HL Bridge over Kathajodi from Mukameswar to Purighat

Invitation / NIT date

Invitation of RFP (NIT) is dated 31.08.2026 (Letter No. 30936).

• RFP documents are available on the portal from 10.00 A.M. of 08.09.2026 (not the same as the NIT invitation date).

Document sale / download window

RFP download/sale: 08.09.2026 to 09.10.2026 up to 17.00 Hours IST on https://tendersodisha.gov.in.

• NIT states availability from 10.00 A.M. of 08.09.2026 to 5.00 P.M. of 09.10.2026.
• Clause 1.3 Sl.5: Last date of sale of BID Document up to 17.00 Hours IST of 09.10.2026.

Pre-bid / clarification deadlines

Last date for queries: 29.09.2026 up to 17.00 Hours IST; Pre-BID meeting: 30.09.2026 at 12.30 P.M.; Authority response by 07.10.2026 up to 17.00 Hour IST.

• Queries by e-mail to the officer in Clause 2.11.4 with the prescribed subject title.
• NIT also states pre-application conference on 30.09.2026 at 12.30 P.M.

Bid submission deadline (online)

BID Due Date: online Technical & Financial BID on or before 5.00 pm IST / 17.00 Hours IST on 09.10.2026 via https://tendersodisha.gov.in.

• Applications received only online on or before 5.00 P.M. of 09.10.2026 (NIT).

Physical submission of originals

Physical submission of Bid Security / POA etc. by 05.00 PM IST on 12.10.2026 to the Chief Engineer (Buildings & Bridges) address.

• NIT also requires one hard copy of the uploaded application by 05.00 P.M. on 12.10.2026 (Regd./Speed Post allowed; postal delay not accepted as excuse).
• Technical BID is opened only if Clause 2.11.2 physical documents have been received.

Bid opening

Technical BIDs open at 11.00 A.M. IST on 13.10.2026 at O/o the E.I.C., Rural Works, Unit-IV, Bhubaneswar (online opening; bidders may witness via DSC).

• Clause 1.3 table prints '11.00 PM' once — treat as typo; NIT, Clauses 2.15.2 and 3.1.1 all say 11.00 A.M./AM.
• If the office is closed on opening day, opening shifts to the next working day at the same time and venue.
• Financial BID opening date: Will be notified after technical qualification.

Bid validity and post-award timeline

BID validity: 120 days from the BID Due Date; Agreement signing within 15 days of LOA.

• Selected Bidder must also deliver legal opinion within 10 days of LOA and execute Agreement within 15 days of LOA (draft Agreement).
• LOA date itself is 'Will be notified'.

Estimated project cost

Indicative Estimated Project Cost is Rs. 128.48 Crore excluding GST; bidders must make their own cost assessment.

• Schedule-H of the draft Agreement also records Contract Price placeholder as Rs. 128.48 Crore (actual Contract Price is the accepted lump-sum Bid Price).
• BOQ is an Item Rate / GePNIC sheet for the same work under Contract No. RFP Bridges 02 /2026-27.

EMD / Bid Security

EMD @ 1% of the indicated cost put to tender (Rs. 1.2848 Crore on Rs. 128.48 Cr estimate), in favour of Superintending Engineer, R.W. Division, Cuttack; bid rejected if missing.

• Primary mode repeatedly stated as online transfer under Works Dept. OM No.4909 dtd.12.03.2026.
• Appendix-II Bank Guarantee (e-Bank Guarantee/Physical BG) is also provided; if EMD is a BG, original must reach authority before 05.00 PM on 12.10.2026; BG from any Scheduled Bank, counter-guaranteed at Bhubaneswar branch.
• BG validity not less than 180 days from BID Due Date, inclusive of 60 days claim period.
• BID Security refundable no later than 150 days from BID Due Date (except Selected Bidder, retained till Performance Security).
• Forfeiture events include non-responsive BID, prohibited practices, withdrawal during validity, and Selected Bidder failure to sign LOA/Agreement or furnish Performance Security.

Tender / bid document fee

Online bid document cost Rs.10,000.00 (Rupees ten thousand only); bid rejected if not paid.

