Construction of Mahendra Tanaya Bridge on NH 326A

RFP availability / document download window

Bid documents available on CPPP and BIMS from 07.08.2026 to 21.09.2026 up to 12.00 Hrs IST.

• NIT letter dated 03.08.2026 (Letter No. 2681).
• No corrigendum issued; these dates stand as published.

Pre-bid / clarification deadline

Pre-bid queries by email to [email protected] on or before 25.08.2026 up to 15.00 hrs IST; Authority response latest by 02.09.2026 (15 hrs IST).

• Pre-BID meeting is through e-mail (not a physical conference date beyond the query deadline).

Bid submission deadline (BID Due Date)

Technical and Financial Bids must be submitted online on CPPP on or before 21.09.2026 up to 12.00 hours IST.

• Bid through any mode other than online is not entertained.
• BIMS technical-bid upload is optional per MoRTH circular dated 05.03.2025.

Physical originals deadline

Physical originals listed in RFP Clause 2.11.2 must reach the Authority on or before 25.09.2026 up to 11.00 hours IST.

• Covers Bid Security, tender-fee receipt, original PoA, PoA-holder undertaking, Integrity Pact, and (if applicable) JV PoA/JBA.
• One RFP paragraph also says physical documents latest within 5 working days of bid due date up to 11:00 hrs; the schedule/NIT fix the calendar deadline as 25.09.2026 up to 11 hrs IST.

Technical bid opening

Online bids opened on 25.09.2026 after/at 15:30 hours IST.

• If the office is closed on the opening date, opening shifts to the same time on the next working day.

Bid validity

BID valid for 120 days from the BID Due Date (i.e. from 21.09.2026).

• Selected Bidder must keep Bid Security until Performance Security (and APS, if any) is furnished.

Post-bid award timeline (indicative)

Indicative post-opening milestones: eligible bidders ~60th day from NIT; financial opening ~68th day; LOA ~75th day; signed LOA return ~82nd day; Performance Security within 30 days of LOA; Agreement within 10 days of receipt of 50% PS/APS.

• LOA duplicate to be signed and returned within 7 days of receipt.
• Selected Bidder may submit 50% PS (and APS if any) within 30 days of LOA and balance within 30 days of signing agreement.

Estimated Project Cost / tender value

Estimated Project Cost is Rs. 29.56 Cr (including GST).

• Includes total civil cost with GST + electrical utility shifting (GST and applicable centages except supervision charges) + PH utility & RWSS shifting (GST and applicable centages).
• Project length stated as 2.300 Km in RFP particulars.

Bid Security (EMD)

BID Security Rs. 29.56 lakhs (Twenty-Nine lakh and Fifty-Six Thousand only).

• Acceptable forms: Insurance Surety Bond (Appendix-IX, IRDAI-authorised insurer), Account-payee Demand Draft, Banker's cheque, or e-Bank Guarantee/Physical Bank Guarantee (Appendix-II) from a nationalised/Scheduled Bank in India with net worth at least Rs. 1,000 crore.
• BG validity not less than 180 days from BID Due Date, inclusive of 60-day claim period; may be extended by mutual agreement.
• Refundable not later than 150 days from BID Due Date except Selected Bidder (retained till PS/APS furnished).
• Scanned instrument to be uploaded; original with physical packet.
• e-BG/Physical BG to be transmitted via SFMS to State PWD bank; foreign-bank BG needs Indian nationalised bank confirmation.
• No relaxation of any kind on Bid Security.
• Bid Security of all except L-1 and L-2 returned within 7 working days of financial bid opening; L-2 within 7 working days of LOA.

Tender document fee

Tender document fee Rs 11,800 (Rs 10,000 + 18% GST Rs 1,800) payable online on NTRP/bharatkosh.gov.in; receipt/TR uploaded online and original with hard copy.

• Bharatkosh selections: Ministry – ROADS TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS; Purpose – Sale of Tender documents; PAO – 034756 PAO (NH), Kolkata; DDO – 234760.

