GESCOM Invites Bids for Rooftop Solar Projects on Government Buildings in Karnataka

The Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company (GESCOM) has issued a tender inviting competitive bids for the design, manufacture, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of grid-connected rooftop solar PV systems, complete with five (5) years of comprehensive operation and maintenance (O&M), across government office buildings and electrical substations within its operational jurisdiction in Karnataka. This procurement package—specifically highlighting the Kalaburagi Circle listing 854 kWp at an estimated cost of ₹3.25 Crore—forms part of GESCOM’s broader clean energy initiative comprising five distinct tenders totaling 2,442 kW across 245 sites in the Koppal, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Bidar, and Ballari circles. Bidders must submit their proposals electronically before the deadline on October 17, 2026.

Project Scope & Technical Requirements

The turnkey scope of work for successful engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors encompasses full lifecycle implementation across designated public facilities:

• Complete Project Lifecycle: Engineering design, manufacturing, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of grid-connected rooftop solar PV plants across GESCOM office buildings and distribution substations.
• Operational Requirements: Comprehensive Operation and Maintenance (O&M) coverage for five (5) years post-commissioning. (Note: Circle-specific tender documentation indicates base O&M terms spanning up to 10 years in selected packages).
• Permissible Structural Mounting Options: In compliance with Regulation 4.7.2 of the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (Grid Interactive Distributed Solar Photovoltaic (DSPV) Plants) Regulations, 2026, structural configurations are permitted via:
  • Facade-integrated solar PV panels mounted on exterior building walls.
  • Mono-facial or bi-facial solar panels installed on building rooftops.
  • Elevated ground structures maintaining a minimum ground clearance of 8 feet at the lowest point within the premises (excluding Behind-the-Meter captive plants).
• Regulatory & Technical Compliance: Full adherence to Central Electricity Authority (CEA) safety and connectivity standards—including the CEA Safety Regulations 2023, Distributed Generation Connectivity Standards 2013, and Electrical Plant Construction Regulations 2022—alongside KERC Grid and Distribution Codes, and relevant IS/IEC certifications for PV modules, Power Conditioning Units (inverters), and smart bidirectional net meters.

Financial Details & Package Breakdown

The financial parameters and program capacities across GESCOM’s distribution network are structured as follows:

• Multi-Package Evaluation Rule: Bidders applying for multiple circle packages must satisfy a cumulative minimum annual turnover threshold calculated by combining the total estimated values of all entered packages.
• Tender Fees & Security Deposits: Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) and tender document fees follow standard DISCOM administrative and e-procurement guidelines.

Bidder Eligibility & Qualifying Criteria

Participating entities must fulfill specific technical, legal, and financial qualifying requirements to be eligible for award:

• Entity Type: Bids may be submitted by a single firm, Joint Venture (JV), or Consortium. JVs and Consortia are restricted to a maximum of two partners, with one entity formally designated as the lead partner.
• Category & Licensing: The bidder or JV lead partner must be a original manufacturer of PV modules or inverters, an approved Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) SPV channel partner, or a established System Integrator. At least one partner in a JV/Consortium must possess a valid Class-I Electrical License issued by the Electrical Inspectorate of the Government of Karnataka, Central Electricity Authority/Inspectorate, or any other state government.
• Statutory Registrations: Bidders must hold valid Provident Fund (PF), Employees’ State Insurance (ESI), Goods and Services Tax (GST), and Labour License registrations, submitting valid certificate copies within the technical bid.
• Technical Experience: Bidders must demonstrate prior track record under either of the following conditions during the five-year historical fiscal window covering FY 2014-15, FY 2015-16, FY 2016-17, FY 2017-18, and FY 2018-19:
  • Completion of at least five (5) grid-connected rooftop solar PV or ground-mounted solar PV installations totaling a cumulative capacity of no less than 400 kWp for any state DISCOM or public utility department; OR
  • Completion of a single grid-connected rooftop solar PV or ground-mounted solar PV project with a minimum capacity of 1 MWp for any state DISCOM or public utility department.
• Documentation Requirements: Submission of comprehensive Guaranteed Technical Particulars (GTP) for all system components, backed by valid IS/IEC test certificates for PV modules, solar inverters (PCU), and bidirectional smart net meters.

Performance Guarantees & Penalty Terms

Contracts feature enforceable minimum generation guarantees backed by financial penalties for non-performance:

• Generation Guarantee: Contractors must guarantee a baseline yield of 5 units (kWh) per kWp per day (or as per applicable MNRE norms) for a minimum of 300 days in each calendar year.
• Shortfall Penalty Rule: If annual generation falls below the guaranteed baseline due to equipment failure or defective system components, a penalty is levied on the ungenerated units at 2 times the applicable KERC solar tariff for rooftop and small solar PV plants.

Important Dates & Submission Timeline

• Tender Issuance / Report Date: September 25, 2026
• Bid Submission Deadline: October 17, 2026
• Project Completion Timeline: The successful contractor must upload the official Work Completion Report within 150 days from the date of PPA execution or letter of approval.
• DISCOM Inspection, Penalty & Deemed Generation: DISCOM officials are mandated to inspect and commission the installation within 5 working days of receiving the Work Completion Report. If DISCOM officials fail to commission the plant within 5 working days:
  • The defaulting officer incurs a personal penalty of ₹1,000 per day payable to the applicant until commissioning is completed.
  • The prosumer/developer becomes entitled to Deemed Generation benefits under Regulation 12.1 of the KERC 2026 DSPV Regulations for the entire duration of the delay beyond the 5-day window.

Official Bidding Portals & Links

• Official Utility Website: GESCOM Official Website
• Karnataka State E-Procurement Portal: Government tenders in Karnataka are officially published and processed on the Karnataka Public Procurement Portal (KPPP).

Tender Identification & Search Details

Bidders can search for this specific opportunity on the state procurement portal using the following official details:

• Tender Reference ID: GESCOM/2026-27/EL/WORK_INDENT308
• Project Name: Supply, Installation, Testing & Commissioning of Grid-Connected Solar RTPV Power Plants on Rooftops of Existing Government Buildings (Total Capacity: 854 kWp in Kalaburagi Circle, Package-2, Call-5)
• Issuing Authority: Chief Engineer (Electricity), Operations, Corporate Office, GESCOM, Kalaburagi
• Bid Submission Deadline: October 17, 2026