• Payment process is as mentioned under DTCN / RFP online process.

Performance Security

Successful Bidder must furnish Performance Security equal to 7.5% of the Contract Price within 10 days of the Agreement (irrevocable bank guarantee in Schedule-G form).

• Valid until 60 days after the Defects Liability Period; may initially be for 2 years with mandatory extensions at least 2 months before expiry.
• Failure within 10 days: optional extension up to 20 further days with Damages @ 0.05% of Contract Price per day; agreement deemed terminated after additional 30 days and Bid Security encashed.
• RFP Clause 2.20.6 aligns: within 10 days of signing Contract Agreement.
• Selected Bidder’s Bid Security may be adjusted against Performance Security at bidder’s option.

Additional Performance Security (low bids)

If Bid Price is below estimate, Additional Performance Security applies under Works Department OMs; two different APS tables appear in Clause 2.20.7 — confirm which prevails before pricing.

• Older table (OM 4559/05.04.2021 under 2.20.7(i)): Below 5% — nil; 5% to below 10% — 50% of difference; 10% and above — 150% of difference; to be deposited within 7 days of LOA as TDR pledged to SE, R.W. Division, Cuttack or BG (Nationalised/Scheduled Bank, counter-guaranteed at Bhubaneswar); failure → bid cancelled, 180-day debarment and blacklisting process.
• Later table (OM No.173 dt.03.01.2026 under 2.20.7(iii)): Below 0% but not below 10% — no APS; below 10% but not below 20% — incremental 0.1% from 11%; 20% or more below — incremental 0.2% plus 1% of bid price, applied on bid price; APS treated as part of performance security; abnormally low bids may be rejected after price analysis.
• See contradictions for the dual APS frameworks.

Retention Money

6% deducted from every Works payment as Retention Money, capped at 5% of Contract Price; replaceable by BG in tranches of at least 1% of Contract Price.

• Balance Retention Money refunded within 15 days of Completion Certificate (after adjustments).
• On termination, Retention Money is treated as Performance Security for Termination Payment purposes.

Advance payment and stage payments

Interest-bearing mobilisation/equipment Advance Payment equal to 10% of Contract Price (four instalments 2%+3%+3%+2%) at 10% p.a. compounded quarterly; construction paid by stage percentages in Schedule-H.

• Each advance instalment needs BG for 110% of the instalment; repaid no later than 365 days from the respective advance date; interest recovered with advance recovery.
• Schedule-H stages (illustrative): foundations 3×10%; substructure/bearings 3×10%; superstructure 15%+10%; wearing coat/crash barrier etc. 5%; approaches/road furniture 10% (total 100%).
• Maintenance paid separately under Clause 14.1.1 / 19.7 (not in Contract Price).
• Price adjustment formulae for cement, steel, other materials etc. are provided in Article 19.
• GST applicable on works contract as per GST rules (Agreement).

Bonus for early completion

Bonus 0.03% of Contract Price per day early, capped at 7.5% of Contract Price, only after Completion Certificate and if extended-time works finish within their extended times.

Eligible bidder form — JV barred

Only a single-entity Bidder (natural person or private entity) may bid; Joint Venture participation is not allowed, and JV conditions elsewhere are declared not valid.

• No Bidder shall submit more than one BID.
• Despite the bar, JV formats (Appendix-IV/V) and JV qualification text still appear in the RFP — treat JV as ineligible per Clause 2.1.1.

Technical Capacity

Over past 5 financial years preceding Bid Due Date, payments received / self-construction on Eligible Projects must exceed 2.50 × Estimated Project Cost = Rs.321.20 Crore.

• At least one similar completed work of 50% of Estimated Project Cost = Rs.64.24 Crore from Category 1 and/or Category 3; ‘completed’ means >90% of work value completed and that completed value ≥ 50% of estimated project cost.
• Experience categories: Bridge sector (factor 1) and core sector (factor 0.5); OECD-country projects further ×0.5.
• Bridge sector includes stand-alone river bridges, barrage-with-bridge, aqueduct, flyovers, underpass, ROBs, RUBs and elevated road structures.
• For Categories 3 & 4, only gross amounts actually received in last 5 FYs count; receipts < Rs.12.85 Crore not reckoned; land cost excluded; goods/equipment only if part of turnkey/EPC/civil construction contract.

