South Eastern Railway has invited bids to empanel agencies for setting up 8.383 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar power projects in Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal through public-private partnerships on design, build, finance, operate, and transfer basis.

The projects would be developed in two capacity ranges— (i) above 10 kW and up to 50 kW, and (ii) above 50 kW and up to 100 kW. Bidders can submit quotes for either one capacity or both categories, for one state, or across multiple states.

The projects must be commissioned within 240 days of receiving the work order. The developers must also provide comprehensive operation and maintenance services for 25 years.

The estimated project cost is as follows:

Odisha:

• For 10 kW to 50 kW: ₹59.56 million (~$715,938)
• For 50 kW to 100 kW: ₹8.12 million (~$97,606)

Jharkhand:

• For 10 kW to 50 kW: ₹76.82 million (~$923,411)
• For 50 kW to 100 kW: ₹16.12 million (~$193,769)

West Bengal:

• For 10 kW to 50 kW: ₹192.34 million (~$2.31 million)
• For 50 kW to 100 kW: ₹25.45 million (~$305,920)

The last day to submit bids is April 30, 2024. Bids will be opened on the same day.

Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹1.07 million (~$12,861)/ MW of the quoted capacity.

The selected bidders must submit a performance security of ₹1.6 million (~$19,231)/ MW within 30 days of signing the power purchase agreement.

The empanelment will be valid for one year, with the possibility of an extension for another year based on the developer’s performance and requests from zonal railways.

The generated solar power will be utilized by the Indian Railways through the net metering system.

The successful bidder must enter into a 25-year power purchase agreement with the Railways after receiving the letter of award, which may also need to be signed at a divisional level if required by the public utilities or Zonal Railways.

Bidders must have experience installing a minimum aggregate 200 kW capacity of grid-connected solar rooftop 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 must have had an average annual turnover of ₹15 million (~$180,298) during the last three years. They should also have had a positive net worth in all the previous three financial years.

In May last year, South Eastern Railway invited empanelment bids for 13.54 MW of rooftop solar projects in Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal railway zones.

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