The Military Engineer Services (MES) has issued a notice inviting tender (NIT) for the development of a 1 MW solar power project at Sigar in Arunachal Pradesh.

The last date for the submission of bids is July 15, 2020, while the bid opening date has been scheduled for July 17, 2020.

The total period provided for the completion of work is 67 months, which is divided into two phases. Phase I comprises of 12 months and 55 months has been allotted for phase II. The estimated cost of the project is ₹61.8 million (~$814,856). Interested bidders are expected to pay ₹634,000 (~$8,360) as the earnest money deposit (EMD). On selection, the contractors will have to submit 5% of the contract value as the performance bank guarantee.

The prospective bidders must have completed solar power projects either for the government department or any public sector undertaking in the last seven years. In the case the bidder has developed only one project, it should be of at least 80% of the tendered capacity. In the case of two projects, the capacity of each should be 50% of the tendered capacity, and for three projects, each should be of 40% of the project capacity.

According to the document, the successful bidder will not be allowed to execute the work by subletting to others.

In May 2020, Mercom had reported that the Military Engineer Services had invited bids for off-grid solar electric supply to LED pathway lights at Nofra under GE Gomantak in Vasco, Goa.

Previously, MES also announced a tender for a 500 kW rooftop solar power project at Indian Naval Air Station at Rajali, Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu.

There is negligible solar capacity in Arunachal Pradesh as of now. According to Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker, the state merely accounts for 1.125 MW of solar projects currently.

In July 2019, the Arunachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency also issued a tender for over 1 MW of off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) projects to be installed in the state.

Anjana is a news editor at Mercom India. Before joining Mercom, she held roles of senior editor, district correspondent, and sub-editor for The Times of India, Biospectrum and The Sunday Guardian. Before that, she worked at the Deccan Herald and the Asianlite as chief sub-editor and news editor. She has also contributed to The Quint, Hindustan Times, The New Indian Express, Reader’s Digest (UK edition), IndiaSe (Singapore-based magazine) and Asiaville. Anjana holds a Master’s degree in Geography from North Bengal University, and a diploma in mass communication and journalism from Guru Ghasidas University, Bhopal.