Rail Connectivity MMLP Bengaluru Dodbele Railway Station

Publication / Invitation of RFP (NIT)

29.07.2026.

• Bid documents viewable/downloadable on https://etenders.gov.in from 29.07.2026 (NIT/Schedule).
• Clause 2.14.1.4 still shows a leftover download window of 18.03.2026 to 05.05.2026 — treat the NIT/Schedule dates as applicable (see contradictions).

Last date for receiving queries

12.08.2026.

• Queries/requests for additional information must reach the officer in Clause 2.11.4 by this date, with the prescribed identification title.

Pre-Bid meeting

13.08.2026 at the venue in Clause 2.11.4(i) (New Delhi office).

• Maximum two representatives per prospective Bidder, on production of authority letter.
• Authority response to queries latest by 25.08.2026.

Last date of downloading Bid Document

14.09.2026 up to 1500 Hours IST.

Bid Due Date (online submission deadline)

15.09.2026 up to 15:00 hours IST on https://etenders.gov.in.

• Technical Bid (Clause 2.11.1 documents) and Financial Bid (Appendix-IB / Bid Price) must be submitted online by this deadline.
• Portal will not allow late submission.

Opening of Technical Bids

16.09.2026 at 15:30 hrs IST (online; venue Clause 2.11.4(i)).

• Financial Bid opening scheduled 15.10.2026 after technical evaluation; declaration of eligible/qualified Bidders targeted 10.10.2026.

Bid validity

120 (one hundred and twenty) days from the Bid Due Date.

• May be extended by mutual consent of the respective Bidders and the Authority.
• Appendix-IB text contains a typographical error ‘1200 (one hundred and twenty) days’; Clause 2.17 / Schedule control (see contradictions).

Physical Bid Security (DD/FDR/Banker’s Cheque) deadline

Original Account Payee DD / FDR / Banker’s Cheque to be submitted physically latest within 5 working days of Bid Due Date (time stated inconsistently as 11:00 or 15:00 hours).

• NIT states 3 working days (upto 15:00 hours) — superseded for timing detail by RFP Clauses 1.3/2.10.1/2.11/2.20.6 which state 5 working days; hours still conflict (see contradictions).
• Other originals listed in Clause 2.11.2 (POA, JBA, Integrity Pact, etc.) are due from the Lowest Bidder before issuance of LOA.

Post-award milestones (LOA, PS, Agreement)

Return signed LOA within 7 days of receipt (Schedule also says one week); Performance Security/APS within 15 days of LOA (with staged option); Agreement within 10 days of receipt of 50% PS and 50% APS (if any).

• PS/APS option: 50% within 15 days of LOA (before signing) and balance after signing — remaining balance timeline conflicts between Schedule (30 days of signing) and Clause 2.21.3 (15 days of signing).
• Registered JV agreement original to be deposited within 45 days of LOA if Selected Bidder is a JV.

Estimated Project Cost

Rs. 77.36 crore (exclusive of GST) for ~8.5 km rail connectivity on EPC mode.

• Bid Price is the lowest cost for implementing the Project, exclusive of GST.
• Bidders must make their own cost assessment; Feasibility Report is non-binding.

Bid Security (EMD)

Rs. 78 Lakhs (Rupees Seventy-Eight lakhs only).

• Acceptable forms: Insurance Surety Bond (Appendix-IX; IRDAI-authorised insurer; verify on designated portal) OR Account Payee Demand Draft OR Fixed Deposit Receipt OR Banker’s Cheque OR Bank Guarantee Bond including e-BG (Appendix-II) from a Scheduled Commercial Bank of India; BG via SFMS to Authority’s Bank; foreign-bank BG needs nationalised bank confirmation in India.
• Instrument validity: Clause 2.20.1 requires BG/Surety validity not less than 180 days from Bid Due Date inclusive of 60-day claim period; Clause 2.20.6(iv) also states Bid Security shall remain valid for 120 days beyond tender validity (see contradictions).
• Refundable not later than 150 days from Bid Due Date except Selected Bidder (retained till PS/APS provided). Unsuccessful bidders’ Bid Security returned within 7 working days of LOA.
• Bid without Bid Security, or Bid Security sourced through a third party, is summarily rejected.
• Scanned instrument upload mandatory; physical original timing — see keyDates/contradictions.

