Upgradation, Equipping, Operations, Maintenance, Transfer of GCB-1

Publication / download window

RFP available for download on CPP Portal from 13/06/2026 to 27/07/2026; invitation dated 13.06.2026.

• No corrigendum changed the publication or download window.

Query / clarification deadline

Last date for receiving queries: 07.07.2026; Authority response to queries latest by 17.07.2026.

• Queries must be uploaded on the CPP Portal on or before the schedule date (Clause 1.2.10 / 1.3).

Pre-bid conference

Pre-bid meeting on 10.07.2026 at 11:00 hours at Kamarajar Port Limited, No: 17, Jawahar Building, Rajaji Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600001.

Bid submission deadline (Bid Due Date)

Bids must be submitted online before 1500 hours IST on 27.07.2026.

• No bid accepted offline; late bids not accepted by the CPP e-Procurement module.
• Corrigenda did not extend the Bid Due Date.

Bid opening

Bids open at 1600 hours on 28.07.2026.

• Financial bids of only those provisionally pre-qualified bidders whose security clearance has been received from the Government will be opened (Clause 1.2.1).

Bid validity

Bids valid for not less than 180 days from Bid Due Date (extendable by mutual consent).

• Schedule also lists LOA within 30 days of Bid Due Date and signing of Concession Agreement within 30 days of LOA.

Estimated / Total Project Cost

Indicative capital cost / Total Project Cost cap is INR 220.84 Crores.

• RFP Clause 1.1.1: Indicative Capital Cost of the Project is INR 220.84 Crores.
• DCA definition of Total Project Cost is limited to the lowest of Financial Package cost, actual capital cost, or Rs. 220.84 Crores.
• TEFR Option 2 (without upfront premium) totals Rs.220.84 Crore including inflation, GST and IDC.

Cost of RFP process (tender fee)

Non-refundable cost of RFP process is INR 88,400 plus GST @18% = INR 1,04,312, payable by NEFT/RTGS on or before Bid Due Date.

• Bank: Axis Bank, George Town Branch, Chennai 600 001; A/C No: 9090 200 4175 2519; in favour of Kamarajar Port Limited; RTGS Code UTIB0000424; NEFT Code UTIB0000285.
• Self-signed payment acknowledgement / e-payment transaction receipt to be uploaded in Cover-1.

Bid Security / EMD

Bid Security is Rs. 2,20,84,000, refundable within 60 days of Bid Due Date except for Selected Bidder (retained until Performance Security).

• Clause 1.2.4 allows demand draft, e-bank guarantee, insurance surety bond or bank guarantee payable at Chennai; Clause 2.20 details BG (Nationalised/Scheduled Bank with net worth at least Rs.1,000 Crores; branch at Chennai; foreign BG needs Indian Nationalised bank confirmation) and DD drawn in favour of Authority payable at Chennai.
• BG validity not less than 180 days from Bid Due Date inclusive of 60-day claim period; DD validity not less than 80 days from Bid Due Date.
• Original BG must also be submitted (see contradictions on physical deadline).
• Forfeiture events include non-responsive bid, corrupt practices, withdrawal during validity, and Selected Bidder failures on LOA / Concession Agreement / Performance Security (Clause 2.20.7).

Performance Guarantee / Security

Performance Guarantee of Rs. 11,04,20,000 for Construction Phase; after release 6 months from COD, a Deemed Performance Security of like amount applies for the Concession Period via Escrow charge.

• Form: unconditional irrevocable bank guarantee (Appendix 9) encashable at Chennai, or irrevocable revolving letter of credit acceptable to Authority.
• BG initially valid 1 year, renew 30 days prior to expiry each year; valid until 6 months from COD; restore full amount within 30 days of part encashment.
• Until Performance Guarantee is furnished, Bid Security remains in full force.
• Authority may adjust Bid Security amount into Performance Security at Selected Bidder's option (RFP 2.20.5).

