Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments (REIL), a joint venture between the Central and the Rajasthan government, has invited bids to procure 1,540 solar modules with a wattage output of at least 660 W made from monocrystalline silicon passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC) solar cells.

The company said that only the solar modules made by Sova Solar, Navitas, Gautam Solar, Goldi Green, Credence, RenewSys, Waaree, and Topsun would be procured under this tender.

The last date to submit the bids online is February 21, 2023. Bids will be opened the following day.

The total quantity must be supplied within 90 days from the purchase order date.

The modules must be free from breakage, cracks, air bubbles, cells overlapping one another or cells touching the edge frame, scratches on the frame or glass, excessive or uneven glue marks on the glass or frame, and inconsistent cell colors.

The suppliers must be original Indian solar module manufacturers or their authorized dealers or distributors.

To participate in the bidding process, the vendor should have a minimum of 5 MW per annum of solar module automated in-house manufacturing facilities.

Also, the vendor should have manufactured and supplied a cumulative capacity of 500 kW of solar modules during the last three years.

Additionally, bidders should have supplied 500 solar modules during the last three financial years.

The minimum average annual turnover of bidders during the last three financial years should be at least ₹10 million (~$10,757). The net worth of bidders for the previous financial year should be positive.

Purchase preference will be given to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs). Out of the 25% tendered quantity reserved for MSE suppliers, 20% has been earmarked for procurement from MSEs owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs.

If the MSE vendors participating in the tender quote within the price band of L1+15%, they will be allowed to supply the portion of the requirement subject to acceptance of the L1 price by the MSE vendor. In case of more than one such MSE, the supply will be shared proportionately.

According to tender documents, if the supplier fails to deliver the modules per the accepted delivery schedule, a penalty will be imposed at 0.5 % per week as liquidated damages, subject to a maximum of 5% for the delayed supply.

Solar modules must be warranted for their output peak watt capacity, which should not be less than 90% at the end of ten years and 80% at the end of 25 years.

Solar modules should perform satisfactorily with ambient temperatures between -10°C and +85°C and withstand gusts up to 170 Km/hour on the panel’s surface.

Recently, REIL invited bids to procure 6,000 solar modules with a wattage output of at least 335 W made from 72 polycrystalline silicon solar cells.

Earlier, REIL had invited bids for the supply of 100,000 mono PERC solar cells of 580 wattage output capacity.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, REIL has issued tenders to procure 133,610 solar modules to date.