Tender / Bid document fee

Rs. 11,800 (Rupees Eleven thousand and Eight hundred only) inclusive of GST, paid online to Authority’s designated account; upload payment receipt with Bid.

• Beneficiary: Bengaluru MMLP Pvt Ltd; Bank: HDFC Bank; A/c No. 50200079286331; IFSC: HDFC0000011; GST No. 29AALCB3625L1ZA.

Performance Security and Additional Performance Security

Performance Security = 3% of Bid Price; Additional Performance Security applies if Bid Price is more than 10% below Estimated Project Cost, on a stepped percentage formula.

• Forms: Insurance Surety Bond (Appendix-X) / Account Payee DD / FDR / Banker’s Cheque from a commercial bank / online payment in acceptable form / irrevocable unconditional Bank Guarantee (Appendix-VI), including e-BG; not accepted if sourced from a third party.
• PS validity until 60 days after Defects Liability Period; APS validity until 28 days after Project Completion Date.
• Submission: within 15 days of receipt/issue of LOA; option to provide 50% PS and 50% APS within 15 days of LOA before signing, with remaining after agreement signing (15 days per 2.21.3 vs 30 days per Schedule 1.3 — see contradictions).
• Further extension up to 60 days available by paying Damages @ 0.01% of Bid Price per day; failure after that cancels award and Bid Security is encashed.
• APS calculation: (i) Bid Price below 10% but not below 20% of EPC: APS % increments 0.1% for every 1% below 10% starting at 11% (APS 0.1%), applied on Bid Price; (ii) Bid Price 20% or more below: increment 0.2% for every 1% below 20% in addition to 1% of Bid Price; (iii) rounding rules on decimal; (iv) APS treated as part of Performance Security.
• Detailed PS/APS contractual provisions also referred to Article 7 of draft EPC Agreement (not present in this document pack).

Key payment / pricing terms (as available in RFP)

Contract awarded on lowest Bid Price exclusive of GST; detailed stage payments and price variation are in the draft EPC Agreement, which is not included in the downloaded pack.

• Construction Period 18 months and Defect Liability Period 18 months from Completion Certificate are stated in Clause 1.1.1.
• Selected Bidder cannot seek deviation/modification of the Agreement after LOA acknowledgement.

Bidder constitution and JV/Consortium rules

Single entity or Consortium/JV of up to 4 members; each JV member minimum 26% share; Lead Member min 60% of Bid/Technical/Financial Capacity and must execute ≥51% of project value; other members each ≥20%; JV collectively 100%.

• Non-Indian firm may tender only in JV with an Indian firm holding minimum 51% share.
• Lead Member nomination via POA (Appendix-IV); binding Joint Bidding Agreement (Appendix-V) with joint and several liability through Defect Liability Period.
• JV constitution generally cannot change after Bid submission or during currency of contract except succession etc., without losing qualification; post-award registered JV agreement with same shareholding to be deposited within 45 days of LOA.
• Natural person, private entity, or combination with intent to form Consortium/JV is allowed.

Bid Capacity

Available Bid Capacity = (A×N×2.5 − B + C) must exceed total Bid value (Estimated Project Cost Rs. 77.36 Cr); N = years prescribed for completion (18 months ⇒ N as per formula years).

• A = maximum value of civil engineering works (excl. bonus) in any one of last five years (updated); B = updated value of existing commitments/ongoing/won works during completion period (including bids won but LOA not issued as of day before financial bid opening); C = bonus received in EPC projects last 5 years (updated).
• Updation factors Year-1 to Year-5: 1.00, 1.05, 1.10, 1.15, 1.20.
• Bid capacity status updated as on the day before opening of financial bids; statements countersigned by Client EE-equivalent / Concessionaire and verified by Statutory Auditor.

Technical Capacity — threshold and similar works

Threshold Technical Capacity > Rs. 77.36 Cr from Eligible Projects in last 5 FYs + current FY up to Base month; plus railway similar-work credentials of 2×25% (Rs. 19.34 Cr each) or 1×35% (Rs. 27.08 Cr).