Bid parameter and payment terms (Royalty / License Fee)

Highest Royalty per MT of cargo wins; Royalty payable monthly by 7th of succeeding month, WPI-indexed annually; License Fee is Re 1 per year; MGC underpins minimum Royalty.

• Bidder quotes Royalty per MT in BoQ green cells; conversion factors apply for containers and project cargo.
• If actual annual cargo is less than Minimum Guaranteed Cargo (MGC), Royalty is calculated on MGC and shortfall is payable with last month of the Financial Year.
• Royalty starts from the month Project Facilities and Services commence, irrespective of COD; unpaid Royalty carries interest at Bank Rate + 3% p.a.
• License Fee Re 1 payable in advance every year from Date of Award of Concession (or other date specified by Authority).
• Concessionaire sets user tariffs under Tariff Guidelines, 2021; Authority continues to collect vessel-related charges under its Scale of Rates.
• BoQ template shows Estimated Rate of 55 for Royalty (Rs. per MT) as a schedule field; bid evaluation is highest Royalty, not lowest price.

Limited tender — provisionally pre-qualified bidders only

Only the 7 provisionally pre-qualified applicants notified by KPL may bid at RFP stage, subject to Government of India security clearance.

• Listed bidders: (1) JM Baxi Ports & Logistics Pvt Ltd; (2) Navayuga Engineering Co. Ltd.; (3) Bothra Shipping Services Pvt. Ltd.; (4) Consortium of Orissa Stevedores Limited and Kalinga Shipyard Pvt. Ltd.; (5) Consortium of Yogayatan Ports Pvt. Ltd. and Man Infra construction Ltd.(JV); (6) Chennai Radha Engineering Works (P) Ltd.; (7) Abu Dhabi Ports Company PJSC.
• Final prequalification depends on Ministry security clearance; financial bids opened only for cleared bidders.
• Corrigendum 3 directs Navayuga to bid only from user ID [email protected].

RFQ Technical/Financial Capacity and O&M experience carry-forward

RFP stage relies on RFQ pre-qualification; bidders without RFQ Clause 2.2.3 O&M experience must enter a 5-year O&M Agreement post-COD with a qualified entity.

• For Consortiums, Members whose Technical/Financial Capacity was relied on must hold until 1st anniversary of COD equity of at least 26% of Concessionaire paid-up equity and 5% of Total Project Cost (Clause 2.3.1).
• Change in control of such Members/Associates before Financial Close can lead to disqualification or termination and Bid/Performance Security forfeiture (Clause 2.3.2).
• Detailed RFQ turnover/experience thresholds are not restated in the RFP documents provided.

Consortium composition and single-bid rule

One Bid per Bidder; no dual participation individually and in a Consortium; Consortium changes tightly controlled.

• Change in Consortium composition during Bid Stage only if Lead Member continues, substitute is at least equal in Technical/Financial Capacity and modified Consortium still meets pre-qualification, and new Member adopts Application and is not in another bid; apply no later than 15 days before Bid Due Date; submit revised Jt. Bidding Agreement and Lead Member PoA (Clause 2.2).
• Selected Bidder must be a company under Companies Act 1956/2013 or undertake to incorporate prior to Concession Agreement (Clause 1.1.2).

Conflict of interest, advisers and disqualification policies

Conflict of Interest, engagement of Authority advisers, Department of Disinvestment guidelines, anti-monopoly policy and national security can each disqualify a Bidder with Bid Security forfeiture.

• Conflict of Interest includes >5% common shareholding (subject to exceptions), common constituents, cross subsidies, same legal representative, information-sharing relationships, or prior consultancy on Project documents (Clause 2.1.14).
• DoD OM No. 6/4/2001-DD-II dated July 13, 2001 guidelines apply mutatis mutandis (Appendix-V / Clause 1.2.1).
• Ministry of Shipping letter No. PD-24018/8/2009-PD.III dated 2nd August 2010 anti-monopoly policy applies (Clause 2.1.18(c)).
• Bids may be summarily rejected for national defence/security without intimation (Clause 2.1.18(d)).
• Corrupt/fraudulent/coercive/undesirable/restrictive practices bar participation in Authority tenders for 2 years (Clause 4.2).

