CEL Invites EoI to Empanel EPC Contractors for 200 MW Solar Projects

Central Electronics Limited (CEL) has invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from EPC contractors wishing to be empanelled for building ground mounted Solar Power Generating Systems (SPGS) for a cumulative capacity of 200 MW anywhere in India.

The deadline to submit the EoI is October 10, 2021, at 3 p.m. In case the designated day happens to be a holiday, the next working day will be deemed as the last date for submission of EOI, said CEL.

CEL is a Government of India enterprise under the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology. The organisation is credited with developing India’s first solar PV cell back in 1977 and the country’s first solar PV module in 1978.

The scope of work mainly comprises Engineering Procurement & Construction (EPC) activities (such as design, engineering, supply, construction, erection, testing, commissioning, etc.).

In order to be successful, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• The applicant must be registered in India with DIC/MCA/NSIC for the last 3 years. A copy of registration certificates must be submitted to this end.
• The applicant must have had a minimum average turnover of Rs. 20 crores in the last three financial years (FY19, FY20 and FY21) from solar business. A certificate regarding total turnover and minimum turnover from solar business in the last three financial years (duly signed by a chartered accountant) supporting audited balance sheets must be submitted. In case audited balance sheet of FY 20-21 is not available, then the provisional balance sheet (duly signed by a chartered accountant) of FY 2020-21 may be submitted.
• The applicant’s company/firm must have designed, supplied, tested, installed and commissioned cumulative 5 MW grid-connected solar power plants either directly or indirectly for any government department or company in the last 5 years (FY17 to FY21 and till the due date of EOI application submission). Of this, the applicant must have carried out at least one single project of 1 MW of grid-connected solar power plant at a single location either directly or indirectly for any government department or company in the last 5 years and till the due date of tender submission).
• The applicant’s company/firm must submit solvency certificate of Rs. 5 crores issued by any nationalised/scheduled commercial bank.

The successful applicants will be required to submit a refundable interest-free security deposit (SD) of Rs. 3 lakhs within 7 days of intimation by CEL, otherwise their application will not be entertained for further process and will be liable to be rejected. The empanelment letter will be issued only after the submission of SD, and the empanelment will be valid up to 1 year from the date of issue of empanelment letter. The security deposit submitted with the EoI shall remain valid for the period of empanelment i.e. 1 year +3 months claim period initially.

CEL also added, “The EPC contractors already empanelled with CEL for awarding the work related to “Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Systems” may also submit their application against this EOI provided they fulfill the eligibility criteria. The security deposit amount already submitted by them against EOI No. C-2(b)/EOI/704/286/2021 and not adjusted earlier against any purchase order issued to them may be adjusted against the security deposit against this EOI. Hence, they need to “submit only the balance security deposit after adjustment.”