Solar Tender BOQ Format for an Industrial Rooftop Plant: A Paste-Ready Structure
A solar tender BOQ for an industrial rooftop plant should run in ten sections: modules, inverters, mounting structure, DC cabling, AC cabling and switchgear, earthing and lightning protection, monitoring, roof and civil works, statutory liaison, and testing with handover. Every line needs a unit, a quantity, a specification reference and an approved make or equivalent. Keep lump sums for items that are genuinely one thing.
What sections should the BOQ contain?
Paste the structure below into your tender, then replace the brackets with your design values. The right-hand column shows where a lump sum tends to hide risk.
| Section | Lines and units | Specify | Where a lump sum hides risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Modules | Modules (Nos), capacity (kWp) | [Wattage], [cell technology], [IEC test certification], [ALMM List-I listing], [product and performance warranty years] | A "kWp" lump sum with no wattage lets the bidder change module count, roof area and BOS |
| B. Inverters | Inverters (Nos), AC capacity (kW) | [String or central], [MPPT inputs], [protection class], [anti-islanding and grid-code compliance], [communication] | Undersized AC capacity that clips output on good days |
| C. Mounting structure | Structure (kWp or kg), fasteners, clamps | [Design wind speed], [roof type], [steel grade], [corrosion protection], [roof penetration sealing method] | "Structure as required" invites lighter sections and thinner coating |
| D. DC side | Solar DC cable (m), connectors, combiner boxes, isolators, surge protection | [Cable size and insulation], [IP rating], [fused or unfused] | Cable lengths guessed before the string layout is final |
| E. AC side and interconnection | AC cable (m), LT panels, transformer (kVA) and HT panel if needed, metering | [Ratings and fault level], [metering as the DISCOM requires] | Interconnection pushed to the owner as an "extra" |
| F. Earthing and lightning protection | Earth pits (Nos), strip (m), air terminals | [Resistance target], [design basis] | Fewer pits than the design needs |
| G. Monitoring | Data logger, irradiance sensor, module temperature sensor, meters | [Sampling interval], [remote access], [data ownership] | No irradiance sensor, so PR cannot be measured |
| H. Roof and civil | Walkways, lifelines, ladders, cable trays, waterproofing repair | [Roof survey], [provisional sum for strengthening] | Roof strengthening left unpriced |
| I. Statutory liaison | DISCOM application, feasibility, inspections, Electrical Inspector where applicable | [Who files], [fees at actuals] | Fees and re-inspections charged as variations |
| J. Testing and handover | Commissioning tests, drawings, manuals, training | [Test list], [as-built set], [year-one O&M] | Handover documents promised, not itemised |
What does a line item look like?
| No. | Description | Unit | Qty | Spec ref. | Make or equivalent | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-01 | [Module, wattage and technology] | No. | [qty] | [clause] | [three makes] | [rate] | [amount] |
| B-01 | [Inverter, AC rating] | No. | [qty] | [clause] | [three makes] | [rate] | [amount] |
| C-01 | [Roof structure, including fasteners] | kWp | [qty] | [clause] | [approved fabricator] | [rate] | [amount] |
How should makes and standards be specified?
Write the performance you need and name three makes that meet it, followed by "or equivalent approved by the Engineer". State the route and the time for approving an equivalent, and require the data sheet with the offer. Ask for the certificate numbers for the standards that apply, so you check records, not claims.
The central module rules change, so write the date into the tender. MNRE's memorandum of 4 August 2026 says net-metering style projects (which it defines to include gross metering and net billing) commissioned by 31 December 2026 are exempt from ALMM List-II for cells, while List-I for modules still applies. Private behind-the-meter captive plants are outside both lists. Where a subsidy scheme applies, domestic content rules come from the scheme and not from the ALMM memoranda. Read our ALMM entry and DCR modules entry.
Where do lump sums hide risk?
The Government of India's Manual for Procurement of Works (Second Edition, 2025) is a useful reference. It says a lump sum contract suits works that can be defined in full, with little risk of change in quantity or specification. It describes item rate contracts, paid on measured quantities against a BOQ, and notes that quantity variations of typically 10 to 15 per cent are absorbed at the contract rate. For a rooftop plant, the structure, cabling and roof works depend on survey findings, so measured items with a variation limit are usually fairer than one lump sum for the lot. Keep a provisional sum, clearly defined, for roof strengthening that only a survey can quantify.
