The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVNL) has invited expression of interest for empanelment of agencies to set up grid-connected residential rooftop solar systems of capacities ranging from 1 kW  to 500 kW in 10 separate locations that fall under the jurisdiction of UHBVN

These locations are Panchkula, Ambala, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat, Jhajjar, and Rohtak. The last date for submission of bids is August 26, 2021. The bids would be opened on August 27, 2021.

Bidders are expected to pay a non-refundable fee of ₹5,900 (~$80) as a tender fee and ₹1,180 (~$16) as an e-service fee.

Scope of work

The scope of work includes design, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning and includes a five-year warranty and comprehensive maintenance contract for five years of the grid-connected residential rooftop solar systems of capacities 1 kW to 500 kW.

The scope also includes wiring up to the distribution board from the solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftop system. A maximum cable length of 25 meters would be provided for every solar power project installed. The supply of excess cable length, if required, would be provided by the consumer or beneficiary.

The successful bidder will supply spares free of cost to maintain the offered items during the warranty period and would also provide a leaflet containing the details of the operation, and the service centers must be provided to each purchaser as well as to UHBVN.

The project’s operation and maintenance (O&M) includes warranty against wear, tear, overhauling, machine breakdown, insurance, and replacement of defective modules, invertors or power conditioning unit (PCU), spares, and consumables, and other parts for five years.

The successful bidder will replace non-performing or under-performing PV panels free of cost during the warranty period.

The successful bidders can only use solar PV cells and modules covered in the approved list of modules and manufacturers (ALMM) for the project to become eligible for central financial assistance (CFA) or subsidy.

PV modules must meet the latest specification of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). They should be tested and approved by one of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) authorized test centers.

The inverters should be tested from the MNRE approved test centers or National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) or Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) or IEC accredited or authorized testing-calibration laboratories.

In the case of imported PCUs, these should be approved by international test houses.

The empanelment period is one year from the date of empanelment, which may be extended by one more year, on mutual consent. Successful bidders are expected to complete the project in 30-90 days depending upon the capacity

Eligibility criteria

The bidder must have the adequate financial capability to meet the scope of work. The bidder must have ample post-installation localized service facilities or centers.

The table below elaborates the financial, technical eligibility criteria for various capacity ranges under the EOI.

Only individual firms can participate in the bidding; joint ventures or consortiums are barred from applying.

Only manufacturers of solar modules, solar cells, and system integrators who fulfill the pre-determined technical and financial criteria would be allowed to participate in the bidding process. The bidder must have experience in supply, installation, testing, commissioning, maintenance, or after-sale services in grid-connected solar photovoltaic systems.

In 2019, UHBVNL had issued an expression of interest to empanel agencies to install grid-connected residential rooftop solar systems of 1kW-500 kW capacities. These projects were to be developed in nine operation circles of UHBVNL, namely,  Ambala, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat, Jhajjar, and Rohtak.

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