NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) has invited bids for a balance of system (BoS) package with land for up to 1,000 MW of interstate transmission system (ISTS)-connected solar projects to be set up anywhere in India.

The last date to submit bids is February 3, 2022. Bids will be opened on the next day. The pre-bid meeting will take place on January 24.

Bidders quoting for capacity between 50 MW and 110 MW should submit ₹20 million (~$269,070) as a bid security deposit. For capacity above 110 MW up to 220 MW, the bid security amount is ₹5 million (~$672,693), and ₹100 million (~$1.34 million) for capacity between 220 MW and 440 MW. For capacity between 440 MW and 600 MW, the bid security deposit is ₹200 million (~$2.69 million).

The scope of work includes identification, acquisition, and transfer of ownership or lease of land in favor of NTPC Renewable Energy. The successful bidders will also be responsible for the design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, packaging, forwarding, transporting, unloading, storage, installation, testing, and commissioning of solar projects, excluding solar modules supply.

After commissioning these projects, the successful bidders must provide comprehensive operation and maintenance services for three years, including switchyard and power evacuation systems until the interconnecting grid substation.

Bidders should have designed and commissioned at least 40 MW of grid-connected solar projects. One project must be of a 10 MW capacity or above and have been in operation for at least six months before the date of the techno-commercial bid opening.

Alternatively, bidders should have installed grid-connected solar projects with a cumulative capacity of 40 MW or above. One solar project should be of a 10 MW capacity or above. The project should have been in operation for at least six months before the date of the techno-commercial bid opening.

Bidders should have executed an industrial project either as developers or as engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors in the power, steel, oil, gas, petrochemical, fertilizer, cement, or coal mining sector in the last ten years. The project should have been in operation for at least one year before the date of the techno-commercial bid opening.

Bidders should have completed at least one electrical sub-station of 33 kV or above voltage level, consisting of equipment like power transformers and circuit breakers.

The bidders’ minimum average annual turnover for quoted capacity between 50 MW and 300 MW should be ₹1.1 billion (~$14.79 million) in the last three financial years. Their average annual turnover must not be less than ₹2.2 billion (~$29.59 million) in the last three financial years if the capacity is between 300 MW and 600 MW. Their net worth must be equal to or higher than their paid-up share capital in the last financial year.

Last month, NTPC Renewable Energy invited bids for a BoS package for 325 MW of projects located at Shajapur Solar Park, Madhya Pradesh.

In November, NTPC Limited reissued a balance of system package tender for the 735 (3×245) MW Nokh solar power project in Rajasthan.

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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