PFC Consulting Issues RFP for Maharashtra Intra-State RE Transmission Project

PFC Consulting Ltd. has issued a Single Stage Request for Proposal (RFP) to select a bidder as the Transmission Service Provider (TSP) through a tariff-based competitive bidding process for establishing an intra-state transmission system under the 'Network Expansion Scheme in Maharashtra for Evacuation of Renewable Energy Power from Dharashiv, Beed District.'

The project involves the construction of a 400/220/132 kV substation at Washi and the development of multiple double-circuit transmission lines. These lines will crisscross through Paranda, Kalamb, Manjarsumba and extend connectivity to key demand centers such as Pune and Mumbai. The scheme is engineered to prevent grid congestion and ensure smooth evacuation of approximately 7 GW of solar power expected from the Aurangabad and Osmanabad regions.

To be completed within 24 months of the effective date, the project scope includes new substations, interconnection bays, transformers, reactors, and extensive transmission line infrastructure. RFP document can be bought  by paying a non-refundable fee of INR 5,00,000 or USD 7,000 plus 18 percent  GST. A pre-award integrity pact and bid bond worth INR 11.14 crore are also mandatory for participation.

A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for June 26, 2025, with written clarifications and revised RFP documents to be issued by July 9, 2025. The final RFP project documents will be released on July 18, 2025. Bidders must submit their proposals electronically by August 1, 2025, the same day technical bids will be opened.

Qualified bidders will be announced on August 11, followed by the opening of financial bids (Initial Offer) on August 12. An electronic reverse auction to determine the Final Offer is slated for August 14. The lowest bidder must submit original hard copies of required annexures by August 21, with the Letter of Intent (LOI) to be issued on August 22, 2025. The RFP project documents will be signed, and the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) transferred to the winning bidder on September 2, 2025, officially kicking off the implementation phase.

The TSP, once selected, will acquire 100 percent equity in the project-specific SPV,NES Dharashiv Transmission Ltd. at a pre-disclosed price 20 days before the bid deadline. The developer’s responsibilities cover the full lifecycle: from project execution, statutory approvals, land acquisition, and financing to operations and maintenance for a period of 35 years. Post commissioning, the assets will be handed over to the Maharashtra State Transmission Utility (STU) free of cost.

Bidders will be required to adhere to the terms laid out in the Request for Proposal and subsequently obtain a transmission license from the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC). The project will operate under a Transmission Service Agreement (TSA), and its infrastructure will provide open access on a commercial basis, as governed by SERC norms.

Bidders must prove infrastructure prowess through one of two paths: Either showcase INR 557+ crore in capital expenditure across developed projects (each ≥INR 111.4 crore) over the past five years, A minimum INR 250 crore net worth is non-negotiable, calculated from unconsolidated audited accounts of any recent fiscal year. Negative net worth in any year disqualifies contenders.

For consortiums, each member’s financial commitment scales with their equity stake, but the Lead Member bears 100 percent liability for the group’s obligations and must retain 26 percent project ownership for a year post-commissioning.

Joint bids require ironclad agreements designating a Lead Member, with all partners signing binding consent letters. While multiple firms can cite experience from the same project, no entity’s financial/technical credentials can backstop rival bids, a rule preventing parent companies from playing both sides.

With technical bids opening August 1 and financial auctions set for August 14. Shortlisted bidders face ongoing compliance checks until project commissioning, and those relying on affiliate credentials must maintain those ties through Commercial Operation Date (COD).

Interested bidders may refer the document for more details.