Central Electronics Limited (CEL), a Government of India Enterprise under the Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, Ministry of Science & Technology, has invited online bids for outsourcing the facility for automated solar PV module manufacturing, operation, maintenance, marketing, and sales under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The Request for Proposal (RFP) was published on 8th March 2025.

The tender calls for eligible and technically qualified bidders who were shortlisted through CEL’s earlier Expression of Interest (EOI) dated 17th February 2025. These bidders are required to submit a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before accessing the detailed RFP document. The scope of the tender includes the outsourcing of automated solar PV module manufacturing along with its operation and maintenance services. It also covers the marketing and sale of the products to strengthen local manufacturing under the government’s initiative.

The Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) for this tender is ₹4,00,000 (Rupees Four Lakhs Only). This amount is to be paid through NEFT or RTGS only, and the proof of payment needs to be submitted with the technical bid. There is an option for exemption, subject to specific terms mentioned in clause 4 on page 3 of the tender document.

Interested bidders are expected to submit their bids online, as offline documents will not be accepted. The two-packet system is being used in this tender, comprising the technical and price bids.

The issue and publishing date of the RFP, was 8th March 2025. The NDA submission deadline is 11th March 2025. Document download and sale for eligible bidders start on 12th March 2025. Queries regarding the RFP should be submitted by 17th March 2025 at 17:00 hrs.

An online pre-bid meeting is scheduled for 19th March 2025 at 11:00 hrs. The bid submission process also starts on 12th March 2025 at 11:00 hrs. The last date and time for submission of bids is 29th March 2025 at 11:00 hrs. Both the opening of bids and the closing of document download are on 29th March 2025 at 11:00 hrs. The date and time for the opening of financial bids will be announced after the technical evaluation is completed. Additionally, the date and time for the live-forward auction will be intimated to the qualified bidders.

The Performance Bank Guarantee (PBG) amount has not been explicitly mentioned in the provided extract of the tender document, but bidders are usually required to furnish a PBG after being awarded the contract, as per CEL’s general tendering practice.

CEL encourages all eligible and interested parties to participate in this opportunity to support domestic solar PV manufacturing and help advance India’s renewable energy goals.