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JREDA Issues EPC RFP for 9 MW Solar Power Project in Palamu

Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (JREDA) has released a request for proposal (RFP) inviting bids under the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) mode for setting up a 9 MW solar power project on government land in the Palamu district of Jharkhand. The deadline for bid submission is March 20, 2026, with technical bids scheduled to be opened on March 24, 2026.

The project has an estimated cost of Rs929.7 million (approximately $10.16 million). Interested bidders must submit an earnest money deposit (EMD) of Rs18.6 million along with a tender fee of Rs11,800. Successful bidders will be required to furnish a performance security equivalent to 10% of the total contract value and an additional 5% towards operation and maintenance (O&M) obligations.

The scope of work covers end-to-end project execution, including design, engineering, procurement, construction, installation, testing, and commissioning of the solar plant. The selected contractor will also be responsible for providing O&M services for a period of 25 years. The assignment includes multi-tier inspections, civil works, and securing all necessary approvals, permits, and insurance coverage throughout the project lifecycle.

As part of the preparatory requirements, the successful bidder must prepare pre-feasibility and detailed project reports. Soil investigations must be conducted through a government-approved or National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)-accredited laboratory before finalising civil designs. Geotechnical and topographical surveys of the project site will also be mandatory.

The tender requires the supply and installation of solar modules, inverters, transformers, cables, switchgear, module mounting structures, electrical panels, and other associated equipment. The contractor must also provide supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, security infrastructure, metering arrangements, and special protection systems. Civil works will include the development of the switchyard, boundary walls, foundations, transformer bays, and other essential structures.

Additionally, the project involves establishing fibre-optic communication systems, including terminal equipment, distribution panels, and related hardware for connectivity at pooling and interconnection substations. The contractor must ensure uninterrupted power supply arrangements with batteries, distribution boards, and associated infrastructure.

Each solar module must have a minimum capacity of 545 Wp and consist of at least 144 mono-crystalline silicon cells, with a minimum efficiency of 20%. Only modules listed under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) will be permitted for use.

The project is to be completed within 12 months from the award date. Delays in commissioning will attract liquidated damages at the rate of 0.5% of the contract value per week, subject to a maximum cap of 10%.

To qualify, bidders must have executed solar EPC projects totaling at least 4.5 MW in the last seven financial years up to FY 2026. At least one project must have been of 1 MW capacity at a single site and operational for a minimum of six months before the bid submission date. These projects must have been backed by power purchase agreements with state or central government entities.

Financial eligibility criteria require bidders to have a minimum average annual turnover of Rs279 million over the past three financial years and a positive net worth in the most recent financial year.