Delhi, 27 Sept 2024 – The recent opening of BSNL’s Phase-III BharatNet tender, valued at around ₹65,000 crore, has attracted considerable industry attention. A diverse range of bidders has participated, including both solo and consortium bids, with companies leveraging their strengths and strategies to secure these substantial contracts.
The ongoing technical evaluation of tenders for BharatNet Phase 3 is nearing a critical stage, with the announcement of disqualified bidders expected in the coming days. The technical evaluation, being conducted by BSNL under the supervision of CET committees, is focused on ensuring that only the RFP compliant bidders are selected for deployment of infrastructure in rural India.
BharatNet Phase 3 aims to bring high-speed fiber-optic networks to the remaining unconnected gram panchayats (GPs) across the country, addressing digital connectivity gaps in underserved regions. The process of evaluating tenders is rigorous and designed to assess whether bidders have the necessary experience, expertise, and capacity to deliver on the project’s challenging requirements.
Last month, the competent authority in BSNL approved the formation of CET committees to oversee the bid evaluation for each of the sixteen packages under BharatNet Phase 3. Each package represents a set of regions where fiber networks will be deployed, and the committee’s task is to ensure that bidders meet both technical and financial qualifications.
While the evaluation is ongoing, industry sources indicate that three to four bidders are expected to be disqualified due to RFP non-compliance. These disqualifications could stem from various reasons, including failure to meet technical specifications, insufficient experience, or lack of robust financial backing. The disqualification of these bidders will likely open up opportunities for other qualified bidders to secure contracts for the BharatNet Phase 3 rollout, which is expected to play a pivotal role in expanding internet access to rural India. The final list of disqualified bidders and the reasons for their disqualification are anticipated to be made public shortly.