What should bidders attach?
- Data sheets and test certificates for modules, inverters and key electrical items.
- Single-line diagram, string layout and a shading study.
- Structural basis for the roof: loads, wind speed and fixing method.
- Energy yield estimate with its assumptions on losses and degradation.
- Warranty terms, with who honours them.
- Year-one O&M scope and the offer for later years.
- Programme, site team and three comparable projects.
- A one-page exclusions list and a statement of who files the DISCOM papers.
How should payments follow the BOQ?
Tie payment to deliverables, not dates, and keep a part of the price until the plant has proved itself. A common shape is below, with the percentages left for you to set against your own cash flow and risk.
| Milestone | Evidence | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Order and design approval | Signed contract, approved drawings and data sheets | [%] |
| Material at site | Delivery record and inspection against the certificates | [%] |
| Installation complete | Joint measurement against the BOQ | [%] |
| Licensee inspection and meter fitted | Inspection record and meter installation | [%] |
| Commissioning and proving period | Commissioning certificate and a measured performance ratio over the period you set | [%] |
| Retention release | End of the defect liability period | [%] |
The Works Manual notes that retention is usually five per cent of each running bill, with half released at taking over and the rest after the defect liability period. Adapt that as a reference, not a rule. Whatever you choose, write down how performance is tested before the contract is signed, including the irradiance sensor, the period and who reads the data.
How do you compare the bids?
Normalise every bid to price per kW excluding GST and compare it with the published band of ₹24,000–32,000 per kW on our solar EPC page. A bid well below the band needs an explanation in scope or specification. Then compare module wattage, inverter AC capacity, structure weight and the exclusions list, because those four explain most gaps between bidders.
How Secured Engineers helps
We design solar plants in-house and file the DISCOM net-metering and CEIG papers ourselves, so a BOQ we price carries those lines explicitly. MEPF and solar can sit under one contract. We work from offices in Noida (Delhi NCR) and Ludhiana, with 535+ projects across 18+ states and 89.77% repeat clients.
To issue this BOQ to us along with your drawings, use our RFQ page. If you already have bids, send them and we will compare scope line by line. You can also message us on WhatsApp, call +91 70099 85817, or ask for a free proposal.
Frequently asked
What is a BOQ in a solar tender?
A bill of quantities is a priced list of every item of work, each with a unit, a quantity and a rate, so bidders price the same scope. For a rooftop plant it covers modules, inverters, structure, cabling, switchgear, earthing, monitoring, roof works, statutory liaison and commissioning. It lets you compare bids line by line instead of by total.
Should a solar tender be lump sum or item rate?
Lump sum fits a fully defined scope that is unlikely to change. Item rate fits a plant whose structure, cabling or roof works depend on survey findings, because quantities can be measured and adjusted within a stated variation limit. Many tenders use item rates for the uncertain parts and a lump sum for testing and handover.
How should I specify module makes in a tender?
State the wattage, technology, test certification, ALMM listing status and warranty you require, then name several acceptable makes followed by 'or equivalent approved by the Engineer'. Require the data sheet with the offer and set the time within which an equivalent will be approved, so that substitution is controlled.
What should I ask bidders to attach to a solar offer?
Ask for data sheets and test certificates, the single-line diagram, string layout with a shading study, the structural basis for the roof, an energy yield estimate with its assumptions, warranty terms, the O&M offer, a programme, comparable projects and a one-page exclusions list. These expose differences that totals hide.
Does ALMM apply to my industrial rooftop solar tender?
For grid-connected plants, modules must come from ALMM List-I. MNRE's 4 August 2026 memorandum exempts net-metering style projects commissioned by 31 December 2026 from List-II for cells, and puts private behind-the-meter captive plants outside both lists. The rules change, so check the latest memorandum on the date you issue the tender.
Related services
More insights
Carport Solar for Factory and Office Parking: Structure, Cost Premium and Payback
When solar carports for factory and office parking make sense: what the steel structure adds, how to size a canopy, what the Government's EV charging guidelines say, approvals, and how to test the payback.
Solar EnergyWhy Most Industrial Solar Underperforms (It Starts on Day 1)
Solar is not a product you buy — it is an engineering outcome. The decisions made before a single panel goes up quietly decide whether your plant saves money or loses it for 25 years.
More on Solar & Renewables · all insights