Western Coalfields Invites Bids For 1.34 MW Solar Rooftop Project In Maharashtra And Madhya Pradesh

Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, has invited online bids for the design, engineering, supply, storage, erection, testing, and commissioning of solar rooftop power plants. The tender also includes a comprehensive annual maintenance contract (CAMC) for five years following a one-year warranty. The total aggregated capacity of these grid-connected solar rooftop power plants is 1.343 MW (AC). These plants are to be installed on various residential and non-residential buildings across different units of WCL, including its headquarters in Nagpur, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.

The estimated cost of the work, including GST and welfare cess, is ₹6,00,30,385.97. The earnest money deposit (EMD) required for participation in the tender is ₹7,50,400. The project duration is specified as 2,370 days. This timeline includes 180 days allocated for project completion, a 365-day warranty period, and a five-year CAMC period of 1,825 days after the warranty expires.

The e-tender was published on March 10, 2025. The last date for downloading tender documents and submitting bids is April 10, 2025, at 17:00 hrs. The bid submission will open on March 20, 2025, at 10:00 hrs. Interested parties can seek clarifications online from March 10, 2025, to April 4, 2025. A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for March 18, 2025, at 11:30 hrs, through video conferencing. The technical bids will be opened on April 12, 2025, at 11:00 hrs, while the date for opening the price bid will be announced later.

The EMD payment is to be made online, either via net banking or through NEFT/RTGS transfer. Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) as defined under MSME guidelines are exempt from submitting the EMD, provided they furnish valid supporting documents at the time of bid submission.

The scope of the project includes ensuring connectivity permissions from the respective state governments, net metering, insurance, and quality control. Bidders are required to have experience in similar works, specifically in the supply, installation, and commissioning of solar photovoltaic (SPV) grid-connected power plants. The eligibility period for work experience is the last seven years, ending on the last day of the month before the tender’s publication date. Financial turnover requirements also apply, with bidders needing to show an average annual turnover of at least 30% of the estimated cost over the last three years.

Joint ventures are permitted for projects above ₹2 crore. In Mode IV projects, bank guarantees are required: ₹1 lakh per MW for the initial allotment, ₹50,000 per MW at the intermediate stage, and ₹25,000 per MW at the permanent registration stage.