The Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI), a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), has invited bids to set up a 300 MW ground-mounted solar photovoltaic power project at Ramagiri in Andhra Pradesh.

The project is part of the Central Public Sector Undertaking Scheme Phase II, which aims to build 12,000 MW of grid-connected solar projects across the country.

Bids for the project must be submitted by March 27, 2024.

The successful bidder will be responsible for the design, engineering, procurement, and supply of equipment and materials (except solar modules, which SECI will supply), construction, erection, testing, commissioning, and five years of comprehensive operation and maintenance of the project.

Bidders can qualify through Route 1, 2, or 3. Route 1 requires experience in EPC execution of ground-mounted solar projects totaling at least 120 MW capacity or above in the last seven financial years, with individual projects operating satisfactorily for at least six months prior to bid submission.

Route 2 demands experience as a developer of grid-connected solar projects totaling 120 MW capacity or above, with individual projects of 30 MW or more, operating for at least six months prior to bid submission.

Route 3 necessitates the execution of an industrial project worth ₹750 million (~$9 million) or more in the last ten years and successful operation for at least one year prior to bid submission, along with the execution of at least one electrical sub-station of 33 kV or above voltage level.

Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit of ₹45 million (~$543,000) and contract performance security worth 5% of the total project cost.

They must also have a minimum average annual turnover of ₹1.78 billion (~ $23.9 million) in the last three financial years, and the net worth for the last financial year must be positive.

Applicant should possess a minimum working capital of ₹740 million (~$8.9 million). In case of inadequate working capital, a letter from the bidder’s bank with a net worth not less than ₹5 billion (~$60 million) confirming the availability of a line of credit equal to or exceeding ₹740 million (~$8.9 million) to meet the working capital requirement of the project, must be provided.

Only Class I local suppliers for solar inverters will be allowed to participate, in line with the government’s Make in India policy. A Class-I local supplier has local content equal to or more than 50% of the goods or services provided.

Last month, SECI invited bids for the manufacturing, testing, packing, forwarding, supply, and transportation of 900 MW solar modules made with domestically manufactured solar cells.

Earlier, it invited bids to develop 1,200 MW of interstate transmission system-connected wind-solar hybrid power projects (Tranche VIII) in the country.

Subscribe to Mercom’s India Solar Tender Tracker to stay on top of tender activity in real time.