What Vendors Must Know Before Applying for Punjab Tenders 2025! [From 100% Official Source!] Other Services

Punjab is amongst the most prosperous and resource-rich states in India. It is widely known for its agricultural productivity, mineral-rich soil, and strong industrial base. As per Punjab Budget Analysis, the state is expected to reach the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of ₹8,02,701 Crore in 2024-25. 

As the state expands, government departments, public sector undertakings, and state entities issue contract opportunities aimed at developing the state. The Punjab government has established several guidelines to regulate tender opportunities, and it is necessary for suppliers/vendors to understand these guidelines to maintain compliance. 

This blog will take you through the Punjab government procurement guidelines and procedures, sourced from official sources. First, we'll understand the procurement process in Punjab. If you already understand it, you can directly jump to the standard guidelines and procedures for the Punjab government procurement.  

Understanding the Public Procurement Process in Punjab 

The Public Procurement in Punjab is a systematic process through which state departments, boards, and public sector undertakings acquire goods, services, and infrastructure works from private suppliers and contractors. This process is specifically designed to promote fairness, efficiency, and responsible spending of the public funds while opening avenues for local enterprises, MSMEs, and large firms. 

The state of Punjab has established an e-Procurement portal:https://eproc.punjab.gov.in/nicgep/app. This is the official platform where tenders are published, bids are received, and contracts are transparently managed. Moreover, the portal also ensures that every rupee invested must contribute to Punjab's development priorities. Now that you know about the e-procurement portal, let's understand the step-by-step process of how Punjab conducts the public procurement process. 

Step 1: Needs Identification and Planning 

The Public Procurement in Punjab begins when the government departments, state authorities, or public sector undertaking identifies specific requirements for goods, services, or construction works. It is generally associated with the developmental priorities of the states within sectors like infrastructure, healthcare, education, and more. 

While conducting planning for tender documentation, the procuring entities also have to prepare tender documents, outlining the contract's technical specifications, delivery terms, and submission conditions. 

Step 2: Vendor Registration 

Vendors/Suppliers are required to register on the Punjab e-procurement portal to participate in Punjab procurement opportunities. To register, you must submit documentation like company incorporation certificates, GST number, PAN, and relevant financial details. This process ensures that only qualified and compliant businesses participate, which creates a pool of potential bidders. 

Step 3: Bid Submission and Evaluation 

Registered vendors can submit their bids following the instructions mentioned in the tender document. While submitting bids, you need to generally include technical proposals, financial proposals, delivery schedules, and compliance commitments. 

Once the bids are submitted, procuring authorities evaluate them based upon technical competence, past performance, financial strength, and adherence to procurement rules, with an aim to ensure that public spending is an absolute value for money. 

Step 4: Negotiation and Award of Contract 

After completing the evaluation process, the procuring authorities contact the shortlisted bidder to engage in further negotiations to finalize terms. Such discussions are often conducted to clarify the project scope, timelines, quality benchmarks, and cost considerations. When the negotiations are done, procuring entities formally award a contract to the selected bidder, which binds both parties in legal obligations. 

Step 5: Contract Management and Final Inspection 

The selected bidder starts working on the project. Meanwhile, the procuring authorities closely monitor the project to ensure compliance with agreed standards, timelines, and quality requirements. When the contract delivers the final submission, the procuring entities carry out a final inspection to cross-check if contractual obligations are met. If yes, then the authorities issue a completion certificate, and the contractor receives the final payments. And, the contract is formally closed. 

What Bidders Must Know About the Punjab Government Procurement Process?

Below, we’ve mentioned what every bidder must know before applying for Punjab tenders. For a more detailed glimpse, vendors can go through this official document. 

• Suppliers must provide the bidding documents that meet the essential needs of the procuring entity. These should represent your technical, quality, and performance characteristics. 

• The Procuring Entities can not establish any requirement that discriminates among or against the bidders or against any category thereof. However, authorities may do so when authorized or required by the Act, rules, or guidelines outlined by the provisions of any other law for the time being in force. 

• Every bidder participating in the procurement process must possess the necessary professional, technical, financial, and managerial resources and the competence required by the bidding documents, pre-qualification documents, or bidder registration documents.

• Bidders must have paid their taxes payable to the Central Government, the State Government, or any local authority specified in the bidding documents, pre-qualification documents, or bidder registration documents. 

• According to the provisions, rules, and regulations mentioned in this official document, procuring authorities may choose to call for bids where technical, quality, and performance aspects, commercial terms and conditions, and the financial aspects, including the prices, are contained in a single envelope. 

• The procuring entity may require any participant bidder who has either submitted the lowest evaluated bid or the highest evaluated bid to showcase their qualifications again before the contract of award is confirmed. 

• The Procuring entities can deviate from the standard bidding documents only with the reasons recorded in writing and with due approval of the appropriate authority of the procuring entity. 

• Procuring authorities may organize a pre-bid conference to clarify doubts of potential bidders in respect of a particular procurement. The records of such conferences may be intimated to all bidders and even published on the Punjab e-procurement portal.

• Any bidder who has submitted their bid based upon the original invitation must get the opportunity to modify or resubmit it, in case the procuring entities have made changes in the bidding documents. 

• A Procuring Entity can cancel the procurement of a process initiated by them only at any time prior to the acceptance of the successful bid or in accordance with sub-sections (4) and (5) of the above-mentioned document. 

How to View Punjab Tenders on TendersOnTime? 

Listed below is a simple four-step process defining how you can see Punjab contracting opportunities on TendersOnTime.

Step 1: Login or Register 

First, contractors must open the TendersOnTime site via www.tendersontime.com. Click on the Register or Login button to proceed with your registration. 

Step 2: Search for Tenders 

Once you're logged in and redirected to the TendersOnTime site's homepage, type Punjab as a location in the Search Box to find the state-relevant tenders. 

Step 3: Filter the Search Results 

You may even use the Advanced Search feature to help you find the preferred tender opportunities based upon tender type, industry type, tender status, and publication date. 

Step 4: Review Tender Details 

Once you've found the tenders matching your business profile, you should click on the tender title to view detailed information regarding the project. It may include the following details. 

• Tender Description
• Bid Submission Date
• Eligibility Criteria
• Tender Documents
• Contact Information
• Project Timeline
• Bid Submission Guidelines 

When you download the tender document, you'll understand all the requirements for the project. Plus, click on the link to find Punjab tender opportunities:https://www.tendersontime.com/india/punjab-tenders/.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q1. What tenders are available on eProcurement Punjab?

On Punjab’s eProcurement portal, you’ll find a wide range of tenders from state departments, covering infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, IT, and public works. Both large projects and small-scale supply contracts are published for registered vendors to bid on.

Q2. How to fill out tender documents?

To fill tender documents, carefully read the instructions, prepare your technical and financial details, and attach required certificates like GST, PAN, and past work experience. Make sure to check the accuracy of your documents, as incomplete or incorrect submissions often get rejected.

Q3. How much turnover is required for a tender?

Turnover requirements vary with the size and type of the project. For high-value contracts, authorities may ask for proof of annual turnover matching or exceeding the tender amount, while smaller works may need minimal financial eligibility.

Q4. What is the minimum notice period for a tender?

Generally, tenders provide at least 15 to 21 days’ notice from the date of publication to submission, ensuring enough time for bidders to prepare. In addition, large or complex projects may allow a longer notice period.

Q5. What is the difference between a tender and a bid?

A tender is the government’s invitation to suppliers to offer goods or services, while a bid is the supplier’s response with pricing, qualifications, and terms. In simple terms, tenders ask, and bids answer.