Mahasamruddhi Renewable Energy Limited (MREL), a special purpose vehicle (SPV) of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC), has issued an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) tender to develop a 5 MW(AC) ground-mounted solar project at Bhilkheda in Washim, Maharashtra.

The last date to submit online bids is February 10, 2022. Technical bids will be opened the following day. The pre-bid meeting will take place on January 24.

Bidders must furnish ₹200,000 (~$2,704) as an earnest money deposit. In addition, the successful bidder must submit 10% of the contract value within ten days from the issuance of the letter of acceptance.

The scope of work includes the designing, engineering, procuring, supplying, insuring, packing, forwarding, loading, transporting, unloading, constructing, installing, testing, erecting, and commissioning of the 5 MW grid-connected solar project. After commissioning the project, the successful bidder must provide comprehensive operation and maintenance services for ten years.

The successful bidder will also be responsible for land development as per the project requirement and laying off transmission lines from the solar power project to the nearest sub-station of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) or Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (MSETCL).

Bidders must have developed and commissioned grid-connected solar power projects with a total capacity of 3 MW or above to be eligible. Of this, at least one solar project should have 1 MW of higher capacity, and the project should be in successful operation for at least six months before the bid due date.

In addition, the bidders should have executed at least one electrical sub-station of 11/22 kV or above voltage level, including equipment like the voltage circuit breaker and a power transformer.

Bidders’ average annual turnover must not be less than ₹100 million (~$1.35 million) in the last three financial years. In the last financial year, their net worth must be over ₹50 million (~$676,105).

The successful bidder should provide a ten-year warranty for the solar modules. Furthermore, the modules must have a performance warranty of over 97% during the first year, over 90% in the first ten years, and over 80% at the end of 25 years.

According to the tender document, the capacity utilization factor (CUF) should be a minimum of 25.09%. Any shortfall in the CUF would attract liquidated damages at 25% of the power sale tariff agreed between MREL and MSEDCL.

Earlier this month, Central Electronics Limited, a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Science and Technology, invited bids for the design, supply, erection, testing, and commissioning of decentralized solar systems ranging from 2 MW to 10 MW for a cumulative capacity of 25 MW at various substations in Maharashtra.

Mercom had earlier reported that MSRDC issued a consulting services tender to assess the potential for developing 150-200 MW of solar projects along the Nagpur Mumbai Superhighway.

Harsh Shukla is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Previously with Indian Express, he has covered general interest stories. He holds a Masters Degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune.

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