Performance Security and Additional Performance Security

Performance Security = 3% of Bid Price; Additional Performance Security applies if bid is abnormally low, on a stepped percentage formula.

• Forms: Insurance Surety Bond (Appendix-X), DD, Banker's cheque, or irrevocable unconditional e-BG/Physical BG (Appendix-VII).
• Due within 30 days of LOA; option for 50% within 30 days of LOA (before signing) and balance within 30 days of agreement signing.
• Further 60-day extension possible by paying Damages @ 0.01% of Bid Price per day; failure thereafter cancels award and appropriates Bid Security.
• APS slabs: (i) bid 10–20% below EPC: +0.1% APS per % below 10% starting at 11%; (ii) 20–30% below: 1% + 0.2% per % below 20%; (iii) ≥30% below: 3% + 0.5% per % below 30%; percentage rounded on 0.5 rule; APS treated as part of PS.
• Agreement PS valid until 60 days after Defects Liability Period; APS returned within 28 days of Completion Certificate (subject to conditional APS release rules in Agreement Art. 7.4(B)).
• Retention Money: 6% deducted from each Works payment, capped at 5% of Contract Price; balance refunded within 15 days of Completion Certificate (subject to agreement conditions).

Key payment terms

Lump-sum EPC Contract Price paid by stage payments per Schedule-H; interest-bearing mobilisation advance available; maintenance paid annually as % of Contract Price over DLP.

• Mobilisation Advance: interest @ Bank Rate + 3%, equal to 10% of Contract Price in two 5% instalments (2nd after utilisation certificate); additional equipment advance available against newly purchased key equipment; each instalment backed by BG for 110% of instalment.
• IPC: Authority’s Engineer issues within 15 days of Stage Payment Statement; Authority pays within 30 days of statement submission (or per Art. 19.9).
• Delayed Authority payment attracts interest @ bank rate + 3% p.a.
• Price adjustment applies to Works (labour, cement, steel, plant, bitumen, fuel, other materials) per Clause 19.10/Schedule-H stages.
• Stand-alone bridge maintenance payment: 0.25% of Contract Price each for first five years and 0.50% each for remaining five years (inclusive of taxes; WPI-adjustable).
• Financial bid is the BOQ percentage/amount on CPP portal (Appendix-IB is reference only).

Bidder form and JV prohibition

Single-entity bidders only — Joint Venture is not allowed because Estimated Project Cost (Rs. 29.56 Cr) is up to Rs. 100 crore.

• RFP still prints full JV mechanics (max 3 members, 26% equity floor, Lead 60%/others 20%, Lead performs ≥51% length, joint and several liability through DLP), but Clauses 2.1.11(h) and 2.2.1(a) bar JV for this value band.
• No Bidder may submit more than one BID (individually or as JV member).
• Natural person or private entity eligible; foreign equity ≥50% in L-1 needs competent-authority national-security clearance.

Technical Capacity — threshold and similar works

Threshold Technical Capacity Rs 22.17 Crore over past 10 financial years; stand-alone major-bridge similar-work criteria apply.

• Payments for construction of Eligible Projects / PPP self-construction, category-weighted per Clause 2.2.2.5, must exceed Rs 22.17 Cr.
• Stand-alone Major Bridge criteria (Clause 2.2.2.2(iii)(a)): complete at least one similar Major Bridge/ROB/Flyover in last 7 FYs with span ≥ 80% of project longest span or 100 m, whichever less, AND 40% of structure length or 2 km, whichever less; AND cost of such similar project(s) at least (i) two works ≥ Rs. 7.40 Cr each (25%) OR (ii) one work ≥ Rs. 10.35 Cr (35%).
• Project bridge is 3×40.0 m PSC Girder Major Bridge at km 1.230 (total span length 120 m; longest span 40 m ≤ 60 m).
• Completion means >90% value completed and completed value meets the threshold; client certificates required; JV/subcontract claims need client approval limited to original share.
• Normal highway similar-work route (two @25% or one @35% of estimated cost from Category 1/3) is also printed under 2.2.2.2(ii); for this stand-alone bridge tender the specialised Clause 2.2.2.2(iii) is the operative similar-work test.
• Eligible Project update factors Year-1 to Year-10: 1.00 to 1.45.
• Receipts/works under Rs 1.48 crore on an Eligible Project are not reckoned.

