1. What is a government tender?
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A government tender (also called a bid or NIT — Notice Inviting Tender) is a formal invitation by a government department, PSU, or public body to contractors and suppliers to bid for the supply of goods, services, or works. The tender document specifies the scope of work, eligibility criteria, bid submission deadline, EMD amount, and evaluation process. Tender84 tracks 76,102 active tenders across 43 procurement portals.
2. Do I need a DSC (Digital Signature Certificate) to bid on tenders?
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Yes — a
Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is mandatory for e-tendering on virtually all Indian government portals. Without a valid DSC, you cannot register on e-procurement portals or submit bids. Class 2 DSC is insufficient for tendering. See our
complete DSC guide for details on how to obtain one, costs, and token care.
3. What is EMD and how much do I need to pay?
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EMD (Earnest Money Deposit) is a refundable security deposit — typically 2-5% of the estimated tender value — that demonstrates your serious intent to complete the contract if awarded. It is refunded to unsuccessful bidders within 15-30 days.
MSMEs registered under Udyam are often exempt from EMD — check the NIT for exemption clauses. Use our
EMD & Fees Calculator for quick estimates.
4. How can MSMEs get EMD exemption?
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Micro and Small Enterprises registered with
Udyam Registration (formerly Udyog Aadhaar) or
NSIC (National Small Industries Corporation) are eligible for EMD exemption in most government tenders. You must upload your valid Udyam/NSIC certificate with your bid. The exemption is NOT automatic — you must claim it in your bid documents. Tender84 helps MSMEs with registration —
contact us for assistance.
5. What portals does Tender84 cover?
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Tender84 aggregates tenders from
43 NIC e-procurement portals across all Indian states and major PSUs — including CPP Portal (eprocure.gov.in), GeM, state portals (UP, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, etc.), Defence, Railways, Coal India, NTPC, IOCL, BHEL, and more. All data is refreshed daily.
Browse all portals on our homepage.
6. How do I find tenders in my city or district?
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Use our
Search by City page — we cover
749 cities across India. You can also search by
department,
sector (Works/Goods/Services), or
state. For specific districts, use the state portal pages which list all active tenders with district-level filtering.
7. How do I register on GeM (Government e-Marketplace)?
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GeM registration requires: 1) Aadhaar-linked mobile number, 2) PAN card & GST registration, 3) Bank account for payment settlement, 4) Udyam/MSME certificate (optional but recommended). Visit gem.gov.in → Register as Seller → Fill details → Pay registration fee (₹5,000-10,000 based on turnover). See our
complete GeM guide for step-by-step instructions.
8. What is the difference between Class 2 and Class 3 DSC?
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Class 2 DSC is for individual identity verification — used for ITR filing, GST, and MCA filings. Class 3 DSC requires in-person or video KYC verification and is mandatory for e-tendering. Class 3 costs ₹1,200-2,500 for 1-2 years validity. Organisation DSC (for companies) and Individual DSC (for proprietorships) are both available as Class 3.
9. How long does a tender remain open?
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Tender validity varies by type and value. Typically: small-value tenders (under ₹5 Lakh) remain open for 7-14 days; medium tenders (₹5 Lakh - ₹1 Crore) for 15-30 days; large tenders (above ₹1 Crore) for 30-60 days. Always check the Closing Date on the NIT. Tender84 shows a live countdown on every tender page.
10. What documents do I need to submit a bid?
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Standard bid requirements include: 1) Valid Class 3 DSC, 2) PAN card & GST registration, 3) Udyam/MSME certificate (for exemptions), 4) Past experience certificates, 5) Financial statements, 6) EMD payment proof (or exemption certificate), 7) Signed BOQ (Bill of Quantities), 8) Technical compliance documents. Requirements vary by tender — always read the full NIT. See our
How to File a Tender guide.
11. Is Tender84 free to use?
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Yes — browsing and searching all 76,102 tenders on Tender84 is
completely free. No subscription required. You only pay if you need tender documents downloaded, bid filing assistance, DSC services, or other expert support.
View our services and pricing.
12. How is the Procurement Activity Index (PAI) calculated?
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PAI is Tender84's proprietary 0-100 composite score that ranks
1,712 government departments by procurement activity. It combines 5 weighted dimensions: Activity Volume (30%), Spending Power (30%), Procurement Diversity (15%), Geographic Reach (15%), and Data Transparency (10%). Scores are recalculated daily.
Learn more about PAI methodology or
see the PAI Leaderboard.
13. How often is tender data updated on Tender84?
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Daily. Our pipeline scrapes all 43 portals every 24 hours — new tenders appear within hours of being published on source portals. Closing dates, corrigenda, and status changes are reflected in the next refresh cycle. Use our
Closing Today page to see tenders expiring soon.
14. Can I bid on tenders from outside my state?
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Yes — most Indian government tenders are open to bidders from any state. Some state-specific tenders may have local preference clauses or domicile requirements, but the majority of e-procurement tenders are nationally competitive. Check the eligibility criteria in the NIT. Tender84 lets you search across all 36 states and union territories.
15. What happens if I win a tender but cannot complete the work?
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If you withdraw after winning or fail to sign the contract, your EMD is forfeited. Additionally, you may be debarred/blacklisted from participating in future tenders from that department for a specified period. If work is already underway and you default, the Performance Security (5-10% of contract value) is also forfeited. Always assess your capacity before bidding.