FAQs on Tenders, GeM Portal, IREPS, and E-Procurement Services

MSME Registration and Udyam Registration refer to the same process. The Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) introduced the Udyam Registration system on July 1, 2020, to simplify the MSME registration process.

Under this system, businesses are recognized as Udyam, and their registration process is known as Udyam Registration . Upon successful registration, enterprises receive an MSME registration certificate, enabling them to access various government benefits, financial support, and tender opportunities. This online and paperless process ensures seamless MSME recognition, promoting ease of business operations across India.

The Udyam registration certificate is also known as the MSME registration certificate.

The basic documents required for MSME registration are as follows:

• Business PAN Card - PAN of Business entity & Authorized Signatory
• Aadhar Card - Id proof of the business owner or Authorized signatory
• Type of Organization – Proprietorship, Partnership or Private
• Contact Details - E-mail ID and Mobile Number
• Plant and Office Address - Utility bills or rental agreements
• Bank Details – Business Bank Account details
• GSTIN Details - GSTIN Details if applicable
• Additional Info - Social Category, Business Activity code, Number of employees.

The registration process is free, with no charges for obtaining MSME registration. The registration process has to be completed on the official website of Udyam Registration. In case of any queries, please connect with the Tenders Plus team for a FREE MSME Registration consultation and avail attractive offers on other services.

• MSME Certificate

  - also known as the Udyam Registration Certificate, is an official document that certifies a business as a Micro, Small, or Medium Enterprise (MSME) under the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME). Upon successful Udyam Registration, the certificate is issued online and contains a dynamic QR code, which allows instant access to the enterprise details on the official portal.

• Download MSME certificate

  - visit the official Udyam Registration portal online and login with your 16-digit Udyam Registration Number and mobile number. Then go to "Print Udyam Certificate" option to access and download your certificate. The Udyam Registration Certificate is essential for accessing various government benefits, including tender participation, subsidies, and financial support programs.

• Visit the Udyam Registration Portal: Access the official Udyam Registration portal.
• Aadhar Number Verification: Aadhar number of the business owner or the authorized signatory for verification.
• Fill in Business Details: Complete the registration form with necessary information such as business name, type, location, and investment in plant and machinery.
• Verification through OTP: Verify through a one-time password (OTP) sent to the registered mobile number linked with Aadhar.
• Receive Udyam Registration Number: After successful verification, the system generates a unique Udyam Registration Number. It is a 19-digit Reference Number and the format is UDYAM-XX-00-0000000.

Udyam certificate is valid for a lifetime. There is no expiry of the UdyamMSME Registration Certificate.

The MSME registration is completed as soon as the Udyam MSME registration form is filled and submitted on the Udyam Registration Portal. After submission of the form, a message will be displayed on the screen about the completion of the MSME registration. The Ministry of MSME issues the Udyam Registration Certificate (or MSME Certificate), which features a QR Code for easy access to enterprise details. The unique 19-digit MSME Registration / Udyam Number serves as the permanent identity for Udyam-registered enterprises.

The turnover limit for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises is as follows:

• Micro enterprises: Turnover below Rs. 5 crores.
• Small enterprises: Turnover below 50 crores.
• Medium enterprises: Turnover below Rs. 250 crore.

There is no difference between Udyog Aadhaar and Udyam registration. The Udyam registration certificate is an identification of a business as an MSME. Udyog Aadhar was the old platform requiring registration for MSME. The main aim of introducing the Udyam registration is to simplify the MSME registration for small-scale businesses to easily register themselves under Micro Small Medium Enterprise.

While MSME registration is not obligatory, businesses that choose to register can access multiple benefits and incentives, facilitating growth and simplifying business operations.

More than 5.9 crore enterprises are already benefiting from MSME Registration and these businesses enjoy a multitude of benefits, ranging from financial support to preferential treatment in government procurement. Some of the key benefits are as below:

