Ultimate Guide to Searching GeM Tenders in 2026

Government tenders are public invitations sent to sellers to bid on contracts related to infrastructure projects or orders of goods and services. By issuing tenders, government buyers like central/state ministries, PSUs, and autonomous bodies find the best offers in the market. Any seller can bid on tenders in the GeM portal, ensuring that the vendor offering the lowest price, highest quality, or quickest delivery is selected.

Tenders on the GeM portal contain details, such as eligibility criteria, scope of work, delivery timelines, and payment terms. Bidders rely on tenders to create proposal documents containing technical details (product specifications, company profile, experience) and financial information (cost structure, pricing). When the bidding window closes, the buyer evaluates all submitted bids and awards the contract to the most deserving seller.

The following are the different types of tenders that sellers can bid for:

Standard (L1) Tenders

Standard or tender bids are the most common type of bids, where sellers submit their bids to a specific tender. Once the bidding period ends, the buyer evaluates all bids and awards the contract to the lowest price (L1) bidder. L1 purchases are compulsory for items costing between ₹25,000 and ₹5,00,000.

Catalogue-based Tenders

This type of tender is used for products in preexisting categories in the GeM portal. Catalogue tenders have predefined specifications called golden parameters, which the seller must meet to be eligible. Buyers can also add multiple products in a single bid to create a bunch bid. The orders are worth over ₹5 lakh.

BOQ Tenders

Buyers issue Bill of Quantity (BOQ) tenders for orders that combine multiple products in a single order. The minimum order value for BOQ tenders is ₹5 lakh, while the minimum item number is 5. Sellers can price each item separately or as a group in their bids. These are generally used to order consumables, accessories, and spare parts.

Custom Tenders

Buyers can post custom tenders for products not listed on the GeM portal. Buyers define the product category and specifications and open bids based on custom requirements, including estimated price and minimum order quantity. Custom bids must be open for at least 21 days.

Bid to RA

In a bid to reverse auction (RA), sellers first send their offers to the tender, after which the buyer shortlists some of them for a reverse auction. Eligible sellers compete against each other to offer the lowest possible bid. Buyers use RA to get the most competitive prices for a tender.

Service Tenders

These tenders are used by buyers to procure services, such as IT consultancy, manpower services, sanitisation and cleaning, etc. Service tenders work just like standard tenders with predefined terms. However, buyers can order custom services and set custom terms.

The GeM portal features several search and filtering options as well as an advanced search to choose tenders based on your organisation’s needs. Follow these steps to find the most lucrative tender:

• Step 1: Go to the GeM portal and sign in to your seller account by entering your user ID and password and the captcha code as shown on screen.

• Step 2: In the top menu, go to ‘Bids’ > ‘List of Bids’ to open the search tool.

• Step 3: Select the tender category by clicking on the right tab. Your options include bids/RAs, bids to RAs, bunch bids, service bids, and service bunch bids. Alternatively, click on ‘Filter By’ in the search bar to select a type.

• Step 4: Use one of the following options to search for GeM tenders:

  • Enter the bid number or service title in the search bar to find a specific tender.

  • Filter by organisation name, contract date, location, order value, etc., in the search bar.

  • Go to the advanced search and use a combination of search parameters, such as ministry/department details, category, consignee location, BOQ title, bid/RA number, date, and more.

• Step 5: Once you have found the right tender, select it and download the essential documents, and note the Tender ID for future reference. You can also find the tender in ‘My Tenders’ and get SMS/email notifications.

After you have found the right tender by following the steps detailing how to find tenders on the GeM portal, follow these next steps to submit your bid:

**Step 1: Go through the list of tenders and check the products/services required, date, and status.

Step 2: Before bidding, go through the bid document and check the technical details, delivery timeline, eligibility, and payment terms. Click on ‘Participate’ against your chosen tender. Then, follow the given steps to bid for product or service tenders, respectively:

Bidding for Products

**Step 3: Click ‘Select Catalogue’ under ‘Catalogue Offering’ and choose the relevant product. You can also upload a new product if you can’t find a matching item.

