Procurement, Operation and Maintenance of AC Electric Buses

RFP issue / publication

RFP issued on 30/07/2026 (Tender No. TMTU/TM/WS/138/2026).

• Cover also carries RFP Number & date: TMTU/TM/WS/138/2026, Date: 30/07/2026.
• No corrigendum in the workspace; these remain the applicable dates.

Pre-bid meeting and query deadline

Pre-bid meeting on 07/08/2026 at 11:30 Hrs at TMT Office, Wagle Estate; pre-bid queries after 06/08/2026 will not be entertained.

• Schedule table also lists 'Last date and time for receiving pre-bid queries' as 21/08/2026 before 15.00 Hrs, but the Note under Clause 1.8 overrides that for pre-bid queries: queries after 06/08/2026 will not be entertained (see contradictions).
• Clarifications/responses are to be uploaded on https://www.mahatender.gov.in/nicgep/app.

Bid submission window / Bid Due Date

Online RFP download and bid upload from 30/07/2026 to 21/08/2026 up to 15:00 Hrs on mahatender.gov.in.

• Bids after Bid Due Date will be rejected.
• No corrigendum extending the deadline is present in the documents.

Technical bid opening

Technical bids open on 24/08/2026 at 15:00 Hrs (if possible).

• Financial/price bid opening to be intimated later to eligible and qualified bidders.

Bid validity

Bids remain valid for not less than 120 days from the Bid Due Date.

• Authority may request extension; a bidder refusing extension does not forfeit EMD; agreeing bidders must extend EMD validity accordingly.

Post-award timelines

LOA acknowledgement within 7 days; stamped Bus Operator Agreement within 15 days of LOA dispatch; Performance Security before agreement signing; 12-year contract from COD with mandatory refurbishment after 7th year.

• Financial Close within 160 days of Agreement (wording also says one hundred and eighty — see contradictions), with paid extensions.
• Depot site access within 3 months of Appointed Date.
• 9m/12m FCOD stated as 120/220 days from LOA; Double Decker FCOD 300 days from LOA.

Tender / estimated value

No overall tender estimated cost/project value is stated; commercial evaluation is on quoted per-km GCC rates against Assured Kilometers.

• Quote must consider NCAP demand subsidy of Rs. 35,84,444/- per bus for total 180 e-buses.
• BOQ is rate-only (per km) for Part 1 and Part 2 items; no estimated amount filled.

RFP / tender document fee

RFP fee Rs. 29,500/- (incl. GST @ 18%), payable online only; non-payment makes the bid non-responsive.

• Payable through Net Banking/NEFT/Credit or Debit Card on the e-tender portal.

EMD / Bid Security

EMD Rs. 65,88,000/- payable only via e-tender portal payment gateway (Net banking/NEFT/RTGS); BG/DD not accepted for bid submission.

• Clause 2.5 says EMD is 'for each part'; NIT table shows a single EMD of 65,88,000/- against the full RFP description (see contradictions).
• Interest-free; returned to unsuccessful bidders after acceptance of Preferred Bidder or cancellation; Preferred Bidder's EMD returned after Agreement signing and Performance Security.
• Forfeitable for corrupt practices, withdrawal during validity, or failure of successful bidder to acknowledge LOA, sign Agreement, furnish PS, or breach before furnishing PS.

Performance Security

Rs. 1,00,000/- per bus as irrevocable BG from Nationalized/Scheduled Bank in favour of “Parivahan Seva, Thane Mahanagarpalika Thane”, before signing the Bus Operator Agreement.

• Must remain valid for three months after expiry of total contract period (RFP 7.5) / during Contract Period (Agreement Art. 9).
• Additional PS required proportionate to any additional buses ordered.
• Replenish within 15 days of encashment or face termination; failure to furnish PS allows forfeiture of EMD and cancellation.

Payment terms (GCC per-km)

Monthly per-km payment: invoice on 1st working day next month; 70% of estimated dues by 7th of that month; balance 30% on 7th working day of the following month after verification/deductions.

