TVNL Invites Bids for 50 MW Solar Project at TTPS, Jharkhand

Tenughat Vidyut Nigam Ltd.(TVNL), the Jharkhand-based power utility, has issued a tender inviting bids for the selection of an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contractor for the development of a 50 MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic power plant at its Tenughat Thermal Power Station (TTPS) located in Lalpania, Bokaro district.

The scope of work includes complete design, engineering, procurement, supply, construction, and commissioning of the solar PV project on a turnkey basis. In addition, the selected contractor will be responsible for comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M) of the plant for a period of 10 years, initially for 5 years, with a provision for extension based on performance.

The estimated project cost, excluding GST, is pegged at INR 240.94 crore. The entire project is to be completed within 300 days from the date of issuance of the Letter of Intent (LoI) or Work Order. Following commissioning, an Operation Acceptance Test (OAT) must be conducted within 30 days. The OAT process will include stringent testing requirements. If the contractor fails the first test, a second attempt may be made after necessary corrections. If the test is failed again, a penalty of 1 percent of the contract value will be imposed. A third attempt is permitted without an additional penalty, although the previously deducted amount will only be refunded upon successful clearance of the test.

The bidding schedule is as follows: The tender was uploaded on 25 April 2025. The deadline for online bid submission is 11 June 2025, while physical documents must be submitted on the same day. A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for 14 May 2025  in hybrid mode at the TVNL Ranchi office. Technical bids will be opened on 12 June 2025 and the date for financial bid opening will be announced later. Bids will remain valid for 180 days from the date of technical bid opening.

The tender fee is INR 17,700 (including GST), while the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) stands at INR 4.82 crore. Details regarding the Performance Bank Guarantee will be available in the full tender document. Additional bank guarantees are mandated for the PV module warranty (valid for 90 days beyond 25 years from commissioning) and for generation shortfall, if applicable (valid for 4 years from PG Test completion). Proposals must be submitted through the e-tender portal.

This initiative aligns with Jharkhand’s broader push toward renewable energy and is expected to enhance solar power capacity in eastern India, support reduced dependency on fossil fuels, and contribute meaningfully to India’s clean energy targets.

On the technical front, the bidder must be an ISO-certified entity incorporated in India. The entity must have experience in the design, supply, installation, commissioning, and O&M of solar power plants, including at least one project with a minimum capacity of 20 MW and a cumulative installed capacity of at least 50 MW. These projects must have been successfully commissioned after 1 October 2016 and be operational for at least one year as of the bid submission deadline.

Additionally, the bidder should have executed three similar projects, each costing not less than 40 percent (INR 96.38 crore) of the estimated EPC cost (excluding GST); or two similar projects, each costing not less than 50 percent (INR 120.47 crore); or one similar project costing not less than 80 percent (INR 192.75 crore). Relevant Work Orders, Completion Certificates, and Charging Certificates for projects of 20 MW or above must be submitted. If the bidder claims eligibility via their own power plant, a Chartered Accountant certificate confirming the plant's operation must also be submitted.

For financial qualifications, the average turnover for the last three financial years must be at least 1.5 times the estimated project cost, totaling INR 361.5 Crores. The net worth during the last financial year must be at least 10 percent of the project value, i.e., INR 24.1 crore. The bidder must provide audited annual reports for FY 2021-22, FY 2022-23, and FY 2023-24. 

Interested bidders may refer the document for more details.