Integrity Pact mandatory

Pre-Contract Integrity Pact (Appendix-VI) is mandatory and is a responsiveness requirement.

• IEMs: Shri Jatinderbir Singh, IAS (Retd), Mobile 9968607788, [email protected]; and Shri Muvvala Kondala Rao, IFS (Retd), Mobile 9422161512, [email protected].

Project and concession framework

30-year PPP concession for Upgradation, Equipping, Operations, Maintenance and Transfer (UEOMT) of GCB-1 at Kamarajar Port, including 24-month construction.

• Selected Bidder designs, engineers, finances, procures, constructs, operates and maintains the Project under the draft Concession Agreement.
• Concession Period is 30 years from Date of Award of Concession; Construction Phase ends with Completion Certificate not later than 24 months from commencement of Concession Period / Date of Award of Concession.
• Target capacity after completion: 3 MMTPA of Clean Cargo.

Location, berth and cargo scope

Existing GCB-1 (278 m × 27.50 m, 12 m depth, ~8.44 Ha backup/storage) handed over on as-is-where-is basis for Clean Cargo only (Ro-Ro excluded).

• Clean Cargo: unitized, palletized, bagged, break bulk (LO-LO), containerized and project cargo of dust-free/non-polluting nature; excludes Ro-Ro cargo (automobiles, earth-moving equipment, heavy vehicles, roll trailers, mafi etc.).
• Environmental clearance currently states berth 250 m × 35 m; documents say this can be modified post concession signing.
• Automobiles shift to GCB-2; GCB-1 repurposed for alternate clean commodities.

Deliverables / facilities to be developed

Minimum 2 new Material Handling Cranes, yard development with covered storage, fender replacement (14 nos.), ISPS security, TOS/IT integration, and other equipment ≤3 years old to deliver 3 MMTPA.

• Replace existing fenders with 14 high-energy-absorption fenders suited to max vessel size.
• Yard: stack/storage, control/data/site offices, land development and pavement; covered storage within allotted area based on cargo nature; no contamination of port premises.
• Support facilities: computer/TOS, water connection arrangements, fire-fighting beyond Appendix 19 systems.
• Mandatory integration with Port IT, Gate Control, ERP billing, NLP Marine / Sagar Sethu / Maritime Single Window 2.0 as prescribed.
• Development plan (equipment, infrastructure, upgradation) subject to KPL/Independent Engineer approval.

Construction milestones and early operations

Project fully operational within 24 months from Date of Award of Concession with staged progress milestones; cargo handling allowed during construction with prior Authority approval.

• Milestones: 45 days — finalize DPR and place orders; 6 months — 25%; 12 months — 50%; 18 months — 75%; 24 months — 100% including ancillary works.
• MGC applies even during construction years (Year 1: 0.15 MTPA; Year 2: 0.20 MTPA; then ramps to 1.80 MTPA from Year 6–30).
• MGC and construction phase are distinct — neither excuses the other.

Standards and notable exclusions

Works must meet Construction/O&M/Safety Standards in DCA Appendix 4 annexures and Applicable Law; Ro-Ro is excluded; Feasibility/NTCPWC reports are indicative only.

• Safety standards include Dock Workers (Safety, Health and Welfare) Act 1986, ISPS, MARPOL, IMDG and related codes (Appendix 4).
• Feasibility Report / NTCPWC IIT Madras report are non-binding; bidders must do own surveys; site on as-is-where-is basis.

Online submission mode and covers

Submit only online on CPP Portal (https://eprocure.gov.in/eprocure/app) using valid DSC in three covers; no offline bid accepted.

