The Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL) has invited bids to empanel developers to design, supply, install, and commission 1 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar projects on residential buildings at different locations in the state under Phase-II of the rooftop solar program.

The successful bidder will also have to take care of maintenance activities of the project for five years.

The last date to submit the bids online is September 27, 2021. Bids will be opened on September 29.

The project should be completed within 180 days from the letter of allocation or 15 months from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) approval, whichever is earlier.

The successful bidder will have to submit 3% of the project cost as a security deposit within 15 days of issuing the Letter of Intent.

The bidder should have designed, supplied, installed, and commissioned grid-connected solar power projects having a cumulative aggregate capacity of at least 100 kW which should have been commissioned before the bid opening date.

General category bidders can quote between 100 kW and 200 kW only.

The MNRE recently issued benchmark costs for grid-connected rooftop solar systems for the financial year (FY) 2021-22. This is applicable for all projects to be awarded and for empanelment of vendors by state implementing agencies under phase-II of the MNRE’s rooftop solar program after ten days from the notification, i.e., August 28, 2021.

The bidder’s average annual turnover should be ₹15,000 (~$204)/kW for the bid capacity during the last three financial years. For micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the bidder should have an average annual turnover of ₹5,000 (~$68)/kW during the last three financial years.

Alternatively, the bidder under the general category should have a positive net worth of at least ₹10,000 (~$136)/kW as of March 31, 2021. Similarly, for MSMEs of Tripura, the bidder should have a positive net worth of ₹5,000 (~$68)/kW as of the last day of the previous financial year.

TSECL will allocate a minimum of 10% of the total allocated quantity to the lowest bidder (L1). If the allocated quantity is not executed, the L1 bidder’s bank guarantee will be encashed and the bidder blacklisted for five years for all government tenders.

A minimum capacity utilization factor (CUF) of 13.5% should be maintained for five years to achieve annual CUF within +10% and -13.5% of the declared value for the release of subsidy. The solar modules to be used in the project should have a warranty of 25 years.

The CFA of 40% on the benchmark cost will be provided for systems up to 3 kW. For systems above 3 kW and up to 10 kW, a CFA of 40% will be applicable for only the first 3 kW capacity, and for others, it will be 20%. The CFA will be restricted to 20% for common facilities up to 500 kW for group housing societies and residential welfare associations.

In November last year, another northeastern state, Meghalaya, had issued a tender to empanel developers for 10 MW of residential grid-connected rooftop solar projects in the state under the second phase of the rooftop solar program.

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