How to Bid on GeM: A Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time Sellers

Bidding on GeM is a fixed sequence: find a bid in your category, read the bid document and its additional terms, confirm you meet the eligibility criteria, prepare your documents, enter your offer and price, e-sign and submit before the deadline. After that the buyer evaluates technical bids, opens prices, and — if the bid includes one — runs a reverse auction before awarding the contract.

What do you need before you can bid on GeM?

An active GeM seller account with your organisation profile and bank account verified, and a catalogue that covers the category you want to bid in. Keep your PAN, GST, Udyam and any category certificates current, because GeM checks them against your profile. GeM bids are e-signed with Aadhaar OTP, so a DSC is normally not needed for GeM itself.

How do you find bids that match your business?

Open the Bids section of your seller dashboard and filter by category, state and closing date, or search by bid number. Shortlist bids where you can meet the quantity, delivery location and timeline — winning a bid you cannot deliver leads to cancellation and can damage your seller rating.

What should you read in a GeM bid document?

Read the eligibility criteria (turnover, experience, OEM authorisation), the EMD clause and any MSE or startup exemptions, the technical specifications, the evaluation method, delivery and payment terms, and the Additional Terms and Conditions (ATC) the buyer has attached. Check for corrigenda right before you submit — they can change dates and requirements.

How do you submit a bid on GeM, step by step?

Step 1: open the bid and choose to participate; select the product or service from your catalogue that matches the specification.

Step 2: upload the documents the bid asks for — typically experience and turnover proofs, OEM authorisation where applicable, and your MSE or DPIIT certificate if you claim an exemption.

Step 3: claim the EMD exemption if you are eligible (manufacturer or service-provider MSE, or DPIIT startup), or furnish EMD as the bid specifies.

Step 4: fill in the technical compliance and enter your price. Price only after costing freight, installation, warranty, payment delay and performance security.

Step 5: e-sign and submit before the closing date and time. Portals close to the second, so submit with a buffer.

What happens after you submit?

The buyer evaluates technical bids first; only technically qualified sellers have their prices opened. If the bid includes a reverse auction, qualified sellers bid prices down in a timed online auction. The lowest qualified offer (L1) is usually awarded the contract, and MSEs quoting within 15% of L1 may be offered a share of the order if they match the L1 price.

How do you get paid on a GeM order?

Accept the contract within the time GeM allows, deliver as specified, and raise your invoice on the portal. The buyer's consignee inspects the supply and issues a Consignee Receipt and Acceptance Certificate (CRAC), which triggers payment. Keep proof of dispatch and delivery for every order.

Common first-bid mistakes

The usual reasons first bids fail: offering a product that does not exactly match the specification, missing an ATC document, claiming an EMD exemption you are not eligible for (traders cannot claim the MSE exemption on GeM), and submitting at the last minute. Our bid assistance service checks each of these before submission.