Jharkhand Releases Tender For O&M of 212 Mini-Grids

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The Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (JREDA) has now issued tenders to outsource the Comprehensive Maintenance Contract & Operation (CMCO) of 212 solar mini-grids/microgrids installed in seven districts of the state. The state nodal agency has asked the prospective bidders to submit their bids by the end of August 22. JREDA will open the technical bids on August 24.

The tender comes even as reports have been circulating about the abysmal state of mini-grids in India, with some claiming that over 90% of the mini-grids backed by the government have fallen into disuse, mainly due to issues linked to their maintainance. 

The tender document said that the Comprehensive Maintenance Contract & Operation should include servicing & replacement guarantee for parts and components (such as the battery, electronics, Inverter, existing PV modules and other hardware) running, operating and maintaining of SPV Power Plant from the installation date. 

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It also said the battery should be warranted for a minimum life of 5 years. The contractor has to make suitable arrangements for the running, operation and maintenance of the SPV Power Plant by deputing an electrician and other skilled persons required in the plant 24 x 7 so that the SPV Power Plant will be functional every day. 

“The date of CMCO maintenance period shall begin on the date of actual re-commissioning of SPV off-grid Power Plant /equipment. It is mandatory for the contractor to carry out CMC regularly and submit quarterly CMC report, including maintenance schedules to JREDA . Failure to submit CMC reports timely shall invite penalty and action,” the tender document said. 

The tender said authorized dealers’ companies/firms/ corporations and subcontractors are not eligible to participate. It also said that the bidders based in Jharkhand, if eligible, can also benefit under the schemes meant for Micro and Small Enterprises and would enjoy exemptions in qualifications too in the bid.  

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The JREDA bid said that only those bidders could apply in the tender whose average annual financial turnover during the last three years (FY 2019-20 ,2020-21 & 2021-22) should be at least 30% of the estimated cost of bidding quantity. However, for the MSEs of Jharkhand, the eligibility criteria are different.

It said that for such MSE entities, the average annual financial turnover during the last three years (FY 2019-20,2020-21 & 2021-22) should be at least 10% of the estimated cost of bidding quantity.