Financial Capacity (Net Worth)

Minimum Net Worth of 10% of estimated project cost = Rs.12.85 Crore at the close of the preceding financial year.

• Audited Annual Reports for last 5 financial years required; if latest year unaudited, undertaking + statutory auditor certificate and reports for preceding 5 years.
• Net Worth definition and statutory auditor certification as per Clause 2.2.2.9 / Annex-III.

Available Bid Capacity

Available BID capacity = (A×N×2 − B) must exceed total BID value (Estimated Project Cost per Clause 1.1.1).

• N = years prescribed for completion; A = maximum value of civil engineering works in any one of last five FYs (updated); B = value of existing commitments/LOA/on-going works to be completed in next 30 calendar months, updated.
• Updation factors: Year-1 1.00; Year-2 1.05; Year-3 1.10; Year-4 1.15; Year-5 1.20.
• Commitments statement must be countersigned by Client/Engineer-in-charge ≥ Executive Engineer (or equivalent) and verified by Statutory Auditor; details in Annexure-VI of Appendix-IA.

Debarment, past performance and conflict rules

Barred entities, recent non-performance, and Conflict of Interest are pass/fail disqualifiers with Bid Security forfeiture risk.

• Entity barred by Central/State Government (or controlled entity) with bar subsisting on Bid Due Date is ineligible.
• In last 3 years: must not have failed to perform (penalty by arbitral/judicial authority or award), been expelled from a project/contract by a public entity, or had a contract terminated by a public entity for breach.
• Authority may reject on litigation/blacklisting information under Clauses 2.1.19.1–2.1.19.3.
• Conflict of Interest includes common controlling shareholding (>5% thresholds), same legal representative, cross-subsidies, shared information relationships, or prior consultancy on Project documents; Authority advisers engaged by bidder during bidding/after LOA also disqualify.
• GOI disinvestment guidelines (Annexure VII of Appendix-IA) apply mutatis mutandis.

Project identity and location

EPC construction of H.L. Bridge over river Kathajodi connecting Mukameswar to Purighat (Devigada), Cuttack district, under R.W. Division, Cuttack.

• RFP Identification / Contract No.: CE-BUILDING & BRIDGES – 02/2026-27 / RFP Bridges 02 /2026-27.
• Site under Cuttack Sadar Block; river non-tidal; cyclone-prone (wind up to 300 km/h cited for 1999 super cyclone); seismic zone III.
• Authority: Chief Engineer (Buildings & Bridges), Rural Works, Odisha; Agreement signed with Superintending Engineer, R.W. Division-I, Cuttack as Authority representative.

Physical works and configuration

Indicative bridge length ~920.50 m plus about 1100 m approach roads on both sides with retaining wall; design-build of bridge, approaches and Project Facilities.

• Agreement recital describes a 3-lane configuration bridge of approx. 920.50 m including 1100 m approaches.
• Schedule-B: bridge length shall not be less than 861.86 m; span arrangement indicated as 19 × 41.500 m c/c + 11 × 12.00 m c/c with RCC twin box girder superstructure.
• Approach roads: two-lane approach 7.500 m wide with bell mouth, total 1100 m on embankment; flexible pavement minimum crust BM 50 mm, SDBC 25 mm, WMM 225 mm, GSB 250 mm, subgrade 500 mm (CBR ≥ 8%).
• Project Facilities include roadside furniture/signage and pedestrian facilities (Schedule-C).
• Carriageway width statements conflict across schedules (11.00 m / 16.00 m / 15.00 m 4-lane / 3-lane) — see contradictions; bidder must clarify before design pricing.
• Contractor does survey, investigation, design, engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance.

Completion, DLP and maintenance periods

Construction Period 30 calendar months / Scheduled Completion Date 912 days from Appointed Date; Defects Liability Period 5 years; Maintenance Period 5 years from Provisional Certificate.

