The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited a global tender on behalf of Arunachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency (APEDA) to electrify 1,058 off-grid villages in the state by installing 300 Wp solar power packs. The project will be developed under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), a Government of India program aimed at empowering power projects and providing continuous power supply to rural India. SECI has mandated a six-month period for project completion, starting from the date the project is awarded. The developer offering the lowest rate(s) (L1) will be the successful bidder. A total of 16,000 solar power packs of 300 Wp will be installed.

The scope of work includes, site survey, planning, design, engineering, assembly manufacturing, testing, supply, loading, transportation, unloading, insurance, delivery at site, handling, storage, installation, testing and commissioning, including operation & maintenance of the system for five years and documentation of all items/materials required to complete the electrification work.

The successful bidders, who execute the agreement with SECI for the work, will have to furnish a security deposit equivalent to 10 percent of the total value of the contract in the form of a performance bank guarantee valid for a period of 60 months from the date of issuance of Letter of Award. The SECI has reserved the right at the time of awarding the contract to increase or decrease the quantity up to +/- 15 percent of goods and locations of supply without any change in price or other terms and conditions.

The SECI has also put forth guidelines regarding the payment to the developers:

The initial 80 percent of the value of work done will be paid after it is duly certified by the concerned village head or any other authorized person nominated by SECI that the solar power packs have been installed.

• Out of the remaining 20 percent, 10 percent of the value of work done will be paid after establishing of service center(s) in each district of Arunachal Pradesh in which solar power packs and street lighting systems are installed and commissioned.
• The balance 10 percent payment will be released at the rate of 2 percent at the end of each year for five years, on satisfactory performance and timely submission of quarterly performance report. However, this can be released immediately after installation and commissioning of the system against bank guarantee of 2 percent each valid for the first, second, third, fourth and fifth years.

“Arunachal Pradesh has very tough terrain and it is hard to install grid-connected solar. These solar power packs are the solution as they are both power-efficient and cost-efficient. The government will not have to spend on grid-connectivity and transmission. It will also lead to these villages becoming power-independent to an extent,” commented a SECI official.