F. No. 4/1/2013-Energy Access Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (Energy Access Division)

14, CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi-110003.

Dated the 09th July, 2013.

Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) for Empanelment of Private Companies/ Organisations/ Agencies, Government Companies, PSUs, Semi-Government Organisations and Micro- Finance Institutions for Rural Area Energy Access Programme and Solar Based Rural Energy Access Work of Ministry of New and Renewable, New Delhi.

1.    Background

Globally, over three billion people rely on traditional biomass for cooking and heating, and about one and a half billion people are without access to electricity. In India, over two fifths of rural household still lack access to electricity and over four fifths or rural households is dependent on traditional biomass for meeting their cooking energy needs. Ensuring universals access to energy remains a key priority for the Government of India. India recognizes the critical role of renewable energy as a key driver of universal energy access and has embarked on a massive agenda of energy access. India is also convinced that achieving universal energy access would require new approaches in energy provision that combine technical and institutional changes and international collaboration especially among developing countries.

2.    Energy Access Programme

The objective of the Programme is to provide Access to Electricity in Rural Areas mainly through deployment of off-grid electricity generation systems using any kind of renewable energy source. Under the programme it is envisaged to cover unelectrified census villages and hamlets/unelectrified hamlets of electrified census villages and electrified villages/hamlets where power availability is less than 6 hours per day averaged over the year.

It is intended to cover all the households in the eligible village/hamlets, including those in the Dalit Bastis of the village (approx. 100w per household and some additional load for streetlight and productive load).   The scheme will be implemented by setting of MINI/MICRO GRID wherever possible. Other modes will be small power plants for individual household or neighbourhood consisting of two or more families on ownership basis. In scattered population areas, if this is also not possible, then as a last resort, standalone solar lighting systems for each of the willing households in the village may be provided.

3.    Empanelment of Private Organisations, Government Companies, PSUs, Semi- Government  Organisations,  Autonomous  bodies  for  Energy  Access  in  Rural Area

At present there are various kind of renewable energy sources available in India however data available are very sketchy. For use of appropriate renewable technology for rural area and spreading awareness on available technologies and training of man power in rural areas is need of the hour. It is proposed that identified areas of work given in objective can be assigned to the Private Companies/ Organisations/ Agencies, Government Companies, PSUs, Semi-Government Organisations and Micro- Finance Institutions.

Further for evaluation of the programme feedback on programme implementation from various stake holders will be required on regular basis.

The Ministry is desirous of appointing a panel of Private Organisations/ Agencies, Government Companies, PSUs, Semi-Government Organisations which are (i) registered and having a minimum three years of experience of working in the area of energy access in rural areas after the registration and (ii) having an average annual turnover of at least 05 Crore in each of the last three financial years (2010-11, 2011-12 & 2012-3) as evinced by the audited accounts. Having specific experience and in-house capability to manage the assignment, will be an added advantage.

4  Main objectives

The main objective for empanelment of Private Companies/ Organisations/ Agencies, Government Companies, PSUs, Semi-Government Organisations and Micro- Finance Institutions is to  implement various energy access programmes through such organizations who could be experts in this work and can take this job with dedication in a sustainable manner and own responsibility over a long time frame.  They may also be used for:

1) Monitoring and Evaluation of individual project or programme as whole including technical, operational socio economic expect user feedback impact assessment;

2)  Spreading  awareness,  organizing  conference,  seminar,  workshop  for  experience sharing among various stake holders;

3)  Facilitating micro finance to rural people;

4)  Assessment of renewable energy sources available in the village in association with state nodal agency;

5)  Assessment of Energy Requirement of tribal/village community;

6)  Preparation of State-wise Master Plan for use of various kind of renewable energy sources in rural areas; and

7)  Knowledge  sharing  for  required  technical  and  institutional  changes  for  rapid  up- scaling of rural electrification through renewable energy.

5.   Minimum Eligibility Criteria

a)  A Single Organization/ Agency/ Company  (e.g. Govt./ Semi-Govt./ Private company/ Public Company/ PSU/ Autonomous body/ Company established under Section 25 of Indian Companies Act or Consortium of companies/ organizations (maximum of 4 members)  registered  in  India  and  in  existence  for  at  least  three  (3)  years  as  on 31.3.2013, are eligible to submit proposals for empanelment for the project.

b)  In case of a Consortium, one of the members of the consortium should act as the Prime Agency and shall be solely responsible to the MNRE for executing the assignment  and contractual  obligations,  if  selected  for  carrying  out  enrolment activities. The Prime Agency should submit the EOI for Empanelment proposal on behalf of the Consortium.

c) The applicant (single organisation/agency/ all consortium members) must be incorporated or registered in India under the Indian Companies Act, 1956 (including Section – 25 of the Act)/ Partnership Act, 1932 / its’ equivalent in the respective States OR must be Proprietorship entities having a PAN number.