• Milestones (Schedule-J): Milestone-I 290th day (≥10% stage payments); Milestone-II 505th day (≥30%); Milestone-III 720th day; Scheduled Completion 912 days.
• Maintenance charges: text states payment for 5-year Maintenance Period including structures — first year rate wording is incomplete/garbled; second/third/fourth/fifth years referenced at 0.25% and 0.50% of Contract Price (confirm exact year-wise rates in pre-bid).
• Applicable standards in Schedule-D; design to relevant Manual/IRC (e.g. crash barrier RCC M40 per IRC 5:2014; bearings IRC 83; Fe-500D FBEC reinforcement noted).

Authority-furnished inputs and exclusions

Authority to provide Right of Way (bridge on waterway — no ROW needed for bridge portion; approach ROW stated available) and environmental/CRZ clearances before LOA; Feasibility Report is non-binding reference only.

• Contractor must procure Applicable Permits in Schedule-F, power, water and other services at its cost.
• Unforeseeable difficulties: no Contract Price or time adjustment (Clause 3.8).
• NIT page also lists a second Luna river bridge project — that work is NOT this RFP’s scope (this RFP/Agreement/BOQ are Kathajodi only).

Submission mode and portal

Single-stage two-cover e-procurement on https://tendersodisha.gov.in: Cover-I Technical BID and Cover-II Financial BID; only online BIDs are evaluated.

• Physically received applications without online submission are rejected.
• Offline/hard copy is referred only if online copy is not legible; online contents prevail for assessment.
• Fax/telex/telegram/e-mail BIDs are summarily rejected.
• Upload scanned files (PDF/JPEG, each ≤ 5 MB).

Digital signature and signing

Online submission requires Digital Signature Certificate; NIT mandates Class III; RFP online-instructions also allow Class II or Class III.

• BID typed and signed in indelible blue ink by authorised signatory; alterations initialled.
• Appendix formats call for Class III DSC ID of authorised signatory.

Physical envelope of originals

Documents in Clause 2.11.2 go in one sealed envelope marked with project identification, bidder name/address and BID Due Date, addressed to Dr. Pravakar Behera, Chief Engineer (Building & Bridges), O/o E.I.C. Rural Works, Unit-IV, Bhubaneswar-751001, by 05.00 PM on 12.10.2026.

• Technical BID of only those bidders whose Clause 2.11.2 documents are physically received will be opened.
• NIT also requires one hard-copy set of the uploaded application by the same deadline (Regd./Speed Post allowed).

No corrigendum / addendum on record

The tender document set contains NIT, RFP, EPC Agreement and BOQ only; no corrigendum or addendum file is present, and tender metadata lists an empty corrigenda array.

• All dates, amounts and conditions above are taken from the original NIT/RFP/Agreement/BOQ as issued.
• Authority may still issue website amendments before the due date (NIT reservation); bidders should re-check tendersodisha.gov.in before submission.

Values that finally apply (no amendments)

Final applicable snapshot with no corrigenda: Bid Due Date 09.10.2026 17:00 IST; physical originals 12.10.2026 17:00; Technical opening 13.10.2026 11:00 AM; Bid validity 120 days; Estimated cost Rs.128.48 Cr excl. GST; EMD 1%; document fee Rs.10,000; completion 30 months/912 days; DLP/Maintenance 5 years; JV not allowed.

• Pre-bid queries deadline 29.09.2026 17:00; pre-bid meeting 30.09.2026 12:30; authority replies by 07.10.2026 17:00.
• Performance Security 7.5% of Contract Price within 10 days of Agreement.

Technical bid opening time — 11:00 AM vs 11:00 PM

Clause 1.3 schedule prints opening at 11.00 PM on 13.10.2026, while NIT and operative opening clauses state 11.00 A.M./AM; 11:00 AM prevails as the consistent operative value.

• NIT para 5: 11.00 A.M. on 13.10.2026.
• RFP Clauses 2.15.2 and 3.1.1: 11.00 AM IST on 13.10.2026.
• RFP Clause 1.3 Sl.8 table: 13.10.2026 at 11.00 PM — apparent typographical error.

DSC class — Class III only vs Class II or III

NIT requires Class III DSC; RFP online-bidding instructions allow Class II or Class III; Appendix formats ask for Class III DSC ID.