Financial Capacity and Bid Capacity

Minimum Net Worth Rs. 1.48 crore; minimum Average Annual Turnover Rs. 5.91 crore (updated) over last 5 FYs; Available Bid Capacity must exceed total BID value.

• Net Worth at close of preceding financial year per Clause 2.2.2.9(ii) definition (paid-up capital + reserves from profits/securities premium − accumulated losses/deferred/misc. expenditure; excludes revaluation, write-back of depreciation, amalgamation).
• Turnover update factors Year-1..5: 1.00, 1.05, 1.10, 1.15, 1.20.
• Bid Capacity = (A×N×2.5 − B + C), with N = years prescribed for completion (here 12 months → N as per RFP definition of years prescribed); A max updated civil EPC value in any one of last 5 years; B updated existing commitments/won-but-not-issued LOA/ongoing works during completion period; C updated bonus in last 5 years.
• Bid-capacity status updated as on the day before opening of financial bids.
• Audited annual reports for last 5 FYs required; if latest year unaudited, undertaking + statutory auditor certificate and prior 5 years' reports.

Conflict of interest, debarment and non-performer bars

Conflict of Interest disqualifies and triggers Bid Securing Declaration consequences; extensive MoRTH non-performer / debarment triggers apply.

• Key bars include: failure to perform NH/Expressway/ISC/EI works in last 2 years with arbitral/judicial penalty; expulsion/termination by MoRTH/implementing agencies after hearing; blacklisting; failure to submit PS in more than one project; failure to achieve financial closure in ≥2 projects; unsatisfactory rating by third-party agency; catastrophic structural failure undertaking (Appendix-XII / Clause 2.2.2.10).
• Bidder must list all MoRTH/NHAI/NHIDCL/State PWD Expressway/NH/ISC/EI projects and status vs the Clause 2.1.14 categories (Annex-I Sr.6).
• Corrupt/fraudulent etc. practices: 2-year ban from Authority tenders (Section 4).
• Entities from countries identified as not allowing Indian companies in equivalent MoRTH procurement are barred (with item-list exceptions).
• Orders of MoF/DPIIT/other GOI agencies as applicable on LOA date apply.
• Make in India / local content: Class-I ≥50%, Class-II ≥20%; Non-Local below Class-II; purchase preference margin 20% for Class-I Local Suppliers; value >Rs 10 Cr requires statutory/cost auditor local-content certificate.

Project identity and mode

EPC construction of Mahendra Tanaya Bridge at Km 92.250 (Design Chainage 1.230 km) on NH-326A in Odisha, Bid Ref No. 07 CCE NH SOUTH of 2026-27.

• Authority: Ministry of Road Transport & Highways through Chief Construction Engineer, Southern NH Circle, Berhampur (RFP body also styles “Chief Engineer, National Highways, Odisha”).
• Location corridor: NH-326A from km 91.100 to km 93+460 (design length 2.300 km).

Works deliverables

Design-build two-laning with paved shoulders over 2.300 km including a new major bridge, SVUP, approaches, safety works, and specified utility shifting; then maintain through Defects Liability/Maintenance Period.

• Scope (Art. 2.1): construct Project Highway per Schedule-A/B with facilities Schedule-C to specs Schedule-D; maintain per Schedule-E; perform all incidental obligations.
• Carriageway: two-laning with paved shoulders Km 0+000 to 2+300 including bridge at km 1.230; paved carriageway 10 m wide.
• Major Bridge at design km 1.230: PSC Girder, pile foundation, span arrangement 3×40.0 m, minimum width 16.0 m.
• SVUP at km 1.495: 1×7.0×4.0 m.
• Also: thrie-beam crash barriers (~1.564 km min.), toe walls, traffic control devices, roadside furniture, electrical HT/LT and PH/RWSS utility works included in estimated cost.
• Sub-contracting cap 49% of Contract Price; Contractor must execute ≥51% directly (and if JV were allowed, Lead ≥51% length).

