The Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEBL) has issued a tender for grid-connected, ground-mounted solar power projects with a total capacity of 7.8 MW under the renewable energy service company (RESCO) model. Bids must be submitted by February 24, 2025, with the opening scheduled for February 25, 2025. The tender is divided into four lots: Palampur (Lot I), Sarabai (Lot II), Nahan (Lot III), and Jogindernagar (Lot IV). Bidders must submit an earnest money deposit (EMD) for each lot, along with a performance bank guarantee. The required EMDs are Rs 807,400 for Lot I, Rs 724,000 for Lot II, Rs 275,200 for Lot III, and Rs 1.04 million for Lot IV. The performance guarantees are Rs 8.07 million for Lot I, Rs 7.34 million for Lot II, Rs 2.75 million for Lot III, and Rs 10.45 million for Lot IV. The selected bidders will be required to supply HPSEBL with 14.607 million units of energy annually, ensuring at least 80% of the annual energy is provided. The scope of work includes setting up the solar projects, developing a dedicated transmission network to the interconnection point, identifying the project land, and providing operation and maintenance services for 25 years. Bidders must use commercially established and operational technologies, with solar modules from the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers. The projects must be completed within six months. To qualify, bidders must have experience designing, supplying, installing, and commissioning grid-connected, ground-mounted solar projects in line with the required capacities for each lot over the last seven years. These projects must have been operational for at least one year. Bidders must also meet specific minimum annual turnover requirements, ranging from Rs 4.75 million to Rs 17.89 million, depending on the lot. In a recent move, HPSEBL also invited bids for 8.33 MW of grid-connected, ground-mounted solar power projects under the RESCO model. (mercom)