• Practical risk: portal/NIT Class III requirement is safer to follow; seek written clarification if only Class II is held.

EMD mode — online payment vs Bank Guarantee format

Multiple clauses require EMD @1% through online transfer, yet the same clauses and Appendix-II also provide a Bank Guarantee path with physical submission deadline.

• Clause 2.1.6 / 2.14.1.5 / 2.20.1: online in favour of SE, R.W. Division, Cuttack under OM 4909 dtd.12.03.2026, and ‘in the format at Appendix-II (Bank Guarantee)’.
• Clause 2.11.1(e): if BG, submit before 05.00 PM on 12.10.2026.
• Appendix-IA technical letter para 20 even cites a different OM (No1499 dtd.01.02.23) while operative clauses cite OM 4909 dtd.12.03.2026.
• Bidder should confirm acceptable instrument combination (online only, BG only, or either) before Bid Due Date.

Two different Additional Performance Security tables

Clause 2.20.7 prints both the 2021 OM 4559 APS slab table and the 2026 OM 173 incremental-percentage table without expressly deleting the earlier table.

• 2.20.7(i) 2021 table: <5% nil; 5–<10% = 50% of difference; ≥10% = 150% of difference; 7-day LOA deadline with debarment/blacklisting consequences.
• 2.20.7(iii) 2026 table: different incremental % structure tied to bid price vs estimate bands, APS part of performance security, abnormally-low-bid scrutiny.
• Later 2026 OM is newer, but both remain in the issued RFP — treat as a material clarification item; do not assume one silently.

Bridge carriageway / lane configuration conflicts

Documents variously describe 3-lane, 11.00 m carriageway, 16.00 m width, and design for 4-lane 15.00 m carriageway — a direct design/pricing conflict.

• Agreement recital: 3-lane configuration bridge.
• Schedule-A Annex-II: Balance ROW approach noted as three lane carriageway; Note 3 requires design for vehicular load with 4-lane carriage way width of 15.00 mtr.
• Schedule-B general text: width of carriageway of new bridge and structures shall be 11.00 M; table entry shows 16.00 mtr.
• Prevail only after Authority clarification/addendum; until then flag as unresolved.

JV barred but JV machinery retained

Clause 2.1.1 forbids JV and nullifies subsequent JV conditions, yet qualification Clause 2.2.2.4 and Appendices IV–V still set out full JV rules/formats.

• For bid strategy, Clause 2.1.1 controls: single entity only.
• Leaving JV formats in the book creates process confusion; do not submit a JV bid without a written amendment allowing it.

NIT lists two bridges; this package is Kathajodi only

NIT table includes both Kathajodi (Rs.128.48 Cr) and Luna (Rs.56.36 Cr) works, but the RFP, Agreement and BOQ package here are only the Kathajodi bridge.

• Do not combine values/eligibility across both NIT rows unless a separate RFP is issued for Luna.

Confirm mandatory EMD instrument

Ask Authority to confirm whether EMD must be online only, BG only, or either, and which OM governs (4909 dtd.12.03.2026 vs Appendix-IA’s No.1499 dtd.01.02.23).

• Also confirm e-BG acceptability and exact physical BG delivery protocol/branch counter-guarantee requirement.

Which Additional Performance Security regime applies?

Request a ruling on whether APS follows OM 4559/2021 slabs or OM 173/03.01.2026 incremental percentages, including LOA+7-day deposit/debarment consequences.

• Material to bid pricing and cash-lock-up on low bids.

Final bridge cross-section / carriageway width

Seek binding clarification of lane configuration and carriageway width (3-lane vs 4-lane 15 m vs 11 m vs 16 m) and controlling GAD reference.

• Affects quantities, design standards, load model and Bid Price.

Environmental / CRZ clearance status and Appointed Date risk

Ask for current status and expected date of environmental/CRZ clearances, and whether Appointed Date/construction can start if clearances slip past LOA despite Clause 4.3 warranty.

• Also request filled Schedule-A Annex-II exact ROW handover dates (table currently lacks calendar dates; only notes outer limit of 180 days after Appointed Date).

