Karnataka Floats Tender For 50 Electric Buses Under FAME II Scheme

The North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) has issued the request for proposals (RFP) for procurement, operation, and maintenance of 50 electric buses on the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model under FAME-II scheme. 

Interested bidders can submit their bids online by March 9, 2021, and bids in hard copies should be submitted by March 10. As per the tender, 25 of 9m, e-buses should be of 900mm floor height, Non-AC, suitable for BRT feeder service as well as city operation while other 25 should have 12m, 900mm floor height, with AC, suitable for BRT operations, fully built electric buses. E-buses should be energy-efficient, environment-friendly, safe, and efficient.

Bus design would be suitable for the daily operation of 16 to 18 hours within cities of Hubli-Dharwad Karnataka, must be delivered within one year of the release date. Also, the tender asks for e-buses that can be operated with Single/Multiple Charging throughout the day. 

Interested Bidder who wishes to participate in this RFP shall pay a bid document fee of Rs 50,000. 

All 25, 12m AC BRT e-buses to be operated between Hubli-Dharwad on BRTS corridor with defined frequencies of minimum assured kilometers of 275 Km/Day and Maximum Km of 320 Km/day with 45 minutes of opportunity charge. Vehicles should have a single charge capacity to run 225Km.

However, another 25 9m Non-AC city e-buses to be operated within Hubli-Dharwad city with defined frequencies of minimum assured Kilometres of 200 Km/Day and a maximum of 220 Km/Day with 45 minutes of opportunity charge. Vehicles should have a single charge capacity to run 125Km. 

To pass the eligibility criteria, bidders should have manufactured 50 Electric or 50 HSD/CNG buses in the last three financial years in India. Additionally, a registered e-bus manufacturer with bus manufacturing facilities in India OR Central/State Public Sector undertakings and their subsidiaries having tie-ups with at least one Electric Bus Manufacturer (OEM) is allowed to participate directly as a single bidder. 

A bidder will be declared as the Successful Bidder for the project shall be required to incorporate a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Indian Companies Act, 2013 for implementation of the project.

Recently, on February 5, 2021, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) had released the tender for procurement, operation, and maintenance of 300 Non AC e-buses on the Gross Cost Contract(GCC) model under FAME-II Scheme.