Completion and maintenance timelines

Construction Period 12 months (Scheduled Completion Date = 365th day from Appointed Date); Maintenance/Defects Liability Period 120 months (10 years) for this stand-alone bridge.

• NIT: Completion Period 12 months; Maintenance Period 120 months.
• Defects Liability for stand-alone Major Bridges: 10 years from Completion Certificate (Art. 17.1(d)).
• Maintenance Period corresponds to DLP (Art. 14.1).
• Project milestones are governed by Schedule-J; Agreement example references Milestone-I as 10% stage payment by 180th day (template illustration in Clause 10.3).

Standards and site investigations

Works to MoRTH/IRC Specifications and Standards in Schedule-D and relevant Manual; geotechnical investigation report provided for foundation design guidance.

• Design speed minimum 100 km/h for plain terrain.
• Soil report: 4 boreholes (A1, A2, P1, P2), termination ~30–35 m; groundwater observed Oct-2024 at 3.60–10.00 m; non-coring rock/high N-values at depth; pile capacity calculations illustrated for 1.20 m dia piles.
• Feasibility/DPR is reference only — Contractor must do own surveys/investigations (RFP 1.2.3).
• Contractor must appoint Proof Consultant and Safety Consultant from Authority-accepted panels.

Submission mode and portals

Online submission only on CPPP https://eprocure.gov.in/eprocure/app; BIMS https://bims.gov.in technical upload is optional; no fax/telex/telegram/physical bid of the full tender.

• Register on e-procurement portal (free); registration valid at least to bid submission date.
• Financial figures only via BOQ on CPP portal.

Digital signature and signing

Class-III DSC mandatory in name of authorised signatory / firm (corporate capacity; Lead Member if JV); bid typed and signed in indelible blue ink by authorised signatory; alterations initialled.

• DSC must match Appendix-III authorised signatory (or person delegating that PoA).

Physical envelope mechanics

Documents in Clause 2.11.2 go in one sealed envelope marked “BID for the Project.” with bidder name/address and BID Due Date on top-right; addressed to Sri Prakash Kumar Behera, CCE Southern NH Circle, Ambapua, Near City College, Berhampur-760011.

• Obtain receipt from the specified officer.
• Late physical receipt after prescribed time → bid summarily rejected.
• Lowest Bidder must later submit originals of Appendix-IA/IB, Annex-V, apostilled foreign experience certificates (if any), Rule 144(xi) certificate, and land-border registration proof if applicable, before LOA.

No corrigendum/addendum on record

No corrigendum or addendum is included in the tender document set; all dates, amounts and conditions remain as originally published in the NIT/RFP dated 03.08.2026.

• NIT states subsequent corrigendum/addendum, if any, will appear only on https://eprocure.gov.in and https://bims.gov.in.
• Bidders should still monitor the portals until bid opening for any late addendum.

Values that finally apply (no amendments)

Final operative values: documents available 07.08.2026–21.09.2026 12:00 IST; queries by 25.08.2026 15:00; responses by 02.09.2026; BID Due Date 21.09.2026 12:00 IST; physical originals 25.09.2026 11:00 IST; technical opening 25.09.2026 15:30 IST; bid validity 120 days; EPC Rs 29.56 Cr; Bid Security Rs 29.56 lakh; tender fee Rs 11,800; completion 12 months; maintenance/DLP 120 months/10 years.

Right of Way hand-over: 90% in 30 days vs Schedule-A Annex-II (most site on day 150)

Agreement Art. 3.1 promises ≥90% Construction-Zone RoW within 30 days of Agreement, but Schedule-A Annex-II hands over only 0.120 km on Appointed Date and the remaining ~2.18 km only on the 150th day.

