GeM and tender terminology: a glossary

5 min read · Last reviewed 14 August 2026

Indian government tender documents use a compact vocabulary of abbreviations — NIT, EMD, PQ, L1, RA, BOQ, DSC, PPP-MII — that is assumed rather than explained; this glossary defines the terms a supplier will meet in a GeM listing or a tender document.

Tender documents are written for people who already read tender documents. This is the vocabulary that assumption rests on.

The tender itself

• NIT — Notice Inviting Tender. The formal notice that opens a tender, carrying the scope, eligibility conditions, dates and submission instructions. The authoritative document, as against the portal's summary listing.
• RFP / RFQ — Request for Proposal / Request for Quotation. An RFP invites a solution proposal evaluated on approach as well as price; an RFQ asks for a price against a defined specification.
• EOI — Expression of Interest. A pre-tender step used to identify capable suppliers before a tender is issued.
• Corrigendum. A formal amendment to a published tender — dates, quantities, specifications or eligibility. Binding whether or not you read it.
• BOQ — Bill of Quantities. The itemised schedule of quantities and rates a bidder prices, common in works contracts.
• Bid validity. The period during which your submitted bid remains binding on you and cannot be withdrawn without consequence.

Qualifying and being evaluated

• PQ criteria — pre-qualification criteria. The mandatory conditions a bidder must satisfy before their bid is evaluated at all.
• Technical bid. The part of the submission proving eligibility and compliance with specifications. Opened first.
• Financial bid. The part carrying the price. Opened only for technically qualified bidders.
• L1. The lowest evaluated bid. 'L1 bidder' means the one that quoted the lowest evaluated price; L2 and L3 follow in order.
• QCBS — Quality and Cost Based Selection. An evaluation method combining a technical score with price rather than awarding purely on lowest cost.
• RA — reverse auction. A live event where qualified sellers compete by lowering price within a set window.

Money

• EMD — Earnest Money Deposit. Refundable bid security furnished with the bid, forfeited only on specified defaults.
• Bid Security Declaration. A signed undertaking accepted in place of EMD where the tender permits it, with suspension from bidding as the sanction for default.
• Performance security. Security furnished by the successful bidder after award, against performance of the contract itself.
• Tender fee. The charge for participating in a tender. Micro and small enterprises are exempt under the MSE policy.
• Estimated value. The buyer's estimate of the contract value, often the base for EMD and eligibility thresholds.

Status, preference and registration

• Udyam registration. The government registration establishing micro, small or medium enterprise status. Required to claim MSE benefits in procurement.
• MSE — micro and small enterprise. The categories entitled to tender fee and EMD exemption and purchase preference under the Public Procurement Policy for MSEs, 2012.
• DPIIT recognition. Recognition as a startup, which can carry exemption from prior turnover and prior experience conditions.
• PPP-MII. The Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, which classifies suppliers by local content and gives preference to Class I local suppliers.
• Class I / Class II local supplier. Local content classifications under PPP-MII, determining preference and sometimes eligibility.
• Integrity Pact. An anti-corruption undertaking between buyer and bidders in high-value procurement, monitored by an Independent External Monitor.

Platform and process

• GeM — Government e-Marketplace. India's national online procurement platform.
• CPPP — Central Public Procurement Portal. The central e-procurement portal at eprocure.gov.in, used across ministries, departments and PSUs.
• GeM Availability Report / Past Transaction Summary. Reports a buyer generates to justify procuring outside GeM.
• DSC — digital signature certificate. The Class III certificate used to sign and encrypt bids on e-procurement portals.
• Direct purchase. A low-value GeM purchase made straight from a catalogue listing, with no tender.
• Debarment. Exclusion from bidding for a stated period, following defaults such as misrepresentation.

Key takeaways

• The NIT is the authority; a portal listing is a summary of it.
• Technical and financial bids are separated so price cannot influence qualification.
• L1 means lowest evaluated price — not necessarily the awarded bidder once preferences apply.
• EMD secures the bid; performance security secures the contract.
• Udyam, DPIIT and PPP-MII class are status claims you must evidence to benefit from.

Frequently asked questions

What does NIT mean in a tender?

NIT stands for Notice Inviting Tender — the formal notice that opens a tender, setting out the scope of work, eligibility conditions, key dates and submission instructions. It is the authoritative document; the portal's summary listing is not.

What does L1 mean in a government tender?

L1 means the lowest evaluated bid, and the L1 bidder is the one that quoted the lowest evaluated price among technically qualified bidders. L1 is not always the awarded bidder, because purchase preference under the MSE policy and Make in India preference are applied after ranking.

What is a BOQ in a tender?

BOQ stands for Bill of Quantities — the itemised schedule of work items, quantities and rates that a bidder prices. It is common in construction and works tenders, where the financial bid consists of rates against each BOQ line rather than a single lump sum.

What is a corrigendum in a tender?

A corrigendum is a formal amendment to an already-published tender. It can change dates, quantities, specifications or even eligibility conditions, and it binds bidders whether or not they noticed it — so a tender should be re-checked for corrigenda before submission.

References

• GFR 2017 Rule 149 — GeM mandatory for catalogued common-use goods
• CVC Office Order on Integrity Pact — Independent External Monitor