• Payment basis: actual run km × accepted per-km rate (log sheet); authorized dead km from parking to start paid separately; temporary diversions up to 1 day not billed.
• Assured monthly km per bus: 09m Midi 5,100 (annual 61,200); 12m SD 5,400 (annual 64,800); 9-10m DD 5,100 (annual 61,200).
• Under-utilization (non-bidder-default): Total payment = Ta×R + 0.75×(Tm−Ta)×R; excess km: Tm×R + 0.75×(Ta−Tm)×R.
• NCAP subsidy installments to operator: 20% after supply order/agreement & proto inspection; 60% on delivery with registration and driver; 20% after 6 months successful commercial operation.
• Any additional subsidy reduces per-km rate by 0.25 paise per lakh subsidy.
• Price variation (Art. 22.5): electricity at actual; labour factor 0.15 from 2nd year; material factor 0.05 from 3rd year.
• Currently GST not applicable on quoted km rate; if later applicable, TMTU pays GST additional over quoted price.
• Escrow Account mechanism under Article 27 for fee appropriations.

Bidder form and legal competence

Single entity or Consortium (max 3 members: OEM / Bus Operator / Aggregator); only OEM or Bus Operator may be Lead Member; legally competent Indian company, partnership or registered proprietary firm.

• Qualified OEM or Operator (with OEM consent letter) may bid as Single Bidder.
• No bidder/associate/consortium member may be in more than one bid.
• Conflict of Interest rules in Clause 9 (common ≥25% ownership etc.) cause disqualification.
• Successful single bidder / consortium / proprietorship / partnership / LLP / company must form SPV (Pvt Ltd under Companies Act) to execute the contract; Authority signs with SPV.

OEM qualification

Registered electric bus manufacturer in India with ≥50 Electric OR ≥200 HSD/CNG buses manufactured/delivered in last five FYs (incl. current) to STUs/PTAs/Govt bodies; CMVR type-approval of any one Midi/Standard electric AC bus model; MAAT > Rs. 75 Cr last 3 FYs; positive net worth in 3 of last 5 FYs; bank solvency ≥ Rs. 60 Cr.

• Associate financial/technical capability may be aggregated with CA certificate defining control (≥50%).
• OEM may give multiple consent letters to Bus Operators.
• Documentary: manufacture licence/facility evidence; supply details with delivery completion certificates; CA MAAT and Net Worth certificates.

Bus Operator qualification

Govt/STU O&M project reference (≥1 year in last 7 years); Part-1: ≥50 cyber-secured 9m e-buses for ≥6 months; Part-2: ≥100 e-buses or ≥200 Diesel/CNG/alt-fuel/hybrid for ≥6 months, plus ≥6 months ops of ≥10 Double Decker EV buses; MAAT Rs. 75 Cr last 3 FYs; positive NW in 3/5 FYs; solvency ≥ Rs. 60 Cr; OEM MAF + type approval; OEM AMC consent for entire contract if single bidder.

• Operational experience must cover planning/managing/monitoring day-to-day bus ops and/or maintenance via explicit public-sector contract in successful operation ≥1 year in India.
• Multiple OEM MAFs for one single model are rejected; different OEMs allowed for different Part-2 models.
• Must form SPV for entire contract period.

Aggregator qualification (consortium member)

Minimum net worth Rs. 15 Cr as on 31 March 2026; MAAT Rs. 75 Cr last 3 FYs; bank solvency ≥ Rs. 60 Cr.

• Aggregator cannot be Lead Member.
• Clause item (iii) under Aggregator criteria is Deleted.

Consortium equity lock-in and joint liability

Lead Member ≥51% SPV equity for first 3 years from COD; other member(s) ≥10% during lock-in; all members jointly and severally liable; no composition change during bidding or lock-in.

• Only Lead Member must meet Eligibility Criteria set forth in clause 5.1 (as stated under Additional Consortium Criteria).
• Joint Bidding Agreement must convey SPV intent, roles, and joint & several liability.
• If bid relied on Associate capability, that Associate must remain Associate through lock-in.

Blacklisting / debarment

Bidder, Associates used for qualification, and Consortium Members must not be blacklisted by any Indian Government Agency in the last 12 months before Bid Due Date for performance default/fraudulent conduct; self-attested Anti-blacklisting certificate (Annexure 6, notarized) required.

• Authority may reject bid and appropriate EMD if bidder/associate/consortium member is blacklisted/barred by any Government Agency in India or abroad (Clause 6.5).

Technical qualification (range)

Minimum single-charge range with 80% SOC: 160 km for 9m, 160 km for 12m, 140 km for Double Decker; undertaking for single range and opportunity charging with ≥75 minutes plug-in/out slot required.

What is procured (GCC O&M)

Selection of bus operator for procurement, operation and maintenance of AC electric stage-carriage buses on Gross Cost Contract (own-and-operate / opex) in Thane & neighbouring suburban cities and Mumbai.