• At least one-fourth of Threshold Technical Capacity must be from Category 1 and/or Category 3 (Railway PPP/construction).
• Similar works must be Category 1 and/or Category 2 as specified for Clause 2.2.2.2(ii) railway sector projects; client certificates required; subcontract/JV claims need government/client approval limited to allowable subcontracting/JV share.
• Other JV members not used for the similar-work criterion must each have completed/substantially completed at least one Railway Eligible Project ≥10% EPC i.e. Rs. 7.77 crore.
• For JV: the 35%/2×25% similar work must be completed individually by any one JV member as a single work from Category 1 and/or 3.
• Eligible Experience categories: Cat 1 Railway PPP (factor 1), Cat 2 core PPP (0.75), Cat 3 Railway construction (1), Cat 4 core construction (0.75); OECD developed-country projects further ×0.5.
• Railway sector includes railway, metro, LRT, monorail, high speed rail, highways, expressways, bridges and tunnels (road/rail); core sector includes hydro dams/barrage, ports, airports, thermal/steel/cement plants, oil & gas pipelines, irrigation canals etc.
• Category 3/4 Eligible Projects: receipts < Rs. 7.77 Cr not reckoned; supply of goods/equipment excluded unless part of turnkey/EPC; land cost excluded for new lines.
• PPP Categories 1/2 require ≥26% equity in project company for the year claimed and capital cost >10% of EPC.
• Maintenance works not eligible. Additional OHE/S&T execution experience rules apply if those works are in scope (via self-experience or approved subcontractor under draft agreement clauses).

Financial Capacity — Net Worth and Turnover

Minimum Net Worth Rs. 7.77 crore (10% of EPC) at close of preceding FY; minimum Average Annual Turnover Rs. 15.54 crore (20% of EPC) for last 5 FYs (updated).

• Turnover updation factors Year-1 to Year-5: 1.00, 1.05, 1.10, 1.15, 1.20.
• Net Worth = paid-up share capital + reserves from profits and securities premium − accumulated losses, deferred expenditure and misc. expenditure not written off; excludes revaluation reserves, write-back of depreciation and amalgamation.
• Audited annual reports (Balance Sheet & P&L) for last 5 completed FYs of Bidder/each JV member (and Associates if claimed); CA/Statutory Auditor certificates must carry UDIN.
• Associates (>50% voting control) may be counted for Technical Capacity and Net Worth.

Conflict of Interest, land-border, foreign control and local content

Conflict of Interest disqualifies and can forfeit Bid/Performance Security; land-border country bidders need Competent Authority registration; Make in India Class-I (≥50% local content) / Class-II (≥20%) self-certification required.

• Conflict triggers include common controlling shareholding (>5% thresholds), common constituents, cross subsidies/loans, same legal representative, information-sharing relationships, or participation as Authority’s consultant on Project documents.
• Bidders from countries sharing land border with India eligible only if registered with Competent Authority under Public Procurement Order dated 23.07.2020; Appendix-VIII certificate mandatory.
• If ≥50% equity of Lowest Bidder/member held/controlled by persons resident outside India, award subject to competent authority approval on national security/public interest (Clause 2.1.12 — note text says ‘50% (fifty five percent)’).
• Entities of countries identified by MoRTH as not allowing Indian companies in their procurement are barred from MoRTH-related procurement in India (with published exceptions).
• Without local-content self-certification (with location of value addition), Bidder treated as Non-Local Supplier. For procurement > Rs. 10 crore, Class-I/II must later provide statutory/cost auditor or CA certificate of % local content upon construction.
• Class-I Local Suppliers get 20% margin of purchase preference at award (Clause 3.3.1).

Debarment / non-performer and catastrophic-failure bar

Bidder (and each JV member) must not be a non-performing/debarred party on bid submission date; broad non-performer triggers in Clause 2.1.14; catastrophic structural failure in last 2 years makes bidder non-eligible (Appendix-XII undertaking).

• Debarment of a firm extends to allied firms; debarment of a JV debars all partners for the entire period.
• Bids from firms debarred on tender opening date or LOA date are ignored; if such firm is L1, next lowest is considered and Bid Security returned.
• Appendix-IA certifications include not blacklisted/debarred by Railways or any Ministry/Department of GoI on bid submission date.
• False Appendix-IA contents can lead to Bid Security forfeiture and banning up to two years.

Project identity and mode

Development of Rail Connectivity to MMLP Bengaluru from Dodbele Railway Station on Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) mode.

