering process for rooftop solar project installation, within the 100 kW to 500 kW capacity range, revealed a discovered rate of ₹50,072 (~$603.04)/kW, inclusive of GST.

Bidders should not be blacklisted by any agency under the direct or indirect control of central government.

They should have a track record of designing, supplying, installing, and commissioning grid-connected solar power projects with an aggregate capacity of not less than 1000 kW in the last three years from the bid submission date. Additionally, they must have completed at least one project of 50 kW or higher capacity commissioned before bid submission.

Bidders are required to submit a scanned copy of the commissioning certificate from the client or owner.

Only bidders meeting the minimum technical eligibility criterion will have their bids considered for the determination of the L-1 (lowest) price.

To meet the financial eligibility criteria, bidders must satisfy the specified minimum average annual turnover for each package. The requirements for each package are as follows:

• Package no. 1: Minimum average annual turnover of ₹50 million ($602,158) and net worth of ₹25 million ($301,073).
• Package no. 2: Minimum average annual turnover of ₹80 million ($963,435) and net worth of ₹40 million ($481,717).
• Package no. 3: Minimum average annual turnover of ₹30 million ($361,300) and net worth of ₹15 million ($180,650).
• Package no. 4: Minimum average annual turnover of ₹60 million ($722,601) and net worth of ₹30 million ($361,300).
• Package no. 5: Minimum average annual turnover of ₹50 million ($602,158) and net worth of ₹25 million ($301,073).
• Package no. 6: Minimum average annual turnover of ₹40 million ($481,726) and net worth of ₹20 million ($240,863).
• Package no. 7: Minimum average annual turnover of ₹10 million ($120,434) and net worth of ₹5 million ($60,217).

The annual turnover, as indicated for each package, should reflect the financial performance of the bidder in any one of the last three financial years preceding the bid deadline..

If a vendor submits bids for multiple packages, they must meet the financial eligibility criteria for the combined value of all the packages in their price bids. Failure to do so will result in the rejection of all such bids during the evaluation phase.

December last year, PSPCL invited bids to set up 100 MW solar projects and the associated transmission system in Bathinda.

In October, PSPCL floated a tender to procure 1 GW of solar power from interstate transmission system-connected projects.

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