• Cover-1: self-signed acknowledgement of payment towards cost of RFP process.
• Cover-2: technical/qualification enclosures listed in Clause 2.11.2.
• Cover-3: Financial Bid in BOQ format with Royalty quote.
• Modify bids any number of times before Bid Due Date; once withdrawn, re-bidding not allowed by the system.

Signing and physical originals

Bid typed/written in indelible ink and signed by authorized signatory; originals of Bid Security and Power(s) of Attorney required physically (see contradictions on deadline).

• Each page of Application numbered serially; alterations initialled; for printed published documents only cover page initialled (Clause 2.10.2).
• Physical envelope marked “Enclosures to Bid for the Selection Of Operator For Upgradation, Equipping, Operations, Maintenance, And Transfer (UEOMT) Of General Cargo Berth-1 (GCB-1) At Kamarajar Port Through Public Private Partnership (PPP) Mode”, with Bidder name/address and Bid Due Date on top-right, submitted to GM (CS&BD).
• Clause 2.11.3 / 3.2.1(g): original Bid Security and PoA on or before Bid Due Date; Clause 2.11.2(j) also lists Integrity Pact and Lead Member PoA and says reach Authority within 7 days from Bid Due Date — treat as a conflict and plan for on/before Bid Due Date for BG and signing PoA.

Corrigendum 1 (23.06.2026) — NTCPWC IIT Madras report uploaded

Notifies provisionally pre-qualified bidders that the NTCPWC, IIT Madras feasibility/strength assessment report for GCB-1 is uploaded on CPP Portal as a corrigendum.

• Report title: Feasibility Study of Existing GCB-1 at Kamarajar Port for Handling of Other cargoes including Strength Assessment of the Structure.
• Report is indicative; bidders encouraged to acquaint themselves with site on as-is-where-is basis.
• Soil investigation and as-built drawings of GCB-1 are part of the report.
• Impact: additional technical due-diligence material; no change to dates, fees, EMD or eligibility thresholds.
• Bidder action: download and review report/soil/as-builts; still perform independent surveys.

Corrigendum 2 — full NTCPWC IIT Madras technical report

The large NTCPWC report itself is the substantive attachment corresponding to Corrigendum 1; it does not amend commercial bid schedule or RFP clauses.

• Covers structural assessment, soil/borehole data, impact tests, recommendations and conclusions for handling other cargoes at existing GCB-1.
• Impact: technical risk assessment input only; Authority still disclaims binding force of feasibility materials in RFP Clause 2.1.3.
• Bidder action: use for engineering and pricing diligence; do not treat as contractual baseline.

Corrigendum 3 (16-June-2026 on face / portal 24-Jun-2026) — Navayuga bidder ID change

Adds alternate CPP user ID for M/s Navayuga Engineering Company Limited and mandates bidding only from that ID.

• Original user ID added at publishing: [email protected].
• Added user ID: [email protected].
• Navayuga shall submit its bid from [email protected] only for Tender ID 2026_MoS_912938_1.
• Impact: limited-tender access/admin change for one pre-qualified bidder; no schedule or commercial amendment for other bidders.
• Bidder action: Navayuga must use the new ID; other bidders unaffected.

Final values after all corrigenda

Bid dates, fees, Bid Security, Estimated Project Cost and RFP commercial conditions remain as originally published; only technical report upload and one bidder's portal ID were amended.

• Bid Due Date: 27.07.2026, 1500 hrs IST; Opening: 28.07.2026, 1600 hrs; Pre-bid: 10.07.2026; Query deadline: 07.07.2026; Authority replies by 17.07.2026; Bid validity 180 days.
• RFP fee INR 1,04,312 incl. GST; Bid Security Rs. 2,20,84,000; Indicative capital cost INR 220.84 Cr; Performance Guarantee Rs. 11,04,20,000.
• No pre-bid reply table or date-extension chain appears in the issued corrigenda.

Physical original submission deadline conflict

RFP simultaneously requires original Bid Security and signing PoA on/before Bid Due Date and says hardcopy originals may reach within 7 days after Bid Due Date.