• Annex-II is the project-specific RoW programme and is the practical site-access plan bidders must price.
• Art. 3.1/8.3 damages for Authority delay are capped at 1% of Contract Price aggregate — limited relief if Annex-II dates themselves are late.
• With 365-day completion, late bulk RoW is a material programme risk (see Risks).

Joint Venture allowed in general text vs expressly barred for this value

Detailed JV clauses (2.1.11, formats Appendix-IV/V) remain in the RFP, but Clauses 2.1.11(h) and 2.2.1(a) state no JV is allowed up to Estimated Project Cost of Rs. 100 crore — this project is Rs. 29.56 Cr.

• Operative rule for this tender: sole bidder only; JV documents are not applicable.

Authority designation / bid reference inconsistencies

Documents mix ‘Chief Construction Engineer, Southern NH Circle, Berhampur’ with ‘Chief Engineer, National Highways, Odisha’, and the draft Agreement cover still shows an old bid reference ‘03 CE NH of 2025-26’.

• Physical submission and NIT consistently use CCE Southern NH Circle, Berhampur / Sri Prakash Kumar Behera — use that for correspondence and hard-copy delivery.
• Operative bid reference throughout NIT/RFP body: 07 CCE NH SOUTH of 2026-27.

Physical document deadline wording

NIT/Schedule fix physical originals on 25.09.2026 up to 11:00 IST, while one RFP paragraph says ‘latest within 5 working days of the bid due date (up to 11:00 hrs)’.

• Treat 25.09.2026 11:00 IST as the stated calendar deadline aligned with bid opening day; do not rely on a looser 5-working-day reading.

Bid Security instrument validity vs refund timeline

Clause 1.2.4 says Bid Security is refundable not later than 150 days from BID Due Date, while Clause 2.20.1 requires BG/Surety validity of not less than 180 days inclusive of 60-day claim period.

• Provide instrument validity ≥180 days from BID Due Date (with 60-day claim cover) as required for responsiveness; 150-day figure is the refund outer bound for unsuccessful bidders.

Confirm sole-bidder only (JV barred) and which technical similar-work clause applies

Ask Authority to confirm in writing that JV is barred for this Rs 29.56 Cr package and that stand-alone bridge criteria under 2.2.2.2(iii) (with Rs 7.40 Cr / Rs 10.35 Cr and 3×40 m span metrics) are the governing similar-work tests.

• Also confirm whether normal highway criteria 2.2.2.2(ii) must additionally be satisfied.

RoW programme vs 12-month completion — time extension and damages

Seek confirmation that Annex-II RoW (only 0.12 km on Appointed Date; balance on day 150) is intentional, and how Milestone/Scheduled Completion damages and Time Extension will be measured for approach works not handed over until day 150.

• Clarify whether Appointed Date will be declared only after meaningful continuous RoW, and whether the 1% aggregate cap on Authority delay damages is the sole remedy.

Utility shifting scope, supervision charges and interface risk

Request itemised provisional amounts for electrical and PH/RWSS shifting included in the Rs 29.56 Cr EPC, confirmation whether supervision charges are excluded only for electrical, and whether delays by utility owners entitle Time Extension without Contractor cost risk.

• Schedule-A lists HT/LT lines, poles, DP structures and 2.3 km gravity water-supply line along the corridor.

Missing Appendix-XI format and Agreement cover bid-ref typo

Request the printed Appendix-XI (Rule 144(xi)) format and confirmation that Agreement cover reference ‘03 CE NH of 2025-26’ is a drafting error superseded by 07 CCE NH SOUTH of 2026-27.

Hydrology, working season and pile foundation assumptions

Ask for design HFL/discharge, diversion requirements on Mahendra Tanaya river, and whether soil-report pile lengths/capacities are mandatory minimums or indicative for Contractor’s design responsibility.

• Groundwater as shallow as ~3.6–3.8 m at pier/abutment bores (Oct 2024) affects cofferdam/pile methodology and cost.

