Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) has issued a request for proposal (RfP) from Charge Point Operators for the installation and maintenance of 810 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations for four-wheelers on 16 highways and expressways across India. The installations are on a build, own, and operate (BOO) model for eight years, which can be extended up to ten years.

CESL, a subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services (EESL), has been awarded financial support to deploy these EV charging stations under Phase II of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME-II) program of the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI).

The selected bidder must install and commission all the EV chargers for the allocated lot within five months from the date of the letter of award (LoA).

The last date to submit the bids is May 3, 2022. Bids will be opened on the same day.

Bidders must submit a document fee of ₹25,000 (~$325.95). They must also submit an earnest money deposit (EMD) amount depending on the lot or the highway/expressways they are bidding for. If bidders participate in more than one lot, they would have to submit an EMD amount equivalent to a cumulative sum of the EMDs of the respective lots.

The successful bidder must pay a contract performance guarantee within 28 days of receiving the LoA, equal to 100% of the eligible financial support of the respective lots minus CESL’s PMC charges, which is 14%. The contract performance guarantee must be submitted lot-wise.

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) will be exempted from paying the bid document fee and EMD. Non-local suppliers will not be eligible to bid in this tender.

The combination of chargers to be used by the selected operators must be a minimum of 50 kW and a maximum of 60 kW at every 25 kilometers on both sides of the highway and a minimum of 100 kW and a maximum of 120 kW after every three charging stations on the highway.

Twenty-five percent of the total quantity is earmarked for registered MSMEs for the tendered item. Out of the 25% target of annual procurement from micro and small enterprises, 4% and 3% will be earmarked for procurement from micro and small enterprises owned by Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) entrepreneurs and Women entrepreneurs, respectively

The charging operators must ensure that the number of EVs equivalent to the number of charging guns can be charged simultaneously at each charging station. They should also ensure that all the EV chargers carry at least three years of a comprehensive warranty.

After completion of the contracted period from the date of commissioning, the operators must remove the existing charging systems and associated infrastructure at their cost and return the site to the landowner.

According to the benchmark price of the EV chargers set by the Ministry of Heavy Industries, the maximum financial support per EV charger available with CESL is calculated capacity-wise. For chargers with a capacity of 50 kW, the benchmark price is ₹725,000 (~$9,452), and for the chargers, with a minimum of 100 kW, the benchmark price is ₹1.169 million (~$15,241). The maximum financial support for one 50 kW charger is calculated at 55% of the benchmark cost, amounting to ₹398,750 (~$5,199), and for one 100 kW charger is calculated at 50% of the benchmark cost, amounting to ₹584,325 (~$7,619).

Bidders must have implemented or installed and be operating a minimum of 50% of the EV chargers for the respective lot they are bidding for, across two states. If bidders are bidding for multiple lots, they must meet the requirement for each lot.

Bidders must have an average annual turnover in the last three financial years ranging from ₹2 million (~$26,076) to ₹32 million (~$417,225). If a bidder is bidding for multiple lots, the bidder must meet the requirement cumulatively for the lots for which bids are placed.

In the immediate past financial year, i.e., 2020-21, the bidders’ net worth should not be less than 100% of paid-up share capital.

Suppose there is a delay in commissioning the EV charging stations in the awarded lot beyond five months from the date of issue of LoA. In that case, the operator will have to repay 0.25% of the eligible financial support per week of delay, up to a maximum of 5% of the eligible financial support.

Minister of State for Heavy Industries Krishan Pal Gurjar recently announced the approval of 2,877 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in 68 cities across 25 states and union territories under the second phase of the FAME-II program.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Power (MoP) issued the revised ‘Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles (EVs) Guidelines’ to accelerate the e-mobility transition in the country.