• Clauses 2.1.7, 2.1.9 and 2.11.3 / responsiveness 3.2.1(g): original BG and Power of Attorney on or before Bid Due Date.
• Clause 2.11.2(j): hardcopy originals of Bid Security, signing PoA, Lead Member PoA (if applicable) and Integrity Pact shall reach Authority in 7 days from Bid Due Date.
• Safer course for bidders: ensure BG and signing PoA originals are delivered on/before Bid Due Date; also submit Integrity Pact original as soon as possible and seek clarification on the 7-day wording.

Permitted Bid Security instruments wording conflict

Clause 1.2.4 allows DD, e-bank guarantee, insurance surety bond or BG, while Clause 2.1.7 states Bid Security as a Bank Guarantee in Appendix-II format.

• Clause 2.20 elaborates both BG and Demand Draft options.
• No format printed for insurance surety bond or e-bank guarantee.
• Bidder action: prefer Appendix-II BG or DD payable at Chennai; if using e-BG/surety bond, obtain written confirmation from Authority.

Anti-monopoly policy cross-reference to wrong Appendix

Clause 2.1.18(c) cites the Major Ports anti-monopoly policy as Appendix VI, but Appendix VI is the Pre-Contract Integrity Pact.

• Policy letter cited: Ministry of Shipping No. PD-24018/8/2009-PD.III dated 2nd August 2010.
• Appendix-VI printed form is Integrity Pact; monopoly policy text is not printed as a separate appendix in the RFP PDF.
• Impact: policy still said to apply mutatis mutandis; appendix label is erroneous.

Berth dimensions: RFP/DCA vs environmental clearance

Project documents state GCB-1 as 278 m × 27.50 m, while environmental clearance currently states 250 m × 35 m.

• Documents note EC dimensions can be modified post signing of concession.
• Bidder should price risk of EC amendment delay (Authority CP includes EC modification timeline language in DCA Article 3.1(b)(i)).

Confirm controlling deadline for physical originals

Ask Authority to clarify whether original Bid Security, PoAs and Integrity Pact must reach on/before Bid Due Date or within 7 days thereafter.

• Clauses 2.1.7 / 2.11.3 / 3.2.1(g) vs Clause 2.11.2(j) conflict; non-compliance is a responsiveness risk.

Confirm acceptable Bid Security instruments and formats

Seek written confirmation whether insurance surety bond / e-bank guarantee are acceptable without Appendix-II BG, and any prescribed formats/claim periods.

• 1.2.4 lists four instruments; 2.1.7 points only to BG Appendix-II; 2.20 details BG and DD only.

Security clearance timeline vs Bid opening

Ask when Ministry security clearance decisions are expected and what happens if clearance is pending on 28.07.2026 bid opening.

• Financial bids open only for cleared bidders; provisional pre-qualification is expressly subject to security clearance.

EC amendment risk for berth dimensions and Authority CP delay

Clarify who bears schedule/cost risk if EC amendment for 278 m × 27.50 m (vs EC 250 m × 35 m) is delayed beyond 180 days, and whether berth geometry constraints affect equipment design.

• DCA says delay in revised EC beyond [180] days not attributable to Authority; site is as-is-where-is.

MGC during construction and concurrent operations

Seek operational protocol for meeting Year-1/Year-2 MGC while executing 24-month construction, including any Authority-imposed berth shutdown windows.

• MGC starts at 0.15 / 0.20 MTPA in construction years and Royalty is payable on MGC if actual cargo lower; construction delay does not excuse MGC.

Reliance value of NTCPWC structural/soil report

Ask whether any NTCPWC findings (pile capacity, berth strength, deepening to 13.5 m CD for 50,000 DWT vessels) are contractual assumptions or purely indicative.

• Corrigendum labels report indicative; RFP disclaims Feasibility Report; TEFR references IIT Madras study on vessel size/draft.