Aggressive 12-month completion with staged RoW

Only 120 m bridge zone RoW on Appointed Date; ~2.18 km of approaches only on day 150 of a 365-day schedule — high risk of milestone/completion Damages.

• Delay Damages: 0.05% of Contract Price per day after 30-day grace from Schedule-J dates, capped at 10% — beyond 10% is default with termination right.
• Failure to complete within 90 days after Scheduled Completion Date → ineligibility for future Authority bids (subject to Rs 300 Cr threshold wording in clause).
• Authority delay damages capped at 1% of Contract Price and described as sole/final remedy.

Long 10-year DLP/maintenance and security lock-up

Stand-alone bridge attracts 10-year Defects Liability and Maintenance Period with Performance Security held until 60 days after DLP expiry.

• Maintenance fees for stand-alone bridge are modest (0.25%/yr years 1–5; 0.50%/yr years 6–10) — may not cover actual maintenance if defects emerge.
• Defects must generally be remedied within 15 days of notice at Contractor’s cost.
• Additional Performance Security (if low bid) has staged/conditional release and 5% non-refundable penalty slices for PQI/IRI failures.

Bid Security forfeiture and low-bid APS cash lock

Multiple forfeiture triggers on Bid Security; aggressive under-bidding forces large Additional Performance Security calculated on bid price.

• Forfeiture for corrupt practices, bid withdrawal during validity, failure to sign LOA/Agreement or furnish PS/APS.
• No relaxation of Bid Security for any bidder.
• APS formula escalates sharply below 20% and 30% of project cost.

Geotechnical / river and utility execution risks

Deep pile foundations in variable strata with shallow groundwater; utility shifting interfaces; Contractor bears unforeseeable-difficulty and site-data risk under EPC terms.

• Soil report shows water table ~3.6–10 m and non-coring rock/high SPT at depth — pile drivability/coring and cofferdam costs uncertain.
• Electrical and water utilities along full 2.3 km must be managed; estimated cost includes shifting but supervision/interface delays may sit with Contractor unless Time Extension qualifies.
• Contract Price stated to cover unforeseen difficulties unless Agreement provides otherwise (Art. 19.1).
• Retention 6% (cap 5%) plus 3% PS compounds working-capital pressure on a ~Rs 30 Cr job.

One-sided withdrawal and termination exposure

Authority may withdraw works up to 10% of Contract Price with only partial price reduction compensation; broad termination and debarment rights on Contractor default.

• Withdrawal compensation table reduces Contract Price by 90% of withdrawn value up to Rs 100 Cr band (not full value), except 110% of fair value if works already commenced.
• Corrupt-practice findings allow LOA withdrawal/termination and PS/Bid Security appropriation plus 2-year tender ban.

Inviting / receiving authority (physical submissions)

Sri Prakash Kumar Behera, Chief Construction Engineer, Southern NH Circle, Berhampur — physical bid-security/PoA packet addressee.

• Address: Ambapua, Near City College, Berhampur - 760011, Odisha
• Email: [email protected]
• This is the address that receives physical originals under Clause 2.11.2/2.11.4.

Pre-bid query contact

Pre-bid queries only by e-mail to [email protected] by 25.08.2026 15:00 IST.

• Responses uploaded on CPP portal by 02.09.2026.

Portal / publication contacts noted in NIT memos

e-procurement support emails referenced for publication/opening assistance: [email protected] and [email protected].

• NIT also circulated to RO MoRT&H Bhubaneswar, EIC (Civil) Odisha, CE NH Odisha, District Magistrate Gajapati, etc. (information only).

Bid Security SFMS beneficiary bank (instrument messaging)

BG SFMS advice beneficiary details printed in Bid Security BG format: Chief Engineer NHs Odisha / SBI A/c 11109326485 / IFSC SBIN0009025.

• Contact point for correspondence remains CCE Southern NH Circle; bank details are for BG transmission only (not a fee payment account).