Tender eligibility — turnover, class and similar-work explained
The three gates that decide whether you can bid at all — and what to do if you fall short.
5 min read · Free guide from Bidrove
The three common gates
- Average annual turnover — often 1–2x the estimated contract value, over the last 3 years.
- Similar-work experience — proof you've completed comparable work, sometimes above a minimum value.
- Registration / class — the right contractor class or category registration for that department.
Turnover
- Shown via audited financials or a CA certificate for the last 3 financial years.
- Short on turnover? Target smaller-value tenders or MSME-reserved ones.
Similar work
- Read exactly what 'similar' means in that tender — value, type, and completion within the last X years.
- Keep completion certificates from past clients ready; you'll need them as proof.
MSME and startup relaxations
- MSMEs and startups often get relaxed turnover/experience norms and EMD exemption — check if you qualify.
Don't bid if you don't qualify
- Miss a clear eligibility line and your bid is rejected at the technical stage — wasted effort.
- Bidrove flags likely eligibility on each tender so you don't spend time on ones you can't win.
Find tenders you can actually win
Bidrove shows live Indian government tenders with eligibility, an estimated cost & profit, and a step-by-step bidding guide — free to browse.
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