Liquidated damages and termination for construction delay

Construction delay LD is 0.1% of Performance Guarantee per day (aggregate cap 5% of Total Project Cost); delay >180 days or LD cap breach allows Authority termination.

• Milestone delays under 15 days generally not charged except for Completion/Provisional Certificate delay.
• If COD achieved on/before Scheduled Project Completion Date, construction LDs are refunded without interest.
• LD may be recovered from Performance Guarantee.

Minimum Guaranteed Cargo / Royalty floor risk

Royalty is payable on MGC if actual cargo is lower; MGC ramps to 1.80 MTPA from Year 6 and applies even during construction.

• Traffic shortfall becomes a direct cash outflow risk to Authority, not only lost revenue.
• Concurrent construction and cargo operations may constrain achievable throughput.

As-is-where-is berth and non-binding technical reports

Existing GCB-1 and Port Assets are accepted as-is; Feasibility/NTCPWC materials are non-binding, shifting structural/upgrade risk to Concessionaire.

• Authority makes no warranty on condition of Port Assets/Project Site (DCA 2.6/2.7).
• EC dimension mismatch and possible EC amendment delay not attributable to Authority after 180 days.

Security clearance and limited competition process risk

Bid opening depends on Government security clearance; Authority may reject any Bid for national security without intimation; process limited to listed pre-qualified parties.

• Foreign bidder (Abu Dhabi Ports) and others remain exposed until clearance is granted.
• Highest Bidder may still lose if security/monopoly/DoD disqualification triggers later.

Bid Security forfeiture and LOA / agreement timelines

Large Bid Security (Rs. 2.2084 Cr) can be forfeited for non-responsive bid, withdrawal during 180-day validity, failure to acknowledge LOA in 7 days, or failure to sign Concession Agreement / furnish Performance Security.

• Concession Agreement to be signed within 30 days of LOA with no entitlement to seek deviations (Clauses 1.3 and 3.3.6).
• Performance Guarantee Rs. 11.042 Cr must be maintained/restored; failure allows termination and Bid Security forfeiture.

Conditions Precedent LD and Deemed Performance Security

Each party pays CP delay LD at 0.1%/day of Performance Guarantee (max 5%); after COD+6 months, Deemed Performance Security creates first charge on Escrow for Concessionaire defaults for entire concession.

• CP compliance window is [180] Days of Agreement date.
• Deemed Performance Security is automatically replenished after appropriation — ongoing financial exposure beyond construction.

Tight construction and equipment delivery timeline

24-month full operationalisation with minimum 2 new MHCs, yard/covered storage, IT/ISPS systems and 3 MMTPA capacity is aggressive for a live berth.

• Equipment must not be older than 3 years from manufacture.
• Milestone progress is reviewed quarterly for LD purposes.

Tender Inviting Authority / RFP issuer

General Manager (CS&BD), Kamarajar Port Limited, No.17, Rajaji Salai / Jawahar Building, Rajaji Road, Chennai – 600001; email [email protected].

• Physical Bid enclosures addressed to GM (CS&BD), Kamarajar Port Limited (Clause 2.11.5); full street address appears on RFP cover/invitation and pre-bid venue (No.17 / Jawahar Building, Rajaji Road/Salai, Chennai 600001).
• Organisation context: Kamarajar Port Limited under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways / wholly owned by Chennai Port Authority.

Independent External Monitors (Integrity Pact)

IEMs for this Bid: Shri Jatinderbir Singh, IAS (Retd) and Shri Muvvala Kondala Rao, IFS (Retd).

• Shri Jatinderbir Singh — Mobile: 9968607788; e-mail: [email protected].
• Shri Muvvala Kondala Rao — Mobile: 9422161512; e-mail: [email protected].

Portal for online queries and bids

Central Public Procurement Portal: https://eprocure.gov.in/eprocure/app (Tender ID 2026_MoS_912938_1; Ref. KPL/PPD/GCB-1/PPP/2026).

• Queries to be uploaded on CPP Portal; Authority responses uploaded on portal without identifying query source.