1. Financial Support and Subsidies: MSMEs registered under the MSMED Act are eligible for various financial incentives, MSME loans, and subsidies from the government. This can include priority sector lending and preferential interest rates, facilitating easier access to credit.
2. Credit Guarantee Scheme: The Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) provides collateral-free credit facilities to MSMEs, enabling MSME loans without the burden of heavy collateral.
3. Market Access and Procurement Preferences: The government aims to promote MSMEs by providing them with exclusive opportunities in government procurement. A certain percentage of government contracts on the GeM Portal is reserved for MSMEs, giving them a level playing field in competing with larger enterprises
4. Technology Upgradation Support: The government offers support for technology upgrades to enhance the competitiveness of MSMEs. This can include subsidies for adopting new technologies, implementing energy-efficient processes, and promoting innovation
5. Tax Benefits: MSMEs enjoy several tax benefits, including exemptions under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) scheme. Additionally, there are provisions for income tax rebates and reduced tax rates for MSMEs, further easing their financial burden.
6. Turnover Exemption, Work Criteria Exemption, EMD Exemption, and Security Deposit Waivers in Tender Applications: These exemptions provide MSMEs with a competitive edge when applying for tenders on GeM Portal and other eprocurement platforms, fostering equal opportunities in procurement.
7. Barcode Registration Subsidy: Subsidies for barcode registration reduce operational costs for MSMEs, promoting efficiency in product management.
8. ISO Certification Fees Reimbursement: Reimbursement of ISO certification fees incentivizes MSMEs to adhere to international quality standards.
9. Electricity Bills Concession: MSMEs receive concessions on electricity bills, reducing operational costs and improving overall financial viability.
10. Special Consideration in International Trade Fairs: MSMEs receive special consideration and support when participating in international trade fairs, promoting global exposure.

Yes, MSMEs can avail of various benefits under the GST regime such as composition scheme, threshold exemption, and input tax credit.

Yes, MSMEs can avail benefits under the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC)

As per the amended Public Procurement Policy for MSEs, 2012, Central Government Ministries, Departments, and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) are required to procure a minimum of 25% of their total annual purchases from Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs). This policy aims to promote the growth of MSMEs in India by providing them with greater opportunities in government tenders and ensuring their participation in the public procurement system.

The seller can view the gem portal products price list for its matching products while listing the products in his account. The seller can search for similar products on the portal and check the price to gain market intelligence and benchmark competition while listing their products. This helps the seller in making their products competitive and get more business.

If the seller is not able to find the correct category in the GeM Portal Products list, the seller needs to raise a request for the Creation of a new category or to Update an existing category on the GeM Portal.

The process is simple and the seller needs to select the request type, and category and give a detailed description along with the supporting documents along with the request.

To upload an image for GeM Products list, the seller needs to follow the following guidelines:

1. Upload the actual product image against a clean white background, free of watermarks, brand logos, or identification marks.
2. Image size should not exceed 300kb and the format should be jpg or png.
3. Upload three center-aligned images of the product, showcasing it from three different angles.
4. Ensure the image complies with technical parameters.
5. Avoid adding product descriptions, certifications, or specifications to the image.
6. Do not upload partial product images, diagrams, or sketches.
7. Refrain from distorting the original image through Photoshop.
8. Upload images of single products, not in a group.
9. Avoid uploading images of product packaging, cartons, or outer boxes.

New product addition in GeM Portal can be done by the seller by following the step-by-step process of adding Product to their catalogue and completing the required product details and images.

The seller can also take support of GeM Portal consultants like TendersPlus Service team to support them in the process and complete the required details.

GeM Portal mandates offering a minimum discount while listing the products. The normal discount offered by the sellers for the GeM Product list is 10%.

On bulk orders on GeM Products, the sellers may provide a slab discount on the offer price as per their business dynamics. The slab discount may vary based on different quantities. Sellers are not obliged to offer slab discounts.

The approval time taken by the GeM Portal Product Listing team is up to 96 hours.

The reason for not being able to list products on GeM portal arises due to products uploaded in the wrong category, with Incorrect specifications, Images not meeting the GeM Portal guidelines, Model, Price, etc. GeM Portal publishes the rejection reasons for Product Listing and the same can be checked in the draft or rejected tab of the catalog.

Once the GeM products are listed successfully, it is not possible to edit the catalog. The seller can only change the GeM portal products price list and the quantity of stocks.

When listing GeM products, sellers can verify the availability of brand names. If the brand is not present, the seller can request its addition by selecting the "Add New Brand" option.

The seller needs to add the correct category while listing the products on the GeM Portal. If the product has been rejected due to an incorrect category, the seller needs to first search relevant category by searching with the Product name or the relevant keywords. He can choose the category or sub-category most relevant to the product and then will have to offer the product in the correct category through the seller panel or GeM portal.

The seller should be DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) registered for registering as a startup on the GeM Portal. After registration, they can register the innovative products or services on Startup Runway, and upload product details in the Seller Dashboard under the #StartupIndia link.

Major reasons for GeM Product listing rejections are:

• Wrong Category mapping while Product listing on GeM.
• Model not clear and not verified from OEM website.
• Invalid price range.
• Images not as per the specifications.
• Wrong Technical parameters mentioned to map the product.

The seller can pair the product with any existing catalogue uploaded by product owner in Q3 category. The seller needs to enter the golden parameters for the product and then can choose the item to pair in his catalogue.

