Government Tender Glossary

Plain-English definitions of the most common words and abbreviations you will see in Indian government tender notices.

Tender

A formal invitation from a government department or PSU asking suppliers to bid for goods, services, or works.

Notice Inviting Tender. The public document that announces the tender, outlines scope, eligibility, and submission rules.

Bill of Quantities. A detailed list of materials, labour, and work items with estimated quantities used in construction and works tenders.

Earnest Money Deposit. A refundable security deposit submitted with a bid to show seriousness. It is returned to unsuccessful bidders.

A deposit submitted by the successful bidder before contract execution, usually a percentage of the contract value.

Request for Proposal. A tender type where bidders submit technical and financial proposals, often for services or consultancy.

Request for Quotation. A simpler procurement method where suppliers submit price quotations for specified items.

Lowest Bidder. The bidder offering the lowest valid price in a tender, often preferred in open tenders.

An official amendment to a tender notice. It may change dates, quantities, eligibility, or technical specifications.

A meeting where bidders can ask questions and clarify doubts before submitting their bids.

The part of a bid that covers eligibility, experience, methodology, and compliance without pricing.

The part of a bid that contains pricing and commercial terms, opened only for technically qualified bidders.

Government e-Marketplace. India’s online platform for common-use goods and services procured by central government organisations.

Central Public Procurement Portal. Publishes larger or specialised tenders from central government departments and PSUs.

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Registered MSMEs may get preference, fee waivers, and relaxed eligibility in government tenders.

The official MSME registration in India. It is often required to claim MSME benefits in tenders.

Goods and Services Tax. Most tenders require a valid GST registration to participate.

Digital Signature Certificate. Required to sign and submit bids on most e-procurement portals.

The annual revenue of a business. Many tenders set minimum turnover criteria for eligibility.

Document proving past work experience in similar projects, often required for works and service tenders.