Para 5.2.2 — CONSULT_MANUAL

2. Part II: Schedule of Requirements a) Section IV: Terms of Reference 3. Part III: EOI Submission Formats a) Form 1: EOI Form (Covering Letter) i) Form 1.1: Consultant Information ii) Form 1.2: Eligibility Declarations b) Form 2: Qualification Criteria – Compliance i) Form 2.1: Performance Capability Statement ii) Form 2.2: Financial Capability Statements iii) Form 2.2.1: Financial Statement iv) Form 2.2.2: Average Annual Turnover c) Form 3: Checklist for Consultants d) Other Annexures: i) Annexure 1: Authorisation to Attend Pre-EOI Conference ii) Annexure 2: Code of Integrity

4. Section I: Request for Expression for Interest (REoI): Is a formal invitation for Expression of Bidders from interested bidders.

5. Section II - Appendix to the REoI, is where variable parameters and information related to this specific REoI process are summarised.

5.2.2 Contents of REoI The EoI document shall contain following sections: 1. Part I: REOI process a) Section I: Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) b) Section II: Appendix c) Section III: Qualification Criteria

6. Section III: Qualification Criteria: a) This section lays down the qualification criteria which shall be applied by the Procuring Entity for short listing the consultants. The REoI should ask for sufficient information so that the Procuring Entity may evaluate the consultant’s capabilities and eligibility to undertake the assignment. The Consultants must be asked i) requisite experience during specified period (say 5 years) with volume of assignments similar in nature in general and specific sectors relevant to the subject assignment; ii) Financial capability: Turnover (Overall and from Consultancy Services) b) Relaxation for Start-ups: The condition of prior turnover and prior experience may be relaxed49 for startups (only to startups recognised by the Department of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT)) subject to meeting quality & technical specifications and making suitable provisions in the tender document (Rule 173

(i) of GFR 2017). Startups may be MSEs or otherwise. It is further clarified that such relaxation is not optional but has to be ensured, except in case of procurement of items related to public safety, health, critical security operations and equipment, etc) where adequate justification exists for the Procuring Entity to not relax such criteria. Please also refer to para 1.10.1-4-b), 1.10.4-2-b) and 7.3.3-6 Table). c) Qualification Criteria shall be based entirely upon the capability and resources required to perform the particular contract satisfactorily, considering bidders’ experience and past performance, capabilities with respect to personnel, equipment and manufacturing facilities, financial standing and relevant compliance with environmental protection regulations/ Environment Management System. There should be no qualification criteria that would be advantageous to foreign consultants at the cost of domestically delivered services. d) Qualification of demerged entities50 (by virtue of a corporate restructuring exercise etc.): EoI document must clearly mention if (and under what conditions) the demerged entity will be permitted to use credentials of original/parent entity (for initial five years from the incorporation of the demerged entities) to satisfy the qualification criteria or not. e) In addition, the consultants should indicate information relating to their eligibility and any conflict of interest that they know may impact objective performance and impartial advice for their services. Consultants should not be asked about their approach to the services or to submit any curricula vitae of key personnel, because these documents will be dealt with in the RfP. No legal documents such as certificates of incorporation of the firm, powers of attorney, financial statements, or translations of standard brochures should be requested. Given the often-large number of submissions, the advertisement should stress the importance of brevity of the information to be sent. It may indicate the extent of dispensation, if any, allowed for startups. Unless otherwise stated in Section II: Appendix, Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture/consortium (JV/C) and/or a subconsultancy. 7. Section IV: Terms of Reference (TOR): This section describes the background, purpose/ objectives, description/ scope of work, deliverables/ outcomes, inputs to be provided by the Procuring Entity; and timelines of Consultancy Services (hereinafter called the ‘Service’) required. The ‘Service’ may include incidental Goods, Works, and other Services if so indicated therein. Any generic reference the ‘Service’ shall be deemed to include such incidental Goods, Works, and other Services. This may also include the place of execution of the assignment.