NTPC REL Invites Bids For 1,000 MW Solar PV Project In Mandsaur With Focus On Land And Power Infrastructure

NTPC Renewable Energy Limited (NTPC REL) is inviting bids for a land and power evacuation package as part of the development of a 1,000 MW ISTS-connected solar PV project in the Mandsaur region of Madhya Pradesh. The project requires eligible bidders to submit their proposals online through a two-envelope system: one for the techno-commercial bid and another for the price bid. The package involves tasks related to land acquisition and power evacuation infrastructure, with a focus on ensuring grid connectivity.

The land-related scope includes securing 5 acres per megawatt (MW) of government or private land on a leasehold or freehold basis, near the Mandsaur Pooling Substation. The lease period is set for a minimum of 29 years and 11 months. Other responsibilities include constructing an access road to the substation, conducting topography surveys, and undertaking geotechnical investigations for the substation and transmission system. The bidder is also responsible for fencing the land and installing entry and exit gates.

The power evacuation part of the project involves arranging connectivity with the ISTS substation, designing, engineering, and commissioning a 33 kV pooling switchgear system, and constructing an EHV transmission line. The package also covers the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the substation and transmission system for three years post-commissioning.

The tender document was made available on August 7, 2024, and can be downloaded from August 12, 2024, until August 26, 2024. A pre-bid conference is scheduled for August 28, 2024, with the last date for bid submission set for September 11, 2024. The techno-commercial bid will be opened on the same day at 15:30 IST. The cost of obtaining the bidding documents is ₹22,500, and all bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security Declaration (in place of bid security) in a sealed envelope.

Eligible bidders must meet specific technical and financial criteria. They are required to have completed similar projects in the solar or wind sector with a cumulative capacity of at least 100 MW, of which one project should be 50 MW or larger. Alternatively, bidders can qualify if they have executed industrial projects in power, steel, or other sectors with a minimum financial threshold and have completed at least one electrical substation project of 33 kV or higher. Bidders must also demonstrate a positive net worth and an annual turnover proportional to the size of the project they are bidding for, with a minimum turnover of ₹12.57 crores for projects ranging from 50 MW to 300 MW.

Additionally, bidders must submit an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) and a Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) in line with the bid document requirements. The EMD is critical to ensure compliance, while the PBG is meant to ensure performance post-award. NTPC REL reserves the right to reject any bids or cancel the bidding process without providing any justification.