The Rajasthan Electronics and Instruments Limited (REIL) issued a tender for the manufacture and supply of 6,500 polycrystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) modules with a wattage of 330 W. The modules must be made from 72 solar cells.

REIL is a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Rajasthan. Interested bidders are expected to pay an earnest money deposit (EMD) of ₹1 million (~$13.326) to participate in the tender. The last date for the submission of bids is September 3, 2020. Only online bids are allowed. Bidders from categories like micro and small enterprises are exempt from paying the bid processing fee and EMD.

Solar cells can be manufactured domestically or procured from foreign manufacturers. But the modules need to be made by an Indian manufacturer.

Prospective bidders must specify the type of solar cells (DCR or non-DCR) to be used for the manufacturing of SPV modules.

Bidders will also have to provide a warranty for five years and six months from the date of supply against any manufacturing defect.

According to the tender document, only Indian module manufacturers are allowed to place bids. The vendor must have a production capacity of at least 50 MW of PV modules per year, along with an automated in-house manufacturing facility.

The tender document states that the vendor must have manufactured and supplied 5 MW of solar modules cumulatively in the previous year. The total quantity tendered must be supplied within two months from the date of the issue of the purchase order.

Previously, REIL has issued a notice inviting tender for the supply of 600,000 multi-crystalline solar cells with wattages of 4.5W, 4.6W, and 4.67W. The tender was floated for 200,000 solar cells for each wattage category.

Mercom had also reported recently that REIL had issued a tender for rate contract manufacturing of polycrystalline solar modules of 325W. If these solar cells are domestically manufactured, the diffusion process on wafers (black wafers) should be carried out in India.