The Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL) has invited bids for the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of a 4.99 MW of grid-connected solar project under the renewable energy service company (RESCO) model and its associated 33 kV line to connect the project with the concerned substation.

The successful bidder will have to provide a remote monitoring system for the solar project and 656 agricultural consumers to solarize four 11 kV feeders of 33/11 kV substation in Datwas village in Rajasthan’s Tonk district. The initiative falls under Component C of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) program. Also, the successful bidder will have to take care of the project’s operation and maintenance (O&M) activities for 25 years.

Under Component C (feeder level solarization) of the KUSUM program, the government aims to solarize one million grid-connected agriculture pumps of individual capacity up to 7.5 HP by 2022.

The latest project would have to be commissioned within nine months from the signing of the power purchase agreement (PPA).

The last date to submit the bids online is August 12, 2021, and the bids will be opened on August 13.

According to the bidding document, the project should provide for the deployment of solar technology. Crystalline silicon, thin-film, or concentrating photovoltaic system could be installed for the project. Only commercially established and operational technologies could be used to minimize the technology risk and achieve the project’s timely commissioning.

The estimated cost of the project is ₹174.65 million (~$2.34 million), and the successful bidder will have to submit an amount of ₹2.49 million (~$33,384) at the rate of ₹500,000 (~$6,703)/MW for 4.99 MW, as the performance bank guarantee within one month from the date of the issuance of the work order. The performance bank guarantee will be valid for two months beyond the nine months from the date of the signing of the PPA.

The successful bidder will get ₹10.5 million (~$140,779)/MW as central financial assistance, subject to the installation and commissioning of the project in line with the guidelines laid down by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

The DISCOM has stated that it will be mandatory to use locally manufactured solar panels with indigenous solar cells and modules. To ensure the same, submission of authorization or domestic content manufacturing (DCR) certificates from Indian cell suppliers will be mandatory. Domestic manufacturing of solar cells and panels will also be ensured through inspection and verification at the respective original equipment manufacturing unit.

The project (solar power plant and associated 33kV line) is to be set up with adequate arrangements up to the delivery point and O&M for 25 years (unless extended by both the parties on mutual agreement) from the commercial operation date by the solar power generator at its own cost and per the tender documents.

It will be the responsibility of the solar power generator, entirely at its cost and expense, to install the said numbers of solar panels and associated equipment as needed to achieve the required minimum capacity utilization factor (CUF) of 17%. For this purpose, the selected bidder should study and investigate the Global Horizontal Irradiation (GHI) and other factors prevalent in the area that has implications on the quantum of generation.

The meters and metering equipment should be tested per provisions of the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission and IS 14697 certified at the Central Power Research Institute or any National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)-accredited lab before installation at the site at the cost of the solar generator.

The bidder should have an electrical contractor license of Class A/B for electrical works in Rajasthan to participate in the bidding process.

Also, the bidder should have experience in supplying, installing, and commissioning grid-connected solar projects with a cumulative capacity of 2 MW and a minimum capacity of 100 kW or more during the last five years with any government or private organization in India.

The bidder should have a positive net worth for each of the last three financial years, and the bidder’s minimum average annual turnover during any three of the last five financial years should not be less than ₹52.5 million (~$703,895).

In November last year, JVVNL floated a tender to install 2,433 solar pumps of up to 7.5 HP capacity in Rajasthan under Component C of the PM KUSUM program.

Earlier, JVVNL had floated a tender for the solarization of 504 agricultural pumps to be distributed to 17 select 11 kV feeders of the Jodhpur distribution company. The scope of work included the design, survey, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the solar systems.

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