• Part 1: 100 Nos. Midi (09m) AC Electric Buses with Driver & Maintenance (depots: Kalwa 50 + Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj/Mullabaugh 50).
• Part 2: 70 Nos. SD (12m) AC Electric Buses + 10 Nos. Double Decker (09-10m) AC Electric Buses with Driver & Maintenance (Kolshet Depot Part B bare land).
• Bidders may quote for either Part 1 or Part 2 only (not both).
• Operator owns buses during contract; Authority pays per-km fee; fare revenue remains with Authority model (GCC).

Operator obligations

Supply buses meeting Schedule-S/UBS-II/CMVR specs; drivers; O&M; depot/charging civil & electrical infrastructure (22 kVA HT); electricity charges; ITMS integration with TMTU; RTO/insurance; assured fleet availability; fleet deployment plan compliance.

• Assured Fleet Availability (shift basis): 95%/93%/92% in years 1/2/3, then 90% (Sundays, police seizure, warranty repairs excluded).
• Operator bears dead km for between-shift/trip charging; may need terminus charging infrastructure as directed.
• Mandatory bus refurbishment after 7th year; joint inspection before/after.
• CIRT+TMTU stage-wise and lot inspections at operator cost (fees, travel, lodging, boarding).
• Part-2: level/harden bare land and build O&M/parking/charging civil works at Kolshet Part B.

Delivery / COD timelines

9m & 12m: prototype structure ≤60 days LOA, fully built prototype ≤100 days LOA, then 25% lots at 30/60/90/120 days from final prototype approval; FCOD 120/220 days from LOA. Double Decker: structure ≤90, fully built ≤145, lots at 60/90/120/150 days from prototype approval; FCOD 300 days from LOA.

• Clause 13.6.1 also requires chassis induction for prototype demo within 90 days of LOA.
• Readiness for Commencement of Service for each lot ≤45 days from procurement of that lot.
• Each part work order issued after execution of agreement.
• LD for delayed delivery: Rs. 2,000 per bus per day until supply with RTO registration at designated depot.

Standards and exclusions / Authority role

Bus technical specs in Schedule-S; ITMS per UBS-II and compatible with Authority CCC; Authority provides depot land/right of way and finalizes routes/schedules; operator cannot claim relief for bad roads/weather/traffic.

• Indicative route/fleet deployment plan not specified in RFP; Authority decision final after consultation.
• Authority may vary bus numbers without changing quoted per-km rate.

Submission mode and portal

Single-stage two-part online bid (Technical + Price) only on https://www.mahatender.gov.in/nicgep/app; no separate physical bid submission process is prescribed in the RFP.

• Technical and Price bids must be submitted separately; mixing/price mention in technical bid risks rejection.
• Quote only one Part; quoting both parts rejects the bid for both.
• e-tender norms govern modification/withdrawal before due date; no modification on/after Bid Due Date.

Signing / authorization

Bid must be signed by proprietor / PoA holder (company, corporation, partnership) / Lead Member authorized signatory; company PoA supported by Board Resolution uploaded in technical bid.

• Prices in figures and words; words prevail on discrepancy.
• Language of bid and currency INR.

Fees and security instruments with bid

Upload scanned proof of online RFP fee and EMD in Part 1A; no BG/DD for EMD at bid stage.

No corrigendum / addendum in tender folder

The downloaded tender set contains only Tendernotice_1.pdf, 180TD.pdf (RFP) and BOQ_2269177.xls; no corrigendum or addendum file is present, so original RFP/NIT/BOQ values apply as published.

• Finally applicable key dates remain: issue 30/07/2026; pre-bid 07/08/2026 11:30; bid submission to 21/08/2026 15:00; technical opening 24/08/2026 15:00 (if possible); bid validity 120 days from Bid Due Date.
• Finally applicable fees: RFP fee Rs. 29,500/-; EMD Rs. 65,88,000/- (see EMD each-part wording conflict under contradictions); PS Rs. 1,00,000/- per bus.

Pre-bid query deadline: 21/08/2026 vs 06/08/2026

Clause 1.8 table allows pre-bid queries until 21/08/2026 before 15:00, but the Note on the same page says queries after 06/08/2026 will not be entertained.

• Pre-bid meeting is 07/08/2026, so the Note (06/08/2026) is the practical cut-off for queries intended for the pre-bid; bidders should treat 06/08/2026 as the safe deadline unless Authority clarifies.
• Both statements appear in the same Clause 1.8 block without corrigendum resolution.

