Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has issued a notice inviting tender (NIT) from global manufacturers of floaters to enter a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for freezing techno commercial conditions and specifications for the design and supply of floaters and associated anchoring and mooring of floaters for various floating solar projects across India.

The last day to submit the bids is April 18, 2022.

Demand for floaters

BHEL has been experiencing an unprecedented demand for floaters and has decided to review the procurement procedures and systems for various raw materials to ensure quick responses from vendors against inquiries. BHEL aims to reduce the lead time to convert inquiries into purchase orders. To efficiently address the demand and reduce the cost and procurement cycle, the NIT is issued to have a prior understanding with prospective suppliers of the BHEL procurement procedures, systems, technical specifications, and commercial conditions.

Bank guarantee

For contracts with a value above ₹2.5 million (~$33,147), bidders must furnish a contract performance guarantee of 10% of the entire project cost. There will be no contract performance guarantee if the contract value is less than ₹2.5 million (~$33,147).

After signing the MoU, BHEL will inform the manufacturer about the number of modules and the specific technical specifications for the respective project, and the manufacturer will have to submit the price as per the number of modules and specifications as indicated.

Scope of work

The scope of work includes the design and supply of a complete solar module floatation platform and complete floater accessories. The successful bidder must also assemble floaters and modules and cable connections between modules and design and supply high-density polyethylene (HDPE) floaters to lay direct current and high-tension cables. They should also design, supply, install, and commission the mooring and anchoring solar module floatation platforms and HDPE floaters with provisions for annual maintenance.

The floating units must be standardized and designed for simple onsite installation. The floating units must be prefabricated and modular in design with appropriate buoyancy to support the weight of at least one solar module and one person per unit. They must be manufactured from appropriate thermoplastic with an ultraviolet (UV) stabilizer. Each floater must be warranted against crack, puncture, and breakage for 25 years.

Eligibility criteria

The bidder, to be eligible, must have executed at least one floating solar project with a minimum capacity of 1 MW. The bidder should have also designed and supplied the floater and the anchoring and mooring system. The project must have been in successful operation for a minimum of six months till the date of this tender opening. Completion certificates from the customer must be submitted for validation.

In case of a delay in delivery as per the MoU guidelines, liquidity damages at the rate of 0.5% will be charged on the undelivered portion per week or part thereof, subject to a maximum of 10% of the contract price.

In December 2021, BHEL had invited bids from original equipment manufacturers to enter into a memorandum of understanding to supply 42,000 metric tons of module mounting structures.

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