The Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) has invited bids for the empanelment of installers for grid-connected rooftop solar systems of 1 kW to 500 kW capacity at various places in the state. The successful bidder will also have to provide a comprehensive five-year warranty for the equipment used in the project.

The projects will be developed under Phase-II of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) rooftop solar program.

The project has to be executed on a turnkey basis, and all eligible payments under the project will be made from the proceeds of financial assistance to be received by UPCL. The tender will follow a domestic competitive bidding process.

The scope of work includes site survey, design, engineering, manufacturing, testing, supply, loading, transportation, installation, and commissioning, including warranty and documentation of all items required to complete the works.

The last date to submit the bids is July 7, 2021, and bids will be opened on July 8.

The successful bidder should furnish 10% of the contract price as the performance security deposit within 28 days from the date of the notification of the award.

To participate in the bidding process, the bidder should be a qualified manufacturer who can supply, erect, test, and commission the type of project specified in the bidding document and has adequate technical knowledge and practical experience. In addition, the bidder should not propose any change in ownership during the work period. The bidder must be financially stable to meet the project’s commercial obligations.

The bidder should achieve high levels of equipment reliability, both during his manufacturing and field installation activities.

A consortium will be allowed to participate in the tender, but it should not have more than two partners with one partner as the lead. A bidder found to have a conflict of interest will be disqualified. The bidding document specifies that conflict of interest could arise if bidders have a common controlling partner, receive or have received any direct or indirect subsidy from any of them, or submit more than one bid in the bidding process, among others.

All the equipment supplied for the project and services carried out under the contract should have their origin in India, except in cases where UPCL allows the import of goods from outside India based on specific requirements.

In May last year, the Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency issued a tender to empanel contractors for 575 kW of grid-connected rooftop and small solar power projects ranging between 1 kW and 500 kW in the state.

Earlier, UPCL had floated a tender inviting expression of interest for the rate contract and empanelment of vendors for grid-connected rooftop solar power projects between 1 kW and 500 kW. The total capacity of the projects to be developed was 10 MW.

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