Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited bids for manufacturing, testing, packing, forwarding, supplying, and transporting 400 MW domestically manufactured solar modules.

The cells used in these modules must be manufactured in India.

The last date for the submission of bids is December 23, 2023. Bids will be opened the same day.

Bidder must submit bids for a minimum of 100 MW solar module supply capacity. They must submit bids for capacities in the multiples of 100 MW. Bidders cannot quote for any intermediary package capacities.

Bidders can choose from these four packages and are required to submit the respective earnest money deposit (EMD) as follows:

• Package 1: 100 MW, EMD ₹27 million (~$323,890)
• Package 2: 200 MW, EMD ₹54 million (~$647,781)
• Package 3: 300 MW, EMD ₹81 million (~$971,672)
• Package 4: 400 MW, EMD ₹108 million (~$1.2 million)

The successful bidder has to pay the contract performance security, set at 5% of the total project or order cost.

The bidders must provide a single type of module technology, specifically crystalline technology, and these modules should have identical dimensions.

The project site for delivering the modules can be anywhere in India. The specific details of the site will be communicated by the owner to the supplier when dispatching the modules.

The supply of modules and the mandatory spares included in the award must occur through staggered deliveries within a nine-month delivery window.

The tender mandates the use of domestically manufactured solar cells and modules meeting MNRE specifications sourced from ALMM-listed manufacturers.

The owner retains the authority to adjust the quoted capacity of modules by a margin of ±10% when confirming the order without altering the agreed-upon price, terms, and conditions.

Additionally, the owner will possess the right to issue a repeat order for an additional quantity of up to 100% of the initially awarded module package capacity. This subsequent order will be subject to the same price, terms, and conditions as the original contract.

The extended delivery period required for this supplementary order will be mutually agreed upon. The approval and execution of such a repeated order will occur no later than six months from the date of the original awarded capacity.

Bidders can opt for one of two qualifying routes based on technical eligibility.

Route I is for those with an existing operational solar module manufacturing facility, and route II is for bidders with a solar module manufacturing facility under construction where bid submission is limited to original module manufacturers with a capacity of at least 133 MW per annum for a package of 100 MW.

Technical eligibility specified above is for a single package of 100 MW.

If bidders participate in the higher packages, they must meet the technical eligibility conditions accordingly in multiples of 2, 3, or 4, respectively.

Bidders must demonstrate a minimum average annual turnover of ₹1.07 billion ($12.8 million) over the last three financial years (FY 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23). Additionally, the net worth for the latest financial year should be positive.

They must maintain a minimum working capital of ₹670 million ($8.03 million). In case the working capital falls short, they can provide a letter from a bank with a net worth of at least ₹5 billion ($59.9 million), confirming a line of credit exceeding or equal to ₹670 million ($8.03 million) to meet the project’s working capital requirements.

In October this year, SECI issued a tender to select solar power developers for setting up 1 GW inter-state transmission system-connected solar projects (Tranche XII) in India.

Recently, SECI also invited bids to select renewable energy developers to supply 1 GW firm and dispatchable power from Inter-State Transmission System-connected projects (Tranche-FDRE-V) in India.

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