Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited bids to empanel agencies to conduct site studies to prepare a detailed project report for upcoming solar projects.

The work has been divided into three categories:

• Category A: Topographic Survey with Geotechnical Investigation (Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) + Total Station)
• Category B: Topographic Survey with Geotechnical Investigation (LiDAR/UAV)
• Category C: Topographic and Hydrographic Surveys with Geotechnical Investigation

The empanelment will be for five years with a further two year-extension provision.

The last day to submit the bids is April 19, 2024. Bids will be opened on the same day.

Bidders must furnish ₹6,000 (~$72) as a bid document processing fee.

They can submit bids for one or more categories. The empanelment will be carried out for the individual categories separately, and the selected bidder will be empanelled for that respective category.

Only those bidders fulfilling the qualifying requirements and are empanelled under either Category A or Category B will be eligible for empanelment under Category C.

Under Category A, bidders must conduct a comprehensive topographic survey and geotechnical investigation to construct solar projects. This includes using DGPS and total station for surveys, establishing control points, benchmarks, and reference pillars, performing closed traversing and leveling for accurate area mapping, and developing detailed plans and reports in editable formats.

Under Category B, bidders must conduct comprehensive topographic surveys and geotechnical investigations for solar projects using UAV/Aerial LiDAR and high-resolution satellite imagery. This requires establishing stable ground control points concerning permanent benchmarks, capturing detailed aerial imagery of the site to ensure complete coverage with high precision, and employing the latest post-processing kinetics or real-time kinetics technology for accurate site assessment.

Under Category C, bidders must conduct detailed surveys for floating solar projects, encompassing both onshore and offshore areas. This involves establishing control points through DGPS triangulation, conducting soundings in water bodies using echo sounders with DGPS positioning, and applying corrections for draft, roll/pitch, and water levels. Data processing is essential for removing spurious records, applying corrections, and developing the water body bed profile.

Category A Eligibility Criteria

Bidders should have executed contracts for similar work in any of the last seven years.

They should own total station and DGPS and submit calibration certificates from an NABL-accredited lab.

Bidders should have completed at least one similar work order of a minimum of ₹4.92 million (~$59,283), two similar works of ₹3.07 million (~$36,992), or three similar works of ₹2.46 million (~$29,641) during any of the last seven years.

They should have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹2.46 million (~$29,641) in the last three financial years.

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

Category B Eligibility Criteria

Bidders should have executed contracts for similar work in any of the last seven years.

The drone or UAV operators should have the necessary qualifications and licenses for flying issued by the competent authority in India.

Bidders should have completed at least one similar work order of a minimum of ₹4.52 million (~$54,464), two similar works of ₹2.82 million (~$33,979), or three similar works of ₹2.26 million (~$27,232) during any of the last seven years.

They should have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹2.26 million (~$27,232) in the last three financial years.

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

Category C Eligibility Criteria

Bidders should have executed contracts for similar work in any of the last seven years.

They should own a multibeam echosounder or single beam echosounder and DGPS. They must submit the calibration certificates from an NABL-accredited lab.

Bidders should have completed at least one similar work order of a minimum of ₹4.6 million (~$55,430), two similar works of ₹2.87 million (~$34,583), or three similar works of ₹2.3 million (~$27,715) during any of the last seven years.

They should have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹2.3 million (~$27,715) in the last three financial years.

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

Recently, SECI invited bids to set up a 300 MW ground-mounted solar project at Ramagiri in Andhra Pradesh.

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