The Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT) has floated bids for the solarisation of 9,348 grid connected agricultural pumps under component C of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) programme in Kerala. The pumps will be ranging between 2 kW to 150 kW. The tender is anticipated to cost Rs 2.4 billion. The government plans to solarise 1.5 million grid-connected agriculture pumps with individual capacities of up to 7.5 HP under component C of the KUSUM programme by 2022.
According to the tender guidelines, bidders must pay a deposit of Rs 500,000 as an earnest money deposit. As a security deposit, the successful bidder must provide a sum equal to 3 percent of the contract value. The work assigned should be supplied, installed, and commissioned within two months of the supply order date. Bidders must have service centres and authorised service providers in all the districts of Kerala.
If the contractor fails to complete the work on time, liquidated damages will be assessed at 0.5 percent of the contract value of work for each week of delay, up to a maximum of 10 percent of the contract value. According to ANERT, using domestically manufactured solar panels with indigenous solar cells and modules will be required. Only crystalline silicon cell modules with a capacity of 335 W or higher should be used for the project. The bids submission deadline is September 20, 2022.
