Reading a GeM bid document: the 20 fields that decide whether to bid
A GeM bid document can run to dozens of pages, but whether you can and should bid usually comes down to about 20 rows near the start. This guide explains them in the order they appear.
Where the fields are
The bid document is the PDF behind the bid number on GeM's bid list. Its first pages hold the Bid Details table, each label in Hindi and English ("बिड बंद होने की तारीख/समय /Bid End Date/Time"), then the EMD Detail and ePBG Detail sections. Older documents say "MSE Exemption" where newer ones say "MSE Relaxation".
The 20 fields
| Field (English label) | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Bid End Date/Time | Deadline to submit, in IST, e.g. 27-11-2026 15:00:00 |
| Bid Opening Date/Time | When the buyer opens the bids |
| Bid Offer Validity (From End Date) | How long your price must hold, e.g. 30 (Days) |
| Ministry/State Name | Ministry, or state for state buyers |
| Department Name | The department under it |
| Organisation Name | The buying organisation |
| Office Name | The office running the bid |
| Total Quantity | Units across all items |
| Item Category | The GeM category or categories bought |
| MSE Relaxation for Years of Experience and Turnover | Whether MSEs are relaxed from those criteria |
| Startup Relaxation for Years of Experience and Turnover | The same for startups |
| Bid to RA enabled | Whether a reverse auction follows |
| Type of Bid | Single Packet Bid or Two Packet Bid |
| Evaluation Method | How the lowest bid (L1) is decided |
| EMD Amount | Bid security in rupees, per group if group-wise |
| EMD Percentage(%) | The same as a percentage, where shown |
| ePBG Percentage(%) | Performance security the winner must give |
| Minimum Average Annual Turnover of the bidder (For 3 Years) | Your turnover threshold, e.g. 11 Lakh (s) |
| Years of Past Experience Required for same/similar service | Experience threshold, e.g. 5 Year (s) |
| OEM Average Turnover (Last 3 Years) | Threshold for the offered product's maker |
Dates: is there time?
Times are IST. Offer validity counts from the end date, so 180 days holds your price for about six months. A corrigendum can move the end date, so check "View Corrigendum/Representation" on the bid card first, and see tracking GeM bid deadlines.
Buyer and scope
Ministry, department, organisation and office identify the buyer; search the department name on GeM to see its other bids. In custom and BOQ bids the Item Category can be as vague as "Sch C DSR 2023 Civil Item 5"; the real scope is in the specification and BOQ files.
Can you qualify?
Turnover is the average of the last three financial years to 31 March of the previous year, proven by audited balance sheets or a chartered or cost accountant's certificate; younger firms are averaged over their completed years. Experience means supplying the same or similar products or services, as the document defines it, and OEM turnover applies to the maker of what you offer.
The relaxation rows read "No", "Yes | Complete" (eligible MSEs or startups are exempted from the experience and turnover criteria, if they meet the quality and technical specifications) or "Yes | Partial" followed by the lower limits that still apply. Either way, upload proof of your status.
How the bid is evaluated
In a Two Packet Bid, technical bids are evaluated first and only qualified bidders' prices are opened; the GTC says a price in the technical bid makes the offer non-responsive, except in single packet bidding. "Total value wise evaluation" finds one L1 for the whole bid, "Group wise evaluation" one per group, and item-wise evaluation one per item. If "Bid to RA enabled" is Yes, a reverse auction follows the technical evaluation, and the "RA Qualification Rule" row, such as "H1-Highest Priced Bid Elimination", says who takes part. Your first price is then not final.
Money you lock up
Unless you are exempt, the EMD is due with the bid (see the EMD guide). The ePBG is the winner's performance security: the GTC lets the buyer ask for up to 5% of the contract value, submitted within 15 days of the award and valid until two months after all obligations, including warranty, are complete. Check "Duration of ePBG required (Months)" too.
Doing this faster with Tender Radar
Tender Radar reads these 20 fields for you: "Extract" downloads the public bid PDF and pulls them out inside your browser, and "Copy row" copies them as one spreadsheet row. Values are read by pattern matching, so check any value you rely on against the document. It is free during its beta.
Frequently asked questions
What does "Yes | Partial" mean in the MSE relaxation row?
Eligible MSEs are relaxed from the experience and turnover criteria only in part. The row lists the lower limits that still apply, for example "Experience - 1 year (s) | Turn over value - 10 (in lakhs)".
What is the difference between the bid end date and the bid opening date?
The end date is the last moment to submit your bid. The opening date is when the buyer opens the bids received. Offer validity counts from the end date.
Can I read a bid document without logging in to GeM?
Yes. Bid documents open from the bid number on bidplus.gem.gov.in/all-bids without a GeM login.