Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) is acting as the bidding agency for ten government organizations for the installation of 4.55 MW (rounded to 5 MW) of grid-connected rooftop solar projects. The bid submission deadline is May 14, 2026. Implementation follows the RESCO model.
Project Specifications and Geographic Scope
Projects will be implemented under the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) mode on a Build-Own-Operate (B-O-O) basis. The cumulative capacity is distributed across the following sites:
| Client Organization | Location (State/UT) | Tentative Capacity (kW) |
| Central University of South Bihar (CUSB), Gaya | Bihar | 1000 |
| Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Bhagalpur | Bihar | 85 |
| Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Patna | Bihar | 900 |
| Indira Gandhi National Open University Regional Centre (IGNOU RC), Patna | Bihar | 105 |
| Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Raipur | Chhattisgarh | 400 |
| Sikkim Manipal University (SKU), Tadong | Sikkim | 550 |
| Sikkim Manipal University (SKU), Majhitar | Sikkim | 700 |
| Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Guwahati | Assam | 125 |
| Central Institute of Technology (CIT), Kokrajhar | Assam | 525 |
| MU, Imphal | Manipur | 165 |
Financial and Technical Requirements
Prospective bidders are subject to a financial framework based on geographic zones. Zone III includes Bihar and Chhattisgarh, while Zone IV includes Assam, Manipur, and Sikkim.
Financial Framework
- Ceiling Tariffs: The maximum tariff is ₹5/kWh for most projects. Specific variances apply for IIT Patna (₹4.59/kWh) and Sikkim locations (₹5.15/kWh).
- Bid Processing Fee: A non-refundable fee of INR 6,000, including GST, is required.
- Service Charges (Success Charges): Successful bidders must pay non-refundable service charges of INR 1,350/kW for Zone III and INR 1,485/kW for Zone IV. These charges attract 18% GST and are payable in two 50% installments: the first within 30 days of the Letter of Award (LoA) and the second prior to Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signing.
- Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG): Requirements are set at INR 3,375/kW for Zone III and INR 3,715/kW for Zone IV.
Technical Standards
- Technology Selection: Projects are technology agnostic regarding Solar Photovoltaic Technology; however, all modules must be sourced from the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) List-I.
- IIT Patna Site Constraints: Solar panels must be installed on both rooftops and over car/cycle parking structures.
Scope of Developer Responsibilities
The Solar Power Developer (SPD) operates on a “single responsibility” basis, meaning the bid tariff must cover all obligations including design, supply, and 25 years of maintenance.
- Approvals: Obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOC) and Net-metering approvals from DISCOMs. SPDs must apply for Net-metering within 90 days of PPA signing.
- Infrastructure: Complete design, engineering, supply, storage, and civil work.
- Transmission: Responsibility for transmission systems up to the Interconnection Point at the developer’s risk and cost.
- Maintenance: Comprehensive Operation and Maintenance (O&M) for the 25-year PPA term, starting from the Commercial Operation Date (COD).
- Operational Logs: Mandatory maintenance of a “Hindrance Register” to record grid non-availability or issues affecting O&M.
- Cleaning: Solar modules must be cleaned every 15 days or as site conditions dictate.
Performance Metrics and Penalties
Bidders must declare an annual Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) that meets the minimum standards: 15% for Zone III and 13.5% for Zone IV.
- CUF Relaxations: The lower limit of the CUF is relaxable only for Force Majeure or grid non-availability, provided these instances are certified by the client and documented in the signed Hindrance Register.
- Shortfall Penalties: Liquidated damages for energy supply shortfalls below the permissible CUF limit are levied at 50% of the PPA tariff.
- Commissioning Timelines: Zone III projects must be commissioned within 9 months of the PPA effective date. Zone IV projects are allotted 12 months. Delays result in daily PBG encashment.
Submission and Eligibility Details
Bids must be submitted online via the ISN-ETS portal. Hard copies of the original Bank Guarantee or Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) must be delivered to the SECI office in New Delhi within two working days of the bid closing date.
Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) with valid UDYAM registration are exempt from bid processing fees and EMD, provided they meet financial eligibility on their own credentials or those of MSE affiliates. New Delhi Courts hold exclusive jurisdiction over this RfS.
Important Dates Summary
- RfS Issuance Date: April 1, 2025
- Bid Submission Deadline: May 14, 2026
- PPA Signing Deadline: Within 60 days of LoA issuance. (Example: An LoA dated October 1, 2025, requires PPA execution by December 30, 2025).
- PPA Term: 25 years from the Commercial Operation Date (COD).
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