Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited (REIL), a joint venture between the Indian government and Rajasthan, has invited bids for 150,000 units of 4.5W multicrystalline silicon solar cells.

Bidders are not required to pay an earnest money deposit for this tender. The last date for submitting bids is March 15, 2021.

The tender is for the supply of four or five busbars 4.5W multicrystalline silicon solar cells that are 156*156 ± 1.0 mm or 156.75*156.75 ± 1.0 mm in dimensions. The thickness of the solar cells should be 200 +/- 20 µm.

The cells must be free of any cracks, holes, cuts, edge chipping, missing gridlines, smudges, patches, spots, marks, mechanical damage, or color and pattern mismatches.

The cells must be vacuum packed in lots of 100 in an export-worthy manner to avoid damage during transit and must be secured tightly in shock-proof thermocol boxes. Individual boxes must contain cells in a power band of 0.05W. Suppliers must provide information regarding cell type, crystalline structure, resistivity, orientation, thickness, and wattage of the cells in each box on a sticker.

REIL said that it prefers to deal directly with manufacturers or their dealers. It sought a contract period till April 15, 2021. The cells are to be supplied on a monthly shipment basis, as mutually agreed. Preference will be given to domestic manufacturers as long as they meet quality standards and specifications.

Vendors who have not previously supplied cells to REIL must submit a sample lot of 140 cells of each wattage free of cost for evaluation before the tender’s due date. REIL would consider a new vendor for trial order subject to the sample’s approval and suitability of terms and conditions.

REIL said it would extend the delivery period if required. If deliveries are not made on time, liquidated damages will be applicable at the rate of 1% of the shipment’s overall value per week, limited to a maximum of 10%.

According to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker, REIL has so far floated tenders for 5.75 million solar cells as of January 2021.

In January, REIL invited bids for the supply of 200,000 multicrystalline solar cells of 4.50W capacity. A month earlier, it had floated a tender for 200,000 multicrystalline solar cells of 4.50W and 4.60W capacity under the domestic content requirement (DCR) category.