A total of 37 local firms have submitted their tenders to set up ten small power plants (SPPs) across the country as the caretaker government arranged re-tender for quickly addressing the severe power crisis.

The government last month cancelled the first bidding process on charges of "corruption" and "irregularities".

The SPPs will be set up in three categories in the private sector from which the government will purchase electricity at competitive rates.

One each of 10MW plants will be set up at Ullapra, Sirajganj, Mohipal and Habiganj while one each of four 20MW at Barabkunda, Feni, Tangail and Narsingdi, and one each of three 30MW will be installed at Jangalia, Rupganj and Maona.

Official sources said the implementing agency, Power Cell, received the offers from the local private sponsors on Monday, the last day for submission of tenders.

They said the Power Cell received the highest bids for 10MW Ullapara project. The aspirant firms are Quasem Drycells, Purbani Energy, Saiham Power, Summit Power, Abdul Momen-AM Energy and Energypac-Confidence Power Venture.

Two tenders were submitted for 30MW Jangalia, Comilla, project and the bidders are Summit Industrial and Mercantile Ltd and the Prime Energy Ltd. And the same number of tenders was received from Summit Industrial and Mercantile Ltd and the Prime Energy Ltd for 30MW Rupganj, Naranganj, project.

Those who offered tenders for 30MW Maona, Gazipur, project are RAK Power, Summit Power and Noorpore Power.

Three offers were received for 20MW Barabkunda, Chittagong, project and the bidders are Summit Industrial and Mercantile Cor Ltd, Asian-Entech Power Corporation and Regent Textile Mills Ltd.

Three firms submitted offers for 20MW Feni project. They are Rafique Power Generation and Engineering, Youth Spinning Mills and Asian-Entech Power Corporation Ltd.

Four firms--Summit Industrial and Mercantile, Youth Spinning Mills, Asian-Entech Power Corporation Ltd and the Association of Dandy Group and ECBL-- submitted offers for 20MW Tangail project.

Another four have submitted tenders for 20MW Narsingdi project. They are Noorpore Power, Summit Power, Asian-Entech Power and Prime Energy Ltd.

The firms vying for 10MW Mohipal of Feni project are Energypac-Confidence Power, Abdul Momen Ltd-AM Energy, Quasem Drycell and Saiham Power Ltd.

A total of six firms submitted tenders for 10MW Habiganj project. The firms are East Cost Trading, Abdul Momen Ltd-AM Energy, Noorpore Power, Quasem Drycell, Saiham Power and Energypac-Confidence Ltd.

An official of the Power Cell told the news agency that all the bidders submitted two offers--technical and financial--separately in a two-envelop system.

The Tender Evaluation Committee (TEC) of the Power Cell initially opened the technical offers.

He said the financial offers of the bidders would be opened after completion of technical evaluation, which may take about a month.