Concerns over dilution of pre-qualification requirement for Kudankulam nuclear unit

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) has relaxed pre-qualification requirement for main civil works for the fifth and sixth units of Kudankulam nuclear power plant, allowing contractors with experience in building ‘commercial complex’ to take part in the bidding process.

Last year, the corporation had allowed those with experience of building a ‘bridge’ to take part in the construction tender which has been diluted further this year.

In 2016, a contractor needed to have experience of similar work which included nuclear power plant, heavy industrial establishment, thermal or hydro power plant, ports, metros or airport terminals. By 2018, it was diluted to include even construction of bridges besides the earlier qualification.

NPCIL chairman and corporate communication team were unavailable for a comment.

The pre-qualification criteria also had mandatory quantity qualification, which has been diluted in the three categories of reinforced concrete quantity, formwork erection and fabrication and placement of reinforcement steel.

To have a strong backing for contractors, the tender conditions in 2016 for main plant civil works for the third and fourth units asked for bidders to have bank consent for working capital equivalent to 10 per cent value of the tender. In 2018, this was tightened to 20 per cent value of tender for Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP) first and second units’ main plant works. However, this has been brought down again in the latest tender. The tender floated for the fifth and sixth units require completion of construction works in 64 months.

The qualification requires bidder to have one completed work, costing not less than the amount equal to 60 per cent of the estimated cost put to tender or two completed works, each costing not less than the amount equal to 35 per cent of the estimated cost put to tender.