North Central Railways has invited bids for state-wise empanelment of agencies to implement grid-connected rooftop solar power projects of 5.525 MW capacity at its various divisions and workshops through public-private partnership and on a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer basis.

The projects would be developed in two capacity ranges— more than 10 kW and up to 100 kW, and more than 100 kW and up to 500 kW.

The projects must be commissioned within 240 days of receiving the work order. The developers must also provide comprehensive operation and maintenance services for 25 years.

The last day to submit the bids is August 4, 2023. The bids will be opened on the same day.

Bidders must furnish an earnest money deposit of ₹1.07 million (~$13,043)/ MW of the quoted capacity.

The selected bidders must submit a performance security of ₹1.6 million (~$19,504)/ MW and a bid process management fee of ₹75,000 (~$914)/ MW of the allotted capacity within 30 days of signing the power purchase agreement (PPA).

The empanelment will be valid for one year, with the possibility of an extension for another year based on the developer’s performance and requests from zonal railways.

The generated solar power will be utilized solely through the net metering system by the Indian Railways.

The projects are to be developed at the divisions/workshops located at Agra (865 kW), Jhansi (3.422 MW), Coach Mid Life Rehabilitation workshop (300 kW), Rail Coach Naveenikaran Karkhana (800 kW), and Prayagraj (138 kW).

Bidders must have experience installing a minimum aggregate 200 kW capacity of grid-connected solar rooftop systems as a developer or engineering procurement and construction (EPC) company.

Bidders with experience installing and commissioning a minimum aggregate 1 MW capacity of any grid-connected systems as a developer or an EPC contractor in any sector such as residential, social, industrial, commercial, government, or any other client can also submit bids.

They must have had an average annual turnover of ₹15 million (~$182,854) during the last three years. They should also have had a positive net worth in all the last three financial years.

The successful bidder will enter into a 25-year PPA with the railways after receiving the letter of award, which may also need to be signed at a divisional level if required by the public utilities or Zonal Railways.

The tender does not include any central financial assistance.

Recently, Railways floated a tender to commission 4.105 MW of rooftop solar projects across various locations in Maharashtra.

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