ITI Limited, a public sector entity under the Department of Telecommunication, has announced a tender for establishing a 500 MW fully-automatic solar photovoltaic (SPV) module manufacturing line on a turnkey basis at its Prayagraj facility in Uttar Pradesh. The tender submission deadline is January 23, 2024.
The project includes the supply, installation, and commissioning of the facility, process optimisation, and a minimum five-year warranty. It also covers layout design and training for the operations and maintenance of the manufacturing line. The initial phase involves setting up a 250 MW fully automatic SPV manufacturing line, with the potential to expand it to 500 MW in the future. Upgrading the existing 18 MW semi-automatic SPV manufacturing line to a 50 MW fully automatic line is also a scope of work under the tender. This upgrade will also involve supply, installation, commissioning, process optimisation, and a minimum two-year warranty, alongside layout design and operator training. The estimated project cost is Rs 650 million.
According to the tender guidelines, the bidders must submit an earnest money deposit of Rs 13 million. The selected bidders are required to deliver, install, and commission one set within seven months from the purchase order date. Bidders must supply three sets of toolboxes and ensure the continuous presence of a maintenance official on a 24-hour basis for five years. The trial run must achieve a production minimum of 500 kW of SPV modules, with the solar cell breakage rate across the line not exceeding 0.2 per cent. Additionally, bidders must provide golden solar cells for testing and calibration purposes, along with laboratory certification for the calibration of the solar cell tester. Payment terms include 50 per cent payment against supply, 40 per cent upon installation and commissioning, and 10 per cent against a performance bank guarantee, all processed through an irrevocable letter of credit with a usance period of 90 days. Preference will be given to Class 1 local suppliers under the public procurement (preference to Make in India) Order 2017. Class 1 suppliers must ensure at least 50 per cent local content, while Class 2 suppliers must provide a minimum of 20 per cent.
According to the eligibility criteria, the bidders are required to have completed similar projects within India in the last five years, meeting one of the following thresholds: three projects of at least 200 MW each, two projects of 250 MW each, or one project of 400 MW. Bidders must also demonstrate a positive net worth for the previous financial year, verified through an auditor’s certificate, and a minimum average annual turnover of Rs 200 million over the last three financial years.
