The Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) has announced an invitation for expressions of interest (EoI) to develop 20 MW of solar power projects under Component A of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) program. The projects will be developed at single or multiple locations, with each site having a capacity of 2 MW. Interested bidders must submit their proposals by March 29, 2025, with the bid opening scheduled for April 7, 2025. Participation requires a bid processing fee of Rs 1,000 and a bid document fee of Rs 10,500. Additionally, an earnest money deposit of Rs 200,000 is mandatory. Successful bidders will be required to provide a performance bank guarantee equivalent to 10 per cent of the total work order value, which must remain valid for the project's 10-year operation and maintenance (O&M) period. The scope of work includes the selection of engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors who will collaborate with landowners and farmers for land leasing. The EPC contractors will be responsible for designing, engineering, supplying, constructing, and commissioning the solar power projects. The selected bidders must procure components from manufacturers listed in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers. Eligibility criteria include prior experience in designing, constructing, supplying, and commissioning solar projects of at least 1 MW capacity, with a cumulative installed capacity of 5 MW or more. Financial requirements include a cumulative turnover of at least Rs 300 million over the past three financial years and the completion of a solar or similar infrastructure project valued at a minimum of Rs 50 million. Earlier in the year, OREDA issued a tender for the EPC of 4 MW rooftop solar projects integrated with battery storage across multiple locations in Odisha under a rate contract arrangement. Additionally, an EoI was invited for conducting detailed surveys and feasibility studies for grid-connected rooftop solar power projects. In another initiative, OREDA released a request for selection to install 10,000 off-grid solar water pumps with capacities ranging from 1 HP to 7.5 HP under Component-B of the PM-KUSUM program. News source: Mercom India