• Authority: Bengaluru MMLP Private Limited (SPV of NHLML, KIADB & RVNL).
• Package/Bid No.: Bid/ Package No/MMLP/Bengaluru/Rail/ef-2108/2026 (NIT) / Bid/ Package No/MMLP/Beng/Rail/ef-2108/26 (portal metadata style).
• Related MMLP Concessionaire PATH Bengaluru Logistics Park Pvt. Ltd. has ROFR rights under Clause 1.2.6.1.

Physical scope, length and location

About 8.5 km double-line railway works from Dodbele station to MMLP Bengaluru including siding inside the MMLP.

• Broad scope: survey, investigations, design and construction of civil, structures and track work for double line railway involving formation in embankments/cuttings, ballast on formation, track works, bridges, structures, buildings including testing and commissioning/Electrification of the section from Dodbele station to MMLP Bengaluru including the siding inside.
• ApprovedESP.pdf is a single-page ESP/drawing sheet (OCR yields no usable text) — detailed ESP geometry is graphical only in this pack.
• Detailed Employer requirements, BOQ/schedules and standards sit in the draft EPC Agreement / Feasibility Report, stated as enclosed but not present as separate files in this download set.

Completion and Defect Liability timelines

Construction/completion period 18 months; Defect Liability Period 18 months from the date of Completion Certificate.

• RFP states these are also pre-determined in the draft EPC Agreement.

OHE / S&T execution constraint

If scope includes electrification and/or S&T composite works, Selected Bidder may self-execute only with specified Railway-sector experience; otherwise must engage approved experienced subcontractor under draft agreement provisions.

• Railway sector for OHE includes OHE of railway/metro/suburban/high-speed, substation and transmission lines.
• References Schedule-B / Annexure-G values in draft Concession/EPC agreement for estimated electrification and S&T values.

Online submission mode and portal

Technical and Financial Bids only via https://etenders.gov.in using Class-III DSC of the authorised signatory; no fax/telex/telegram/e-mail Bids.

• Mandatory free registration on e-procurement portal with valid user ID/password at least up to Bid submission date.
• DSC must be Class-III in name of authorised signatory as in Appendix-III (or person delegating it), in corporate/Lead Member capacity; support document for Class-III DSC required else Bid non-responsive.
• Upload scanned files/sub-files in PDF or RAR, each not more than 30 MB.
• Bidder may modify/substitute/withdraw e-Bid before Bid Due Date; after withdrawal cannot re-submit.
• Financial Bid Price quoted online in figures and words (INR); words prevail on difference.

Physical originals — who, where, when

Lowest Bidder (incl. all JV members) must submit originals listed in Clause 2.11.2 before LOA; DD/FDR/Banker’s Cheque Bid Security originals within 5 working days of Bid Due Date to COO NHLML, Dwarka address, or Bid is rejected.

• Envelope identification for Bid Security physical: “Development of Rail Connectivity to MMLP Bengaluru on EPC Mode from Dodbele Station” (2.11) / “Bid for the Development of Rail Connectivity to MMLP Bengaluru on EPC mode from Dodbele station Project” (2.20.6); show Bidder name/address and Bid Due Date on top-right.
• Failure of L1 (and JV members) to submit required originals ⇒ unconditional debarment from bidding in MoRTH projects for 5 years.
• Obtain receipt from person specified at Clause 2.11.4.
• Clause 2.20.6 also requires physical original BG/DD/FDR/BC within 5 working days for Bid Security instruments (conflicts with L1-before-LOA rule for BG — see contradictions).

Signing rules

Bid typed and signed by authorised signatory; all alterations initialled; English language only; no conditions/qualifications allowed.

• Integrity Pact and GFR Rule 144(xi) certificate must be signed by Authorised signatory and form part of Contract Agreement.

Physical Bid Security deadline: 3 vs 5 working days; 11:00 vs 15:00 hrs

NIT requires DD/FDR/Banker’s Cheque originals within 3 working days (upto 15:00); RFP Schedule/2.10.1/2.11 say 5 working days (upto 11:00); Clause 2.20.6 says 5 working days (upto 15:00) for BG/DD/FDR/BC.

