The 5.64 W cells have to be five busbars long, and the desired thickness of the cells is outlined as 190 +/- 30 µm. The cells should be 158.75*158.75 ± 0.25 mm in dimension, as per the requirements.

REIL specified that the cells should not be having any pin holes or cracks, smudges of paste, and edge chipping on the front side of the cell. They should be devoid of any sort of mismatch in their pattern or colour.

REIL further specified that the deep blue silicon nitride anti-reflection coating would be preferred on both sides of the cell.

The information regarding each type of cell, structure, orientation, wattage, thickness, crystal and resistivity of cells packed should be provided by the supplier in each box on a sticker.

As per the tender, the cell-to-module loss should be less than 1.5 per cent, and the total quantity has to be supplied in one lot or within two weeks from the clearance of delivery.

May 13, 2021, is the last date to submit bids and the bids will be opened on May 14.

Only those vendors whose samples meet the expected parameters set by REIL will be considered. The vendors who have not supplied similar cells earlier will be needed to submit a sample of 140 solar cells to REIL for evaluation and acceptance free of cost before the due date of the tender.

According to the tender, 25% of the tendered quantity has been earmarked for micro and small enterprise (MSE) suppliers. Out of 25% reserved numbers, 20% has been allocated for procurement from MSEs that Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SCs/STs) entrepreneurs own.

If the MSE vendor participating in the tender quotes within the price band of L1+15 per cent, they will be allowed to supply the number of solar cells subject to the acceptance of L1 price by the MSE vendor. In the case of more than one such MSE vendors, then the supply will be shared proportionately.