Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited bids for manufacturing, testing, packaging, supply, and transportation of 1,000 MW (DC) of domestically manufactured solar modules using indigenous solar cells under the Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) Program II (Tranche -III).

The last date to submit the bids is August 17, 2023. Bids will be opened on the same day.

Bidders will have to submit an earnest money deposit of ₹270 million (~$3.29 million) for the 500 MW package and ₹540 million (~$6.58 million) for the 1,000 MW package. The successful bidder must furnish an amount equivalent to 10% of the contract value as a performance security.

The solar modules, including mandatory spares under the award, must be supplied by the select contractor during the delivery window of nine months.

Bidders can only quote in multiples of 500 MW, with a maximum capacity of up to 1,000 MW.

To be eligible, the solar module manufacturers should have a manufacturing facility of a minimum 670 MW/annum capacity if they are submitting a bid for the package capacity of 500 MW or a manufacturing facility of a minimum 1,340 MW/annum capacity if they are submitting a bid for 1,000 MW.

Alternatively, the solar module manufacturers should be in the process of setting up a solar module manufacturing facility with a minimum capacity of 670 MW/annum for a bid package capacity of 500 MW, or they should be in the process of setting up a module manufacturing facility with a minimum capacity of 1,340 MW/annum for the bid package capacity of 1,000 MW.

The minimum average annual turnover of bidders during the last three years should not be less than ₹5.36 billion (~$65.29 million).

The net worth of bidders during the last financial year should be positive.

Bidders should have a minimum working capital of ₹3.35 billion (~$40.81 million) as per the last audited financial statement. If the bidder’s working capital is inadequate, the bidder should supplement this with a letter from the bidder’s bank, having a net worth not less than ₹5 billion, confirming the availability of the line of credit for more than or equal to ₹3.35 billion (~$40.81 billion) to meet the working capital requirement.

If the supplier fails to supply the modules within the stipulated time, a sum equivalent to 0.5% per week of the unexecuted value of the contract price as liquidated damages, subject to a maximum of 5% of the contract price, will have to be paid.

The tender mandates the supply of solar cells and modules manufactured domestically per specifications and testing requirements set by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

The modules to be supplied under this tender must be sourced from the Approved List of Modules and Manufacturers.

The bidder should offer only one type of solar module (Monocrystalline or Thin-film). The efficiency of solar modules should be at least 19.5% for monocrystalline and 18.5% for thin-film CdTe.

In June last year, SECI invited bids to supply 1,680 MWdc of solar modules (including cells manufactured in India) under the domestic content requirement category.

Earlier, SECI had invited expressions of interest for the supply of 1,800 MW (DC) of solar modules (including cells manufactured in India).

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