• No corrigendum resolves this. Bidders should assume the stricter combination until clarified: physical instrument within 5 working days, and aim for the earlier 11:00 hours cut-off stated in Clauses 1.3/2.10.1/2.11, while also noting 2.20.6’s 15:00 wording and summary-rejection consequence.
• Separately, 2.10.1 says Bid Security originals generally by L1 before LOA, but 2.20.6 requires physical originals of BG/DD/FDR/BC within 5 working days of Bid Due Date for all such instruments or Bid is summarily rejected.

Bid Security validity: 180 days incl. 60-day claim vs 120 days beyond tender validity

Clause 2.20.1 requires instrument validity ≥180 days from Bid Due Date inclusive of 60-day claim period; Clause 2.20.6(iv) requires Bid Security valid for 120 days beyond tender validity (tender/bid validity is 120 days ⇒ implies 240 days from Bid Due Date).

• Also Clause 1.2.4 says Bid Security is refundable not later than 150 days from Bid Due Date (except Selected Bidder) — a refund timeline, not necessarily instrument tenor.
• Seek pre-bid clarification on the controlling instrument validity to bank/insurer.

Remaining Performance Security after signing: 15 vs 30 days

Clause 2.21.3 requires remaining PS/APS within 15 days of signing the agreement; Schedule 1.3 Sl. No. 15 says remaining PS/APS within 30 days of signing of agreement.

• Both also allow first 50% within 15/30 days of LOA depending on clause wording; Schedule says option to provide 50% within 30 days of LOA while 2.21.3 says 50% within 15 days of LOA before signing.

Bid validity typo in Appendix-IB: ‘1200’ vs 120 days

Appendix-IB states offer valid for ‘1200 (one hundred and twenty) days’ while Clause 2.17 and Schedule state 120 days.

• Words say one hundred and twenty days; figure ‘1200’ is an obvious typographical error. Controlling text is Clause 2.17 / Schedule 1.3: 120 days from Bid Due Date.

Download window leftover dates in Clause 2.14.1.4

Clause 2.14.1.4 states Bid Document download from 18.03.2026 to 05.05.2026, conflicting with NIT/Schedule 29.07.2026–15.09.2026 / last download 14.09.2026.

• Treat NIT and Clause 1.3 schedule as the intended current dates; 2.14.1.4 appears to be unedited template text.

Foreign shareholding threshold wording: 50% vs ‘fifty five percent’

Clause 2.1.12(a) writes ‘not less than 50% (fifty five percent)’ — figure and words disagree.

• Needs clarification which threshold triggers national-security approval for foreign-held Lowest Bidder.

Confirm controlling physical Bid Security submission rule

Ask Authority to confirm whether original Bid Security (especially BG/e-BG/Surety) is due from all bidders within 5 working days of Bid Due Date (2.20.6) or only from L1 before LOA (2.10.1/NIT), and whether cut-off is 11:00 or 15:00 and 3 or 5 working days.

• Material pass/fail risk: summary rejection vs L1-only physical submission and 5-year MoRTH debarment.

Confirm Bid Security instrument validity period

Clarify whether banks/insurers must issue Bid Security valid 180 days from Bid Due Date (incl. 60-day claim) or 120 days beyond the 120-day bid validity (240 days).

• Incorrect tenor risks non-responsiveness at opening.

Provide missing draft EPC Agreement, Feasibility Report and schedules

RFP says draft EPC Agreement and Feasibility Report are enclosed, but the downloaded pack has only NIT, RFP and Approved ESP drawing — request complete Bidding Documents including payment schedule, LD, price variation, ROW/possession milestones, OHE/S&T quantities (Annexure-G/Schedule-B).

• Without these, pricing, cash-flow and risk allocation cannot be bid with confidence.

ROFR of MMLP Concessionaire — process and impact on other bidders

Seek clarity on when and how PATH Bengaluru Logistics Park Pvt. Ltd. may exercise ROFR, whether L1 price is disclosed, timelines after financial opening, and whether non-concessionaire L1 recovers bid costs if ROFR is exercised.

• ROFR can change competitive dynamics and award certainty for non-concessionaire bidders.

Definition of Base month and technical similar-work sector scope

Request written definition of ‘Base month’ used throughout technical evaluation, and confirmation whether highways/expressways/bridges/tunnels count fully toward ‘Railway Sector’ similar works under 2.2.2.2(ii).

