Bihar Invites Bids for DPR Preparation Under the Model Solar Village Program; Bids Due August 18, 2026

The Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency (BREDA) has launched a strategic mandate to appoint consultancy firms for the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) under the “Model Solar Village Scheme.” Functioning as the primary implementation mechanism for this ₹800 crore national component of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the initiative aims to catalyze rural electrification by providing a ₹1 crore grant to one selected village in each of Bihar’s 38 districts. This RFP represents a pivotal shift in the state’s distributed renewable energy strategy, moving toward high-impact, energy-self-sufficient rural clusters.

Key Tender Details & Timeline

The procurement process, authorized by Dilip Kumar, Chief Engineer and Project Director of BREDA, utilizes a Quality-cum-Cost Based Selection (QCBS) framework to ensure technical excellence alongside financial efficiency.

Scope of Work & Project Objectives

The consultancy contract is designed to architect a roadmap for 38 “Net-Zero” villages that can serve as replicable benchmarks for Bihar’s clean energy transition. Each selected Model Solar Village is eligible for a Central Financial Assistance (CFA) grant of ₹1 crore to support the transition to 24×7 solar power.

Consultants are required to perform comprehensive technical and financial feasibility assessments for:

• Distributed RE Capacity: Designing a mix of community solar plants (with or without Battery Energy Storage Systems/BESS) and ground-mounted small-scale RE installations.
• Public & Residential Infrastructure: Integration of rooftop solar for all government buildings and households, solar street lighting, and solar-powered agricultural pumps.
• Livelihood & Collectives: Planning solar-powered equipment for Self Help Groups (SHGs) and cooperatives. Note that while public projects receive 100% support, projects for collectives require a 10% beneficiary contribution.
• Viability & Convergence: Analyzing socio-economic impacts, settlement mechanisms with DISCOMs (Net/Gross metering), and strategies to converge funds from CSR and departmental budgets.

Village Selection Criteria

Settlements are selected via a high-stakes “challenge mode” competition designed to reward the highest density of solar adoption.

• Demographic Benchmarks: Eligible settlements must be revenue villages with a minimum population of 5,000 (reduced to 2,000 for special category states) based on the latest census.
• The Challenge Window: Following the declaration of candidate villages by the District Level Committee (DLC), a 6-month competition period commences.
• Performance Metrics: The village achieving the highest cumulative distributed RE capacity (including residential rooftop and PM-KUSUM installations) within its revenue boundaries during this window will be awarded the “Model Solar Village” status.

Bidder Eligibility & Submission Guidelines

BREDA has established rigorous qualification standards to ensure that only firms with a proven track record in utility-scale or complex distributed RE planning participate.

Financial Requirements

• Minimum Turnover: Bidders must demonstrate an average annual turnover of at least ₹5 crore specifically from consultancy services over the last three financial years.

Technical Experience

• Project History: Participating firms must have successfully prepared feasibility reports or DPRs for renewable energy projects totaling at least 5 MW in capacity.
• Personnel Quality: Submissions must include experience certificates for key professional staff, outlining their expertise in RE design and grid interfacing.

Documentation & Submission

• Bidders must provide legal registration proof, PAN/GST certificates, and a mandatory non-blacklisting undertaking.
• Submission Channel: Final bids must be uploaded to the official Bihar e-procurement portal, with identical physical copies submitted to BREDA’s Patna headquarters by the August 19 deadline.

Project Context: PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana

The Model Solar Village initiative is a cornerstone of the broader national goal to connect 10 million households to solar power by the 2026-27 fiscal year. In Bihar, where rooftop adoption has historically trailed behind national averages, the scheme offers aggressive financial incentives:

• Subsidy Breakdown: Residents receive ₹30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW of installed capacity and ₹18,000 for the additional 1 kW, with total central subsidies capped at ₹78,000.
• State Deadline: The Bihar government has signaled the urgency of this transition, setting a firm November 2026 deadline for all state-level targets under the PM Surya Ghar scheme. This RFP for DPR preparation is the critical first step in ensuring those installation targets are met with technical precision.

The official tender link for the consultancy services to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the Model Solar Village Scheme in Bihar, as listed on the state’s e-procurement portal, is:

View Official Tender Details

Key Bidding Reference Data

• Tender Reference Number: 98830598
• Online Bid Submission Deadline: August 18, 2026, at 11:30 PM
• Hard Copy Submission Deadline: August 19, 2026, by 2:00 PM
• Bid Opening Date: August 19, 2026, at 3:30 PM
• Issuing Authority: Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency (BREDA)

For general information regarding the broader PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and its implementation guidelines, you can also refer to the national portal at pmsuryaghar.gov.in.