EMD full form is Earnest Money Deposit. It is the security money that needs to be submitted by the seller at the time of tender submission

Tender document fee is the administration and evaluation cost associated with the tender. It is non-refundable cost and the bidders are required to pay the tender fee for participating in the bid in advance.

Sellers can participate in the GeM bidding process by first registering on the GeM portal and completing the required documentation successfully. Once registered, sellers must create a catalog and list their products and services as per the tender requirements. To proceed with bidding, sellers should prepare the necessary documents as per the tender checklist and submit them. Finally, they must fill in the financial bid accurately and submit it through the portal. Ensuring compliance with the tender requirements and maintaining accurate documentation are key to successfully participating in the GeM bidding process.

For tender bidding, sellers must submit all required documents according to the eligibility criteria and specified formats. Once submitted, the tender undergoes two key stages: technical bid evaluation and financial bid evaluation

Technical Bid Evaluation is the initial stage, where the bidder’s experience, qualifications, and compliance with the tender’s technical requirements are assessed. This ensures that only qualified bidders proceed to the next stage.

Financial Bid Evaluation follows the technical evaluation. Here, the financial proposals of technically qualified bidders are compared based on bid price, payment terms, pricing structure, and contractual terms. The bidder offering the most cost-effective and compliant solution typically wins.

Both evaluations ensure transparency and fairness in the tender bidding process, selecting the best-suited bidder for the contract.

In the GeM portal, registered sellers have already selected the category of products.

When the buyer publishes the tender and selects the category, he/she has an option to select three categories closest to the BOQ items/products to be procured. Any buyer who falls under these selected categories would receive the notification for the Tenders published.

Tenderplus team of experts will assist you to easily participate in the end to end bidding process related to GeM & other Authorities. TendersPlus team will support in the following activities:

• Support in looking for relevant tenders matching your requirement
• Register your business on GeM & Other Authorities
• Support to receive tender alerts on email on daily basis or guide you to subscribe to the tender alert services.
• Read the tender document requirements thoroughly and support in preparing the checklist for the tenders.
• Help in understanding the documents to be prepared and preparing the bids covering all the required points as per the tender requirement
• Support in uploading the document for tendering including BOQ, tender fees, certifications, work experience, Make In India certificate and license etc and also support in uploading the financials.

Bunch Bid is a combination of connected products or services in a single Bid.

Login to your account and click on "Bids", then click on "Bunch Bid" option to view all Bunch Bids. Select the Bunch Bid you want to participate in and click on "Participate" button.

The sellers can directly bid for both Product and Service on GeM as follows:

Product Bid:,

1. Upload and select the product(s), cross-check technical bid specifications and save.

2. Enter the product price at per unit level & save.

Services Bid:

1. Submit the offering as per bid requirement, in the provided form, press "Save and Continue"

Verify your bid by OTP authorization.

• Tender fees - In some of the tenders, buyers often include a tender fee which is the processing fee charged for carrying out the processes involved in tender evaluation. The fee is clearly mentioned in tender notice along with the mode of payment & receipt submission. Interested vendors need to submit the tender fee and it is non-refundable unless the tender is canceled, or clearly mentioned in the document.
• Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) - is the security money for tenders and needs to be submitted by the vendors at the time of tender submission. This restricts limited bidders participating and filters non-serious or non-qualified bidders from participating in the tenders. MSMEs are generally from EMD in the government tenders by submitting MSME certificate.
• Quotation - is the quote for the tender submitted by the vendors. There is a proper format for quoting the bidding price and is shared in the tender documents. Once submitted, the quote cannot be changed by the vendor.

Yes, the offer submitted by the seller at the time of Bid participation is inclusive of GST.

Yes, any Registered Seller of GeM can participate in the BOQ base bidding.

No, it is not possible to change the price or edit the technical specifications once it is encrypted and saved.

In the financial evaluation process, the vendor bidding the lowest value is tagged as L1 and the vendor bidding next lowest is tagged as L2 and so on.

Normally L1 bidder gets the tenders in the evaluation process but in some of the evaluation process, the tender is awarded keeping in view the technical as well as financial parameters and is awarded to the vendor providing the best solution.

No, GeM Vendor Assessment is not mandatory for all the sellers. It is only mandatory for all OEMs & resellers (in select categories) participating in tenders for Q1 & Q2 category products on GeM, unless they come under exempted category.

M/s Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) has been assigned to conduct vendor assessments for GeM Portal

Earlier the assessment process was done by M/s Quality Council of India (QCI). A non-refundable fee is charged by RITES for Vendor Assessment of OEM. The resulting draft Vendor Assessment Report is made available to the seller.

GeM vendor assessment exemptions for sellers are exempted as per the below conditions.

