NTPC Floats Tender For Firewall Systems At 25 MW Floating Solar Project In Simhadri

NTPC Limited has issued a formal tender for the procurement of Fortinet firewall F61 models for use at its Simhadri facility. The equipment will be deployed across critical infrastructure, including the switchyard, a 25 MW floating solar plant, and the ABT/DSM units. The procurement process is being handled by the Unified Shared Services Centre under the C&M Group-3 division located in Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

The bidding process has been designed as a single-stage, two-envelope system. In this method, bidders are required to first submit their technical details in a separate envelope. This includes information about the source of supply and compliance with technical specifications. Only those bidders who meet the technical and commercial requirements will have their financial bids opened later. The evaluation will be done on an item-wise basis, and the contract will be awarded to the lowest bidder (L1) who fulfills all eligibility conditions.

As per the tender terms, there is no requirement for a Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) for this contract. The documents also do not clearly specify an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD), but they strongly emphasize a strict “Nil Deviation” policy. This means that bidders must fully comply with all the conditions mentioned in the tender without any exceptions. Companies are also required to confirm adherence to anti-bribery, anti-corruption, and fraud prevention guidelines.

The delivery timeline is clearly defined. The selected supplier must deliver the equipment within 90 days from the date of receiving the purchase order. The materials will be delivered to the Simhadri Super Thermal Power Station located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Payment terms are also straightforward, with 100% payment to be made through bank transfer or electronic fund transfer within 30 days after the materials are delivered and accepted at the site.

The tender includes a six-year license along with remote technical support for the firewall systems. Prices quoted by bidders must remain firm until the completion of delivery and should be provided on a Free on Rail (F.O.R.) destination basis.

The Special Purchase Conditions for this tender were revised on March 13, 2026, and the official tender notice was digitally signed and released on April 3, 2026. Bidders are required to keep their offers valid for a period of 90 days from the final submission deadline.

NTPC has indicated a preference for dealing directly with manufacturers or foreign suppliers. In cases where an Indian agent is involved, the bidder must submit a valid agency agreement and disclose the commission details, which are generally limited to a maximum of 5%. Additionally, the selected supplier must complete a process called photo tagging, where one to three images of the supplied materials are submitted for identification and tracking within NTPC’s system at the time of delivery.