APGENCO invites bids for 1.65 MWp solar modules for 400 MW Anantapur project

Saur Energy reports that APGENCO has issued a call for tenders to procure 1.65 MWp of solar photovoltaic modules. This acquisition supports a 400 MW solar installation situated at Talaricheruvu, close to Tadipatri within Anantapuramu district. The project is organized into four distinct 100 MW blocks.

Bid Structure and Deadlines

Proposals are to be lodged via the AP e-procurement portal no later than 15:00 hrs on 18 November 2026. APGENCO plans to open the technical bids on 19 November 2026, while the price bids will be opened on 2 December 2026. The utility’s evaluation criteria focus on the lowest quoted rate among the two available options, though the estimated contract value for this procurement remains undisclosed.

APGENCO reserves the authority to adjust the ordered quantity by a margin of plus or minus 20% at the unit rates originally quoted.

Financial obligations require a security deposit of 2.5% of the purchase order value, payable within one month of the order. Suppliers must furnish a performance bank guarantee or surety bond equivalent to 10% of the contract value. For Option 2, payments are allocated as 70% upon receipt and 30% following installation and testing.

Eligibility and Financial Requirements

• Eligibility Criteria: Bidders must operate as manufacturers, suppliers, or authorised dealers, possessing a minimum of 2 MWp in cumulative supply experience across the preceding seven years.
• Project Experience: Participants are required to have delivered at least 500 kWp to an Indian solar facility that has been operational for no less than one year.
• Financial Threshold: Applicants must prove a minimum annual turnover of Rs 5.2 crore in any single fiscal year within the FY24-FY26 period.
• Earnest Money Deposit (EMD): The mandatory EMD consists of Rs 1 lakh in addition to 2% of the quoted value.
• Transaction Fees: A 0.03% transaction fee on the quoted value is applicable, alongside a 0.04% AP e-procurement fund contribution based on the quoted value.
• Payment Terms (Option 1): Full payment of 100% is due within 30 days of the invoice issued after site acceptance.
• Delivery Timeline: Module delivery must be completed within two months of the purchase order.

Technical Specifications and Warranties

Option 1 requires the supply of modules in 320 Wp, 325 Wp, or 330 Wp ratings. Option 2 calls for higher-power 615 Wp or 620 Wp modules, but expands the vendor’s scope to include MMS modifications, installation, testing, and commissioning. The specific installation quantity for Option 2 is not fixed in the tender documents; instead, it remains to be determined by site requirements.

Modules must achieve a minimum efficiency of 17% under standard test conditions. Power tolerance is tightly controlled to prevent underperformance, specifying zero negative tolerance and a positive tolerance range between 0 and +5 W.

Long-term reliability is secured through a dual warranty structure: a 10-year product warranty and a 10-year performance warranty. The performance warranty caps annual degradation at 0.7%, guaranteeing that the modules retain at least 93% of their original output after a decade of operation. To enforce timely delivery and completion, the contract includes liquidated damages of 0.5% per week for any delay, capped at 5% of the total order value.

Module Performance Standards and Compliance

Bidders are required to submit modules featuring a fill factor no lower than 0.70 and a power temperature coefficient superior to -0.40% per degree Celsius. The hardware must endure wind gusts reaching 170 km/h, alongside mechanical loads of 5,400 Pa for snow and 2,400 Pa for wind, while functioning effectively between -40°C and +85°C. Adherence to IS 14286, IS/IEC 61730, IEC 61701, and IEC 62804-1:2015 is mandatory. Vendors are obligated to furnish BIS CRS registration, type test reports, flash test data, and electroluminescence images. For Option 2, the specifications call for a 72-cell module possessing a reference open-circuit voltage of a minimum 46 V and a short-circuit current not exceeding 9.4 A.