The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has initiated a significant move to enhance its electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure by releasing separate tenders for the installation of 11 EV charging stations. These charging stations are set to be strategically located around different bus and railway depots in the state, improving accessibility for EV users. The locations for these proposed charging stations, along with their estimated project costs, are as follows: 1. Mumbai Central Depot: ?109.8 million (~$1.45 million) 2. Borivali Depot: ?89.9 million (~$1.19 million) 3. Santacruz Depot: ?65.5 million (~$872,000) 4. Kurla Depot: ?89.9 million (~$1.19 million) 5. Thane Depot: ?69.8 million (~$928,000) 6. Panvel Depot: ?75.5 million (~$1 million) 7. Pune Station Depot: ?75.5 million (~$1 million) 8. Swargate Depot: ?93.4 million (~$1.24 million) 9. Pune Divisional Office, Shivajinagar: ?79.8 million (~$1.06 million) 10. Shivajinagar Railway Depot: ?85.6 million (~$1.14 million) 11. Yerwada Bus Stand: ?94.5 million (~$1.26 million) The deadline for bid submissions is set for October 30, 2023, and the bids will be opened on November 1. The tender process also involves a 2% security deposit requirement for each of these charging station projects. This deposit is divided into two parts: 1. 1% of the individual project cost, which converts the earnest money deposit into a security deposit. 2. Another 1% initial security deposit is required before the work order is issued, with a validity period of 120 days from the date of opening. The timeline for the completion of these projects is expected to be three months, starting from the date of the written work order. To encourage competitive bidding and safeguard the interests of the contracting parties, the tender outlines a mechanism for performance bank guarantees (PBG) in case the bidder's offer is below the estimated cost. Here's how the PBG requirement is structured: 1. If the bidder's quoted offer is between 1% and 10% below the estimated cost, a PBG equivalent to 1% of the estimated cost is mandatory. 2. In cases where the offer is more than 10% but up to 15% below the estimated cost, an additional PBG is required. This extra security is calculated at a rate of 1% for every percent below the estimated cost. For example, if the bid is 14% below the cost (14% - 10% = 4%), an additional security of 5% would be necessary. 3. When the bid is more than 15% below the estimated cost in the tender, an additional performance security of 2% for each per cent below the cost must be furnished. For instance, if the bid is 19% below the cost (19% - 15% = 4%), an additional security of 14% of the estimated cost would be required. Failure to submit the PBG within eight days from the date of the financial opening will lead to the rejection of the tender. In such cases, the second lowest bidder (L-2 Bidder) will be informed in writing. The L-2 bidder will have the opportunity to negotiate, and if they agree to perform the work at a rate lower than the offer of the L-1 bidder, their tender will be accepted. These tenders emphasise the importance of certification and experience in executing similar work. To be eligible to bid for these projects, contractors must have a valid certificate as a registered contractor with the Government of Maharashtra, which is applicable for works with an estimated amount less than ?15 million (~$180,203).