Uttar Pradesh New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (UPNEDA) has invited bids to install and commission grid-connected solar power systems for 1,000 agricultural pumps under Component C1 of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) program.

The successful bidder will have to operate and maintain the project for five years from the date of commissioning.

The last date to submit the bids is June 15, 2023. Bids will be opened the following day.

The project’s estimated cost is ₹600 million (~$7.24 million).

Bidders will have to submit an amount equivalent to 2% of the estimated project cost as an earnest money deposit. They must furnish an amount equivalent to 10% of the contract’s total value as a performance bank guarantee.

The project must be completed within four months of the work award or as specified by UPNEDA.

Bidders should have supplied and installed solar power projects, which include grid-connected, off-grid, rooftop solar, and ground-mounted projects of an aggregate capacity of 1,000 kW in the last three years.

The average annual turnover of bidders in the last three financial years should be at least 30% of the estimated cost, i.e., ₹180 million (~$2.17 million).

The net worth of bidders as of the last day of the preceding financial year should not be less than 100% of the paid-up share capital.

If the successful bidder fails to complete the projects on time, an amount equivalent to 0.5% of the contract price as liquidated damages for each week of delay, subject to a maximum of 5% of the contract price, will apply.

UPNEDA has stated that projects commissioned by March 31, 2024, will be exempted from the requirement of procuring solar modules from the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers.

The solar modules should be of crystalline solar photovoltaic technology manufactured in India, with an efficiency greater than or equal to 15%. The modules must be warranted for their output peak watt capacity, which should not be less than 90% at the end of 12 years and 80% at the end of 25 years.

Recently, UPNEDA invited bids to set up 150 MW of grid-connected solar power projects under component C2 of the PM-KUSUM program through the RESCO model.

Earlier, UPNEDA had invited bids to set up 98 MW of solar projects of 0.5 MW, 1 MW, 1.5 MW, and 2 MW capacity on agricultural land, pasturelands, and marshlands of farmers in Uttar Pradesh under the PM KUSUM program.

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