By Adv. Gaurav Kumar, Founder, Bid Nexa · Advocate, High Court of Jharkhand · General information, not legal advice for a specific case.
Most rejections happen at technical evaluation, before price is even opened. The usual causes are missed eligibility conditions, expired or mismatched documents, missing EMD proof, unsigned declarations and edited price templates. A clause-by-clause checklist and a second-person review prevent most of them.
Eligibility mistakes
- Turnover or experience below the tender's threshold, or calculated for the wrong years
- Experience certificates that do not match the tender's definition of 'similar work'
- Registration class or category that does not cover the tender value
Document mistakes
- Expired certificates, such as DSC, quality certificates or licences
- Names and addresses that differ across documents
- Missing pages or annexures, or files uploaded in the wrong cover
- Unsigned or unstamped declarations and affidavits
Money mistakes
- EMD not paid, paid short, or exemption claimed without valid proof
- Tender fee missed where it is payable
Price bid mistakes
- Changing the format of the BOQ or price template
- Taxes shown in the wrong column or included twice
- Ignoring a corrigendum that changed quantities or conditions
A 5-minute pre-submission check
- Every clause mapped to a document
- Every certificate valid on the bid opening date
- EMD or exemption proof in the format asked
- All corrigenda read and applied
- A second person has checked the final set
Confirm in the tender document / NIT.
Frequently asked questions
Can I correct a mistake after submitting a bid?
Most portals let you withdraw and resubmit before the closing time. After closing, buyers may seek clarifications on some points, but you usually cannot change the substance of the bid. Confirm in the tender document / NIT.
What happens if my bid is rejected at technical evaluation?
Your price bid is not opened. Read the rejection reason on the portal. If the tender allows a representation, a clear reply with documents is more effective than a general complaint.
How do I know which documents a tender needs?
Read the eligibility, qualification and 'documents to be submitted' sections of the NIT, along with all annexures and corrigenda. Build your checklist from those sections, clause by clause.
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