Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency has floated a tender to empanel agencies for the design, manufacture, supply, installation and commissioning of grid-connected rooftop solar power plants across government buildings in the state. The project will include a five-year comprehensive maintenance contract (CMC) and will be executed on a turnkey basis. Work is scheduled to be completed within four months and the last date for submission of tenders is May 28.

The tender is part of a state effort to expand rooftop solar deployment in public buildings with financial assistance from the state government. JREDA stated that it intends to select competent, experienced and financially sound bidders for execution and long-term maintenance of the projects. Bidders will be required to establish operation and maintenance centres in concerned areas to service systems during the maintenance period.

The scope of work covers pre-feasibility assessment of sites, support in obtaining net-metering approvals and execution of design, supply, civil works, erection, testing and commissioning of rooftop systems. Contractors must ensure compliance with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and technical standards and follow electrical safety requirements under the Electricity Act and Central Electricity Authority guidelines. Preventive maintenance, cleaning, monitoring and replacement of defective components form the five-year obligations.

The tender divides projects into four capacity categories ranging from one kilowatt (kW) to above 100 kW, with separate classifications for systems with and without battery storage. Bidders are permitted to participate in only one category. The tender is open to registered Indian companies, limited liability partnerships, proprietorships, partnerships and corporations engaged in manufacturing photovoltaic (PV) modules, batteries or power conditioning units or functioning as PV system integrators.

For general bidders prior experience executing rooftop solar projects for government organisations, PSUs or state nodal agencies over seven years is mandatory. Applicants must show an equivalent project or multiple smaller projects; under 11 to 50 kW category a 50 kW installation or three 10 kW projects suffice. Jharkhand micro and small enterprises have relaxed norms; newly registered MSEs exempted.