**Step 4: Check whether your uploaded catalogue specifications match the requirements and click on ‘Encrypt & Save’.

**Step 5: Choose either the forward charge mechanism (FCM) or the reverse charge mechanism (RCM). For RCM, all details are autoselected, while for FCM, you must enter the GST, cess and other details.

**Step 6: Check both the estimated price and the price breakup with input tax credit (ITC). Update the details if required.

**Step 7: Update the buyback price and the per-unit freight charges and confirm the total offer price.

**Step 8: Upload the required documents to provide evidence for the eligibility criteria, past performance, annual turnover, etc., as well as financial documents and relevant certificates.

**Step 9: Confirm whether your products are Make in India (MII) compliant, select the participation class and upload the required documents.

**Step 10: Read the terms and conditions, agree by clicking the checkbox and choose whether you want to verify with OTP, DSC or eSign. Complete the verification to submit your bid.

Bidding for Services

**Step 3: Click on the service widget under ‘Technical Offering’ and fill in the core specifications and add-ons.

**Step 4: Enter your offer price and the respective price of each add-on. Then, click on ‘Show Estimated Price’.

**Step 5: Check all the technical specifications and confirm. Then, click on ‘Encrypt & Save’.

**Step 6: Upload the required documents, including proof of turnover, certificates, MSE registration, etc. Also, ensure to upload a detailed financial document showing a full breakdown of prices.

**Step 7: View the final bid document and verify via OTP to submit your bid.

After placing a bid on the GeM portal, you can check its current status from the Seller Dashboard. Follow these steps to check your bids:

Step 1: Log in to your seller account using your credentials.

Step 2: Navigate to ‘Bids’ > ‘List of Bids’ in the dashboard to check all your active and previous bids.

Step 3: Browse through the list and check the relevant bid to know its current status. The GeM portal bid status window shows your participation status, bid progress and eligibility, as well as responses filed either by you or the buyer.

Step 4: If the buyer has made any response, click on ‘View Corrigendum’ to view it in the status window. Then, write your reply and submit it.

Step 5: For active bids, you can view all pending clarifications and clarification history in the status window. Click on the respective link to reply to the buyer’s clarifications.

Follow these proven strategies and tips to successfully win bids against your competitors on the GeM portal:

• Follow a Competitive Pricing Strategy: Since government buyers are mandated to seek reasonable prices, follow an effective pricing strategy focusing on market and competitor prices.

• Prepare the Necessary Documents: Ensure to have all the necessary documents and certificates before clicking on ‘Participate’. Read the tender carefully and check if you scanned copies of the required documents in high DPI and the right format.

• Demonstrate Your Experience: Government buyers favour sellers with more experience and reliability. You can showcase your experience by uploading relevant certifications in your field and experience certificates from your past clients.

• Submit a Detailed Proposal: Make sure that your bid proposal is well-written, clear, concise and free of errors. Double-check if you have included all the required information as per the tender document. Note that the formatting, number of pages, content of pages, etc., match the tender.

• Apply as an MSE or Startup: Startups and MSEs (micro and small businesses) are eligible for certain preferential treatment on the GeM portal. By applying with a DPPI or Udyam registration, you can maximise your chances of securing the contract.

• Stay Alert and Up-to-date: Regularly check in to the GeM portal and update your profile and product/service listings to gain visibility. Also, ensure that you respond promptly to any responses, queries and complaints to avoid rejections.

Vendors must learn how to search tenders on the GeM portal as well as the process of preparing compelling proposal documents to secure the most lucrative deals. Read the buyer’s tender carefully, including the evaluation criteria, warranty/refund terms, seller’s liabilities and delivery requirements before submitting a bid. While it’s tempting to accept any tender, businesses must know the risks and penalties involved before committing.

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