The Bhavnagar Division of Western Railways has invited bids to set up 1.3 MW rooftop solar power projects with a net metering facility.

The scope of work includes designing, supplying, erecting, testing, and commissioning projects with a minimum 10 kW system capacity per location. The exact locations where the systems would be installed were not disclosed.

The selected bidder must also provide a five-year warranty and comprehensive maintenance for the installed systems.

Bids can be submitted from December 13 to December 27, 2023. Bids will be opened on the last day.

The project must be completed within six months of receiving the work order.

The advertised value of the tender is ₹63.64 million (~$763,203)

Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit of ₹468,000 (~$5,612).

They must have a valid electrical contractor license to participate in the tender.

Bidders must have fulfilled one of the following three criteria in the last seven years – (i) Three similar works each costing not less than the amount equal to 30% of advertised value of the tender, or (ii) Two similar works each costing not less than the amount equal to 40% of advertised value of the tender, or (iii) One similar work costing not less than the amount equal to 60% of advertised value of the tender.

They must have a minimum average annual contractual turnover, which is calculated by dividing the advertised value of the tender by the number of years prescribed for the completion of work. The average annual contractual turnover will be calculated as an average of ‘total contractual payments’ in the last three financial years.

In November last year, Western Railways disclosed that it saved ₹30 million (~$359,757) on energy bills through the financial year 2021-22 by installing 6.6 MW of solar power projects across 97 railway stations and 3.92 MW of solar power projects at 46 railway office buildings.

Recently, the Kota Division of West Central Railways invited bids for state-wise empanelment of agencies to implement grid-connected rooftop solar projects of 4.19 MW capacity at its yards and workshops.