EMD: single amount vs 'for each part'

NIT shows one EMD of Rs. 65,88,000/- for the RFP package, while Clause 2.5(a) states EMD of Rs. 65,88,000/- for each part.

• Bidders can bid only one part, which makes 'each part' ambiguous—whether one EMD of 65.88 lakh covers the chosen part, or 65.88 lakh is required per part if someone could bid both (which is otherwise prohibited).
• Portal/online payment will control the amount charged; seek clarification in pre-bid.

Bidding Process jurisdiction: Mumbai vs Thane

Clause 2.3 gives exclusive jurisdiction to Courts at Mumbai, while Clause 10(a) Miscellaneous gives exclusive jurisdiction to Courts at Thane for the Bidding Process.

• Bus Operator Agreement texts later also specify Courts at Thane for the Agreement.
• Unresolved conflict for bid-stage disputes; Agreement-stage disputes lean Thane.

Price evaluation: one Part only vs 'lowest rate all three models'

Bidders must quote only one Part, but Clause 5.3 says allocation to the tenderer who quoted the lowest rate for all three models.

• Part 1 has one model (09m); Part 2 has two models (12m + DD). Unclear whether Part-2 L1 is evaluated on aggregate of both models only, and how 'all three models' applies.
• Also Clause 1.3/5.3 refer to Preferred Bidder on lowest responsive price bid for particular part—more consistent with part-wise L1.

Financial Close period: 160 vs 180 days

Article 21.1.1 states Financial Close within 160 (one hundred and eighty) days—number and words disagree.

• Damages and extension mechanics repeatedly restate both 160 and 'one hundred and eighty'.
• Needs Authority clarification; until then the conflict is material to financing timelines.

9m/12m FCOD shown as '120/220 days from LOA'

Supply schedule lists Final COD as '120/220 days from LOA' without explaining which figure applies.

• Prototype fully built at 100 days + last 25% at 120 days from prototype approval can exceed 120 days from LOA, so 220 may be the outer FCOD—but not stated.
• Double Decker FCOD is clearly 300 days from LOA.

Prototype chassis induction 90 days vs structure inspection 60 days

Article 13.6.1 requires prototype chassis induction within 90 days of LOA, while Article 13.9(a) requires prototype structure inspection within 60 days of LOA for 9m/12m.

• 60-day structure inspection cannot occur if chassis only needed by day 90; timelines are inconsistent.

Non-lead consortium stake: lock-in 3 years vs 'during Contract Period'

Clause 1.2(c) says non-lead members maintain ≥10% during the Contract Period, while Clause 7.4(b) ties the 10% holding to the first three years from COD (Lock-in Period).

• Clause 7.4 is the detailed SPV shareholding clause used at award; 1.2(c) is broader scope language—conflict on whether 10% runs full 12 years or only 3 years.

Confirm EMD amount when bidding one Part

Is portal EMD Rs. 65.88 lakh once for the chosen Part, or Rs. 65.88 lakh × each Part as Clause 2.5 'for each part' suggests?

• Material to bid cost and responsiveness; NIT shows a single 65,88,000 figure.

Part-2 evaluation method for two models

How is L1 decided for Part 2 (12m + DD)—sum of (rate × annual assured km × qty), lowest of both rates mandatory, or another formula—and what does 'lowest rate all three models' mean if only one Part may be quoted?

• Drives pricing strategy and whether unbalanced rates between 12m and DD are acceptable.

NCAP subsidy certainty and per-km quote assumption

Is Rs. 35,84,444/- per bus subsidy guaranteed for all 180 buses, what if NCAP disbursement is delayed/reduced, and is the 0.25 paise per lakh reduction the sole adjustment mechanism?

• Subsidy is 20%/60%/20% milestone-based to operator; large impact on bid rate and cash flow.

Delivery FCOD 120 vs 220 days and prototype 60 vs 90 days

Which FCOD binds for 9m/12m (120 or 220 days from LOA), and which prototype timeline prevails (structure inspection 60 days vs chassis induction 90 days)?

• LD is Rs. 2,000/bus/day—schedule ambiguity is high commercial risk.

Depot readiness, HT power and bare-land civil scope / cost recovery

Who bears delays if DISCOM HT 22 kVA / permissions slip, and is there any Authority contribution or timeline relief for Kolshet bare-land civil works and charging infrastructure?

