Para 5.2.3 — CONSULT_MANUAL

5.2.3 Important Provisions of REoI 1. REoI contains all relevant information as well as guidance to the prospective bidders regarding - obtaining tender documents, preparing, and submitting a responsive bid, process of establishing the eligibility/ qualification credentials of the bidders as well as evaluation and comparison of tenders, Code of Integrity in Public Procurement (CIPP), process of grievance

Preparation of the Request for Proposals (RfP) Document

Manual for Procurement of Consultancy Services, Second Edition, 2025 redressal, and declaration of results. It also contains introduction/ overview of its contents. Other important provisions in a REoI are:

2. Eligibility Criteria: Provisions relating to Eligibility Criteria, Conflict of Interest and applicable preferential policies regulate the participation of bidders of various categories and their agents. It also contains introduction/ overview of its contents. It mentions the type of entities which may participate, specifically if JV/C are permitted to participate. It shall also mention that the consulting company should be registered under applicable act with registered offices in India. It also excludes insolvent, bankrupt, debarred, convicted, firms with conflict of interest from participation. Restriction of participation of bidders from certain countries having land borders with India are also applicable. In case JV/Cs are permitted, it should be made clear if the experience of the bidders as a member of JV/C would be considered or not. If yes, then the manner of aggregating qualifications of members of JV/C (say, only prorata experience proportionate to his percentage share declared in JV/C MoU) may be mentioned.

3. Preferential Procurement Policies: Preferential Procurement policies applicable to the EoI are mentioned (MSEs, Start-ups, Make in India etc.)

4. EoI Validity: EOIs shall remain valid for a period not less than 60 (sixty) days from the deadline for the EOI submission.

5. Qualification Criteria: As mentioned earlier qualification criteria for shortlisting the bidders and its scoring/ marking scheme is detailed. It also specifies, if JV/C are permitted, how credentials of members of JV/C would be considered in evaluation.

6. Terms of Reference (ToR): As mentioned earlier ToR describes the background, purpose/ objectives, description/ scope of work, deliverables/ outcomes, inputs to be provided by the Procuring Entity; and timelines of the required ‘Service’. At EoI stage ToR is relevant for bidders to decide, whether they are interested in bidding for this assignment. It is also relevant to decide specific sector of experience required in the qualification criteria. Normally ToR should be ready before REoI is floated, however, if detailed ToR is not ready, at least description/ scope of work, deliverables/ outcomes, inputs to be provided by the Procuring Entity; and timelines of the required ‘Service’ should be included in REoI. REoI should contain a clause retaining right to make minor adjustments to ToR at the RfP stage.