ITI Invites Bids to Establish 500 MW, 250 MW, or 100 MW Automatic Solar Module Manufacturing Line at Prayagraj Facility

State-owned telecom and electronics manufacturer ITI Ltd. has invited bids for the establishment of an automatic solar photovoltaic (SPV) module manufacturing line on a turnkey basis at its Naini unit in Prayagraj.

The tender allows bidders to quote for 500 MW, 250 MW, or 100 MW solar module production lines, giving the company flexibility to scale its manufacturing capacity depending on project viability and financial evaluation. The initiative is part of efforts to expand domestic solar manufacturing capabilities in line with India’s renewable energy growth.

According to the tender document, the project includes a unique buy-back provision requiring the successful bidder to purchase the existing 18 MW Ecoprogetti solar module manufacturing line installed at the ITI Naini facility. The bid submission deadline is April 4, 2026, and all bids must be submitted online through ITI’s e-procurement portal.

The procurement will follow a two-bid system, consisting of a technical bid and a commercial price bid. Interested companies must submit a tender document fee of INR 20,000, while MSMEs are exempt under government procurement norms. Bidders are also required to furnish an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of INR 1 crore, payable through approved financial instruments, although MSMEs are exempt from this requirement as well.

To qualify, bidders must be Indian incorporated entities, including companies, LLPs, or partnership firms. The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) must have a registered office and authorised service centre in India. Additionally, a mandatory site visit to the ITI Naini facility is required, and bidders must submit a site visit report along with their technical bid.

The tender specifies experience requirements for bidders who must have completed similar solar manufacturing line projects in the past seven years, such as three projects of 100 MW capacity, two projects of 125 MW, or one project of at least 200 MW. Financial eligibility criteria include positive net worth and an average annual turnover of at least INR 20 crore over the last three financial years.

Under the scope of work, the selected bidder will be responsible for supplying, installing, and commissioning a fully automated solar module production line capable of manufacturing modules up to 2500 mm × 1400 mm in size and handling solar cells up to 230 mm. The production line will include key equipment such as automatic glass loaders, stringing machines for half-cut cells, lay-up stations, bussing machines, laminators, trimming units, framing stations, sun simulators, electroluminescence testing systems, and sorting machines.

The bidder will also conduct a trial production run using raw materials arranged by the contractor, with the produced modules to be handed over to ITI. Performance benchmarks include maintaining cell breakage below 0.2 percent and meeting specified quality parameters.

Commercial bids must be quoted on a DAP (Delivered at Place) basis at ITI Naini, and prices may be submitted in INR, USD, or Euro. Payments will be made through 100 percent irrevocable revolving letter of credit with a 90-day usance period, with 50 percent payable against supply, 40 percent after installation and commissioning, and the remaining 10 [ercent against performance bank guarantee.

After technical evaluation, qualified bidders will participate in a reverse auction, with the contract awarded to the bidder offering the lowest net price, calculated after deducting the buy-back value offered for the existing 18 MW line. ITI has also reserved the right to award any of the three capacity options 500 MW, 250 MW, or 100 MW based on its strategic requirements.

The project must be completed within 10 months from the issuance of the letter of credit, and the equipment will carry a 24-month comprehensive warranty, along with optional post-warranty support for three years.

With this tender, ITI Ltd. is aiming to upgrade its solar manufacturing infrastructure and strengthen its role in India’s rapidly expanding domestic solar industry.