GST treatment of Bid Price vs estimate ‘excluding GST’

Confirm whether the Excel Bid Price / lump-sum Contract Price is exclusive or inclusive of GST, given estimate is stated excluding GST while Agreement says GST applies on works contract.

• Critical for apples-to-apples evaluation and tax cash flow.

Maintenance fee schedule wording

Clause 14.1.1 maintenance percentage text appears incomplete/garbled for year-wise rates — request a clean year-by-year maintenance payment schedule.

• Needed for whole-life pricing beyond construction Bid Price.

Delay damages up to 10% of Contract Price

Failure to meet Project Milestones or Scheduled Completion Date (beyond 30-day grace from Schedule-J dates) attracts Damages @ 0.05% of Contract Price per day, capped at 10%, without prejudice to termination rights.

• Damages refundable without interest if works still finish by Scheduled Completion Date including extensions.
• 912-day / 30-month programme for ~920 m major river bridge is execution-critical, especially with monsoon/cyclone exposure.

Heavy, long-tenor security stack

7.5% Performance Security must stay valid through 5-year DLP (+60 days), plus up to 5% Retention Money, optional low-bid APS, and interest-bearing 10% advance secured by 110% BGs.

• Advance interest 10% p.a. compounded quarterly is commercially expensive working-capital.
• APS failure within 7 days of LOA can cancel award, debar 180 days and trigger blacklisting process (under 2.20.7(i) text).

One-sided site / unforeseeable-conditions risk

Contractor accepts full responsibility for unforeseen difficulties with no price or time adjustment (Clause 3.8); Feasibility Report is expressly non-binding.

• Authority delay damages (ROW/utilities etc.) aggregated and capped at only 1% of Contract Price and stated as full/final cure.
• Authority aims to hand over ≥90% length within 15 days of Agreement after Performance Security, but approach ROW dates can run up to 180 days after Appointed Date.
• Environmental/CRZ clearance is required and promised before LOA — slippage is a start-up risk.

Site hazards — cyclone, seismic, river construction

Schedule-A flags cyclone-prone site (historical 300 km/h winds), seismic zone III, and bridge construction on Kathajodi waterway with approach on existing cart way.

• Contractor bears care of works, traffic management during construction, and long DLP/maintenance obligations on structures.

Bid-process pass/fail traps

Missing online fee/EMD, missing physical POA/BG by 12.10.2026 17:00, or non-online submission causes summary rejection; only physically-complete bidders’ technical bids are opened.

• Dual APS and EMD drafting ambiguities create compliance risk if bidder guesses wrong instrument.
• Lowest-bid selection with annulment if L1 withdraws (no automatic L2 award) increases strategic uncertainty after bid.

Five-year overlapping DLP and maintenance liability

5-year Defects Liability and 5-year paid Maintenance run from Provisional/Completion Certificate, with Performance Security released only after the later of Maintenance or DLP expiry and defect rectification.

• Defect remedy period typically 15 days from Authority’s Engineer notice.
• Long post-construction exposure on a major bridge in cyclone belt.

Inviting / bid-receiving authority

Chief Engineer (Buildings & Bridges), Rural Works, Odisha — Dr. Pravakar Behera — is the addressee for physical BID envelopes and the designated pre-bid/query officer venue.

• Office of the Engineer-in-Chief, Rural Works, Odisha, Unit-IV, Sachivalaya Marg, Bhubaneswar – 751001, Odisha, India.
• Fax: +91-674-2394705 (NIT also prints Fax.0674-2394705).
• E-mail: [email protected].
• Physical originals / hard-copy application: same CE address by 05.00 P.M. on 12.10.2026 (Regd./Speed Post accepted within schedule).
• Technical BID opening venue: O/o the E.I.C. Rural Works (O), Bhubaneswar.

Division / EMD favouring officer and Agreement counterparty

EMD/online Bid Security and APS instruments are in favour of Superintending Engineer, R.W. Division, Cuttack; draft Agreement names Superintending Engineer, R.W. Division-I, Cuttack as Authority representative.

• Concerned Division for the project: R.W. Division, Cuttack.
• Queries title format: “Queries / Request for Additional Information: RFP for Construction of H.L. Bridge over river KATHAJODI ... through EPC mode of Contract.”