• Sellers having annual turnover of Rs. 500 Crore or more, at least in one of the latest three years as captured during registration.
• Central / State PSUs.
• All sellers who are validated through PAN or GSTN or MCA-21 and offering products only for direct selling up to the value of Rs.25,000 per unit and whose yearly turnover is not more than Rs.5,00,000. Sellers who are offering products as OEM shall not be covered under this exemption.
• Sellers offering products like Artwork, handicrafts, and other such items where no standard manufacturing process exists. The exempted categories shall be specified by the category owner.
• Sellers who are Registered Societies/ Trusts or any other bodies with Government Representation.
• KVIC, WDO, Coir Board, TRIFED.
• OEMs who are registered with NSIC(for the category for which registration was obtained). This exemption will be coterminous with NSIC certificate validity.
• OEMs holding BIS License for the particular product category which are validated through BIS database. Normal validity for this exemption will be three years. Seller is mandated to notify GeM in case cancellation of BIS license and exemption will be withdrawn.
• OEMs having Unique Certification Code (UCC) issued by DRDO/ OFB/ SITRA. This exemption will be coterminous with UCC certificate validity.
• Sellers recommended for exemption for specific categories and specified validity period by any CPSE, Central and State Government Departments/ Authorities.
• Any other category of sellers as notified with the approval of CEO-GeM.

These exemptions for vendor assessment suggest that the GeM portal considers various factors, including turnover, product type, organizational structure, and certifications, to streamline and facilitate the registration process for different types of sellers.

The validity of the Vendor Assessment is 3 years and the sellers need to get the assessment again on the GeM portal after this period.

Deemed Vendor Assessment is for manufacturers whose products are manufactured outside India and sold by an Indian entity.

The vendor assessment process for Deemed Vendor assessment is through RITES Vendor Assessment on GeM.

After completion of the RITES vendor assessment for the GeM portal and the OEM certificate is issued, the sellers can list their brand as well.

The process of generating the request for Brand Approval or OEM Dashboard in catalog management for product can be done in the following scenarios:

• The seller owns the Registered Trademark for a Brand.
• The seller is the owner of a Brand but do not have Registered Trademark.
• The seller do not own any Brand and want to apply for OEM dashboard without Brand.

No, RITES & GeM are different government authorities. GeM Portal has outsourced the vendor assessment process to the M/s Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES).

• Registration on GeM: Interested sellers need to complete the registration on the GeM portal www.gem.gov.in
• Vendor Assessment Application: Apply for vendor assessment through your GeM login, providing the required details.
• Submission of Documents: Upload necessary documents for verification by RITES
• Schedule Video Assessment: Choose a convenient date and time for a video assessment conducted through a mobile application.
• Video Assessment Process: Download the mobile app (.apk) from the emailed link, log in, and participate in the video assessment
• Waiting Period for Results: Expect Vendor Assessment results within 2 working days post-assessment.
• Accessing Results: The result, along with the vendor assessment report, will be available on the GeM portal. Users can download the report in PDF format.

GeM Vendor Assessment emerges as a comprehensive mechanism, ensuring the integrity of sellers and products in the government procurement landscape. Understanding the GeM Vendor Assessment process is vital for sellers aiming to establish a reliable presence on the GeM Portal and participate in Q1 & Q2 category tenders.

Tenders Plus team equips sellers with a detailed roadmap, ensuring they navigate the assessment stages seamlessly, adhering to the requirements, and effectively communicating their manufacturing and quality processes during the vendor assessment.

OEM full form is Original Equipment Manufacturer. The company that manufactures the product is the Original Equipment Manufacturer, irrespective of whichever company sells the products.

OEM Panel in GeM portal is to certify their resellers through the OEM panel and ensure that only certified resellers are authorized to sell their product. OEM needs to complete the vendor registration and get the OEM panel on the GeM portal to give the OEM authorization certificate to their resellers.

The OEM Panel on the GeM Portal is a specialized section designed for manufacturers to manage and control the distribution of their products on the platform. Before seeking approval for an OEM Panel, the OEM needs to complete the vendor assessment process or an exemption from the GeM vendor assessment process.

GeM OEM panel allows OEMs to oversee their resellers, particularly for quadrants 2, 3, and 4 products. By accessing the OEM Panel, manufacturers can authorize resellers, issue authorization codes, and maintain control over catalog management. It provides a centralized platform for OEMs to effectively manage and approve resellers on the GeM Portal, ensuring the authenticity and proper distribution of their products.

Before applying for the OEM panel, OEMs need to complete the vendor assessment process or seek an exemption from it. Once the process is complete, the users access the OEM Dashboard by using their GeM login, request brand and OEM authorization, upload relevant documents, and then wait for the GeM team to review the application. If approved, the user will be granted OEM rights to the specified brand in the chosen category.