• Clause 2.2.2.5(iii) deems railways sector to include highways/expressways/bridges/tunnels — material to eligibility for many road EPC contractors.

Site access, land/ROW and interface with operating railway / MMLP concession

Ask for current status of land acquisition/ROW, possessions on IR/SWR network at Dodbele, interface obligations with Concessionaire, and whether Authority-caused possession delays give EOT/cost — all critical because draft EPC is missing.

• 18-month completion is tight for greenfield rail connectivity with electrification/S&T.

Missing draft EPC Agreement — unpriced contractual risk

Payment milestones, LD for delay, price variation, ROW risk allocation, variations and termination remedies are said to be in the draft EPC Agreement, which is not in the document pack.

• Clause 2.1.3: detailed terms in draft EPC have overriding effect.
• Bidding without EPC text is high commercial/legal risk.

Tight 18-month completion with DLP 18 months

Full EPC rail connectivity including electrification/testing/commissioning and in-park siding must complete in 18 months; DLP runs another 18 months from Completion Certificate.

• Lead Member must self-perform ≥51% by value under own supervision.
• OHE/S&T may force approved specialist subcontracting if bidder lacks credentials.

Bid Security forfeiture and 5-year MoRTH debarment triggers

Bid Security forfeitable for corrupt practices, withdrawal during validity, or Selected Bidder failure to return LOA, furnish PS/APS, or sign Agreement; L1 failure to submit physical originals attracts 5-year unconditional debarment from MoRTH projects.

• No relaxation of any kind on Bid Security.
• False/forged Appendix-IA can cause forfeiture and business ban up to two years; after award can terminate contract and forfeit securities.

Performance Security loading on low bids and PS delay damages

Bids >10% below EPC attract Additional Performance Security on a rising scale; delayed completion of PS/APS after the initial window costs 0.01% of Bid Price per day and award cancellation after +60 days.

• PS locked until 60 days after DLP (long capital lock for 18+18 month horizon).
• Third-party funded PS/APS not accepted.

ROFR and ring-fencing from Concession Agreement claims

MMLP Concessionaire holds ROFR; if it takes the EPC, delays/defaults under EPC give no EOT/compensation under the Concession Agreement — and EPC prevails over Concession Agreement on rail works inconsistencies.

• Non-concessionaire bidders face award uncertainty if ROFR is exercised after price discovery.
• Authority may reject ROFR exercise if conditions unmet or concessionaire ineligible.

Make in India preference and Non-Local treatment

Class-I local suppliers within 20% of L1 can be invited to match L1 and take the award; missing local-content self-certification makes bidder Non-Local and weakens award prospects.

• If L1 is Class-I, award to L1; else Class-I within margin may match sequentially; if none match, L1 wins.

Authority unilateral rights and broad non-performer net

Authority may reject any/all Bids, annul process, and reject otherwise eligible bidders based on wide non-performer criteria; courts at New Delhi exclusive for bidding disputes.

• Selected Bidder cannot seek changes to draft Agreement after LOA.
• Bidder releases Authority from liability related to Bidding Process (Clause 6.3).

Internal document inconsistencies create compliance risk

Conflicting instructions on Bid Security physical timing/validity, PS balance timeline, download dates and bid-validity typo can cause inadvertent non-responsiveness.

• See contradictions section; raise at pre-bid and follow the stricter literal reading plus any subsequent addendum on etenders.gov.in.

Inviting Authority / Employer

Bengaluru MMLP Private Limited (SPV of NHLML, KIADB & RVNL), principal office at 2nd Floor, D-21, Corporate Park, Sector-21, Dwarka, New Delhi-110077.

• Project under Ministry of Road Transport & Highways MMLP programme; NHLML is the operating interface for the SPV.

Officer-in-charge / physical submission & correspondence address

Chief Operating Officer, NHLML — Authorised Representative, Bengaluru MMLP Private Limited; phone 011-25308800/8811,8850; email [email protected].

• Address for queries, pre-bid venue reference (2.11.4(i)), and physical envelopes: 2nd Floor, D-21, Corporate Park, Sector-21, Dwarka, New Delhi-110077.
• NIT signatory digital signature: PRASHANT JAIN (eProcurement System).
• Query envelope title: "Queries / Request for Additional Information: RFP for Development of Rail Connectivity to MMLP Bengaluru on EPC Mode Project".