MNRE Amends MSME Participation Norms for Solar Water Pump Tenders By Manu Tayal/ Updated On Mon, Mar 5th, 2018 It has issued a Standard Bidding Document (SBD) for the procurement and installation of solar water pumps under the Ministry’s off-grid programme. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has amended the norms for participation of MSME sector/ startups in tenders for solar water pumps. Moreover, it has issued a Standard Bidding Document (SBD) for the procurement and installation of solar water pumps under the Ministry’s off-grid programme. For promotion of local small and medium entrepreneurs, the SBD provides for procurement of maximum of 10 per cent of bid quantity from local small and medium entrepreneurs subject to their meeting all the specifications and terms & conditions (except the experience and turnover) and matching the L1 price of the respective model. The Ministry further added that, considering various policy provisions made for promotion of MSME sector and also for ‘Startup India’ initiative from time to time, the aforementioned provision appearing at last bullet point of the general terms and conditions in the SBD has been amended as under with immediate effect: “Part of the tendered quantity (upto 20 per cent of total tendered quantity) may be considered for entrepreneurs of small, medium and startup category with relaxation in criteria for prior turnover and prior experience subject to their meeting all the quantity and technical specifications and other terms and conditions of the tender. The relaxation in criteria for prior turnover and prior experience may be guided by the MSME Policy of the State, if any.” Go through the MNRE website for more information by clicking here and to see the SBD click here. Tags: India, Ministry of New and Renewable energy, MNRE, MSME Participation Norms, MSME sector, off-grid programme, small and medium entrepreneurs, Solar Water Pump Tender, Standard Bidding Document, startups