• RFP places full upstream/downstream electrical and civil cost on bidder; depot land only within 3 months of Appointed Date.

Operator experience – 'cyber secured' 9m e-buses and DD EV mandate

What evidence proves 'cyber secured' 9m e-bus operations for Part-1, and can DD EV experience be via Associate/OEM while Lead is operator, or must the bidding operator itself have operated ≥10 DD EVs?

• Part-2 DD experience is compulsory and may eliminate many urban bus operators.

Financial Close 160/180 days and termination risk before COD

Confirm binding Financial Close deadline and whether failure (even with partial financing) terminates the Agreement and allows encashment of Bid Security/PS equal to Bid Security.

• Article 21.2 is severe for lenders and equity timing relative to bus delivery schedule.

Delivery LD and tight procurement schedule

Rs. 2,000 per bus per day LD for late delivery with RTO registration; multi-lot delivery ending ~120–150 days after prototype approval plus FCOD pressure.

• All CIRT/TMTU inspection costs including travel/lodging on bidder.
• Ambiguous 120/220 FCOD increases dispute risk on when LD/default crystallizes.

Performance deductions, infractions and 5% monthly cap

Heavy operational penalties (infraction slabs Rs. 100 to Rs. 50,000+; lost-km deductions up to 100% of trip; KPI damages; 5% of monthly invoice overall cap for penalties/damages/fines/performance deductions).

• KPI failure can attract performance deduction of 5% of total monthly dues of entire ordered quantity.
• IT equipment off = no payment for that trip.
• Safety and higher-category infractions stated as non-capped in Annexure 17 notes, while page 61 imposes overall 5% monthly billing cap—another tension to price in.

Assured fleet availability and under-utilization payment haircut

Must maintain 95→90% fleet availability; under-utilized assured km (when payable) only paid at 0.75× rate; shortfalls from bidder default/maintenance/accidents not compensated.

• Adverse road/weather/traffic conditions expressly do not excuse performance.
• Authority controls routes/schedules; dead km for opportunity charging borne by operator.

Capex on charging, civil works, electricity and 12-year lock-in

Bidder funds buses, 22 kVA HT supply, chargers, transformers, civil depot works (including bare land at Kolshet), electricity bills, RTO and insurance for 12 years with mandatory 7th-year refurbishment—no separate capex reimbursement beyond per-km and NCAP subsidy milestones.

• Subsidy cashflow is back-ended (20% after 6 months operations).
• Additional subsidy automatically cuts per-km rate.

Payment timing and security package

Only 70% of estimated monthly dues paid on 7th; 30% delayed another month after audit—working-capital strain; PS Rs. 1 lakh/bus held full term + 3 months; EMD at risk until PS/Agreement.

• Authority not liable for late payment if invoice details incomplete.
• Financial Close failure can terminate Agreement and allow encashment of Bid Security/PS.

One-sided award / rejection and no-deviation Agreement

Authority may accept/reject any bid without liability; successful bidder cannot seek deviation in Bus Operator Agreement; LOA non-acknowledgement forfeits EMD; unbalanced low/high price bids may be rejected after market-rate review.

• If Preferred Bidder fails, Authority may ask L2/L3… to match L1.

Inviting Authority

Thane Municipal Transport Undertaking (Transport Wing of Thane Municipal Corporation), tender floated by Thane Municipal Corporation for TMTU.

• Tender No. TMTU/TM/WS/138/2026; portal mahatenders.gov.in.
• Website: www.thanecity.gov.in

Primary contact / bid communications address

Transport Manager, Thane Municipal Transport Office, Rd Number 27/34, Wagle Estate, Hanuman Nagar, Wagle Industrial Estate, Thane West, Maharashtra 400604; Email: [email protected] (also [email protected] on cover).

• All communications including submission of Proposal to be addressed to Transport Manager at this address (Clause 1.9).
• Pre-bid meeting at the same TMT Office address.
• Cover also shows TRANSPORT MANAGER, Administrative Building, Road No. 27/34, Near Wagle Depot, Wagle Estate, Thane-400604.
• No separate physical bid-receiving address beyond online portal submission; stamped agreement execution handled post-award at Authority.

Named officer on RFP pages

Documents are signed/stamped with Vidya Sawant, In-charge Chief Environment Officer, Thane Municipal Corporation, Thane (Marathi designation on page footers), alongside Transport Manager signature block.

• Tendernotice_1.pdf digital signature: RAJESH HIRAMAN BHOIR, 2026.08.04.