Coal India Limited (CIL), a government-owned enterprise under the Ministry of Coal, has invited bids for setting up a 1,000 MW solar power plant at Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited’s (RVUNL) 2,000 MW Solar Park in Pugal, Bikaner district.
This project will be implemented on a turnkey basis and will include two years of comprehensive operation and maintenance. The scope of work involves design, engineering, procurement, and supply of materials, construction, testing, commissioning, and operation of the solar plant.
The pre-bid meeting for this tender will be held in hybrid mode, both physical and virtual, on a date to be announced on the Coal India e-procurement portal. The tender follows a single-stage, two-part online bidding process and is open only to Indian bidders under domestic competitive bidding norms. The bid submission end date is 7th May 2025.
The tender requires bidders to have experience in the execution or development of grid-connected ground-mounted solar PV projects of at least 200 MW (AC), with individual projects of not less than 50 MW (AC) completed in the last ten years. These projects must have been in satisfactory operation for a minimum of six months. Joint ventures with up to three companies are allowed, but the lead partner must have a minimum share of 50%.
Financially, bidders must demonstrate an average annual turnover of ₹1,443 crore during the last three financial years ending on March 31, 2024. The minimum required net worth is ₹481 crore as of the end of the last financial year.
The contract period includes 24 months for commissioning from the date of commencement. This can be extended by up to 6 months depending on the readiness of the associated transmission system. If there are further delays, the commissioning deadline may be extended by 30 days from the date of transmission readiness without any penalties. Operation and maintenance will continue for two years from the date of commercial operation.
The Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) for the project is ₹50 lakh, which must be paid online via net banking or NEFT/RTGS before bid submission. No offline payment method is allowed. If the EMD is not successfully deposited, the system will not allow bid submission. Unsuccessful bidders will receive a refund without interest. The EMD may be forfeited if the bidder withdraws after bid submission or fails to furnish the performance security in time.
The Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) or contract performance security is applicable as per tender norms, although the exact percentage is not explicitly mentioned in the notice but will follow standard requirements.
The solar plant must achieve a minimum Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) of 28%, equating to a Net Electrical Energy Generation Guarantee (NEEGG) of 245.28 crore units for the first year. Any bid not meeting this minimum generation requirement will be rejected outright.
