The Sonpur Division of the East Central Railway has invited bids to empanel vendors to install 1.1 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar power projects through a public-private partnership on a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer basis.

The bids must be submitted by May 30, 2024. They will be opened on the same day.

The selected bidders will be empaneled to install rooftop solar systems in three capacity categories: >10 and up to 100 kWp,>100 and up to 500 kWp, and > 500 KWp.

The duration of empanelment will be one year from the date of issue of the letter of award.

The successful bidder will be responsible for the entire project lifecycle, including engineering, procurement, construction, and 25 years of operation and maintenance. They will supply power to the Railways under a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) lasting 25 years.

Bidders must have experience installing a minimum aggregate 200 kW capacity of grid-connected rooftop solar systems as a developer or engineering procurement and construction (EPC) company.

Those with experience installing and commissioning a minimum aggregate 1 MW capacity of any grid-connected systems as a developer or an EPC contractor in any sector such as residential, social, industrial, commercial, government, or any other client can also submit bids.

Bidders should have an average annual turnover of ₹15 million (~$185,000) and positive net worth over the last three financial years.

Qualified bidders will need to submit a bid security of ₹1.07 million (~$13,200) per MW and a performance security of ₹1.6 million (~$19,800) per MW after the award of the project.

A performance security of ₹1.6 million (~$19,000) per MW must also be submitted within 30 days of signing the PPA.

The generated solar power will be utilized solely by zonal railways through a net metering system. The tender document also mentions that no subsidy or viability gap funding will be provided by the Railways or the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Last month, South Eastern Railway invited bids to empanel agencies for setting up 8.383 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar power projects in Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

Previously, the Asansol Division of Eastern Railway in West Bengal invited bids from solar developers to install 1 MW grid-connected rooftop solar projects.

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