The Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) has invited expressions of interest (EoI) for project management consultant services for a 1,000 MW grid-connected solar project in Karbi Anglong district of Assam.

The solar project, financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is part of the ‘Mukhya Mantri Sauro Shakti Prokolpo’ initiative of the Assam government.

The project management consultant will be responsible for the supervision, implementation, and management of the solar project and associated contracts. Their scope includes ensuring compliance with technical, environmental, and social safeguards as per ADB policies.

The last date for submission of EoI is February 25, 2024.

The entity can be a consulting firm, a consortium of consulting firms, or a consulting arm of an electric utility. However, the entity can submit only one EOI proposal as either a single entity or a partner in a joint venture.

The minimum eligibility criteria specify that the bidding consultant must have at least five years of experience in construction supervision of grid-connected solar power plants and battery energy storage systems. They must also provide information on jobs undertaken in the past ten years, giving a brief description of the funding and the client.

Additionally, they should have delivered project management services for a 200 MW solar project and a minimum of 400 kV substations and transmission lines. The average annual turnover should exceed ₹500 million (~$6 million) in the last three years.

The EoI document also lists experience with international financial institutions as a requirement. It can either be in implementing large-scale solar projects of minimum capacity of 100 MW, a hydropower project or, any other renewable energy project of minimum capacity of 100 MW, or transmission projects of minimum 400 kV or above voltage class, all funded by any international financial institution.

The consulting firm must also have experience in social and environmental safeguard implementation for at least two grid-connected solar projects.

The estimated duration of consulting services is expected to last for 60 months.

Earlier this month, APDCL invited EoI from contractors to set up a solar project with a grid-scale battery energy storage system to completely solarize the secretariat complex in Dispur, Assam.

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