Key Tender / EOI Details

The above dates, fee and EMD values are taken from the EOI's Key EOI Details section.

Important document note: The separate "Important Dates" section on page 10 states that the EOI notification, bid submission start and bid submission end dates are "To be specified", which is inconsistent with the specific dates given in the Key EOI Details on page 2. For publication purposes, the dates above should be presented as the dates specified in the Key EOI Details, while bidders should independently verify the latest notice/amendment on the AP e-Procurement Portal before submission.

Scope of Work

The primary objective is to empanel capable training agencies for the Quantum and AI Skill Certification Program in Andhra Pradesh.

The program is structured around three certification levels:

1. Foundation Level – Quantum and AI awareness, concepts and readiness.
2. Advanced Level – Applied Quantum and AI skills and hands-on exposure.
3. Elite Level – Specialization, research and innovation.

The EOI envisages indicative program coverage of 10 lakh candidates at Foundation level, 3 lakh at Advanced level and 1 lakh at Elite level. However, these figures are explicitly described as an envisaged program scale and not as guaranteed training targets, business volume, revenue commitments or financial obligations of APSSDC/GoAP.

Selected agencies will broadly be required to:

1. Design and deliver Quantum and AI training programs.
2. Develop courses aligned with applicable NSQF and NCrF requirements.
3. Define learning outcomes, competency requirements, learning hours, assessment methodology and NCrF credits.
4. Provide evidence of qualification alignment and applicable NCVET/awarding-body approval or recognition.
5. Deploy qualified faculty, mentors and subject matter experts.
6. Conduct assessments and certification in accordance with prescribed requirements.
7. Integrate with APSSDC's centralized digital platforms.
8. Maintain learner attendance, progress, assessment and certification records.
9. Follow quality assurance, reporting, audit and compliance requirements.
10. Provide learner-facing services and grievance redressal.
11. Comply with applicable taxation, employment, consumer protection, data protection, privacy and cybersecurity requirements.

Training may be delivered through online, blended or classroom-based modes, subject to APSSDC norms and approval. Agencies may apply for one or more certification levels depending on their demonstrated capability.

Key Commercial and Programmatic Condition

A significant feature of this EOI is that empanelment does not guarantee any training allocation, candidate volume, work order, contract, MoU or Government funding.

APSSDC will primarily facilitate the listing and visibility of participating agencies through the Naipunyam/designated platform. Learners will independently review participating agencies and select an agency according to their preferences and requirements. Any applicable learner payment or commercial transaction will be directly between the learner and the selected training agency.

Accordingly, organizations should evaluate this opportunity primarily as an empanelment and market-access opportunity, rather than as a guaranteed Government-funded training contract.

Professional Qualification / Technical Criteria

The EOI places substantial emphasis on technical capability. The minimum technical qualifying score is 70 out of 100 marks. Achieving 70 marks makes an applicant eligible for consideration but does not create an automatic right to empanelment.

The technical evaluation covers:

1. Organizational Capability – 20 marks
2. Domain Expertise and Curriculum Strength – 25 marks
3. Faculty and Knowledge Resources – 15 marks
4. Training Delivery and Infrastructure – 15 marks
5. Assessment, Certification and Outcomes – 10 marks
6. Presentation / Approach and Methodology – 15 marks

The evaluation particularly rewards organizations with Quantum and AI domain expertise, relevant projects, NSQF/NCrF alignment, NCVET-related credentials, qualified faculty, scalable delivery infrastructure and robust assessment/certification systems.

For example, the organizational experience scoring gives the highest score for organizations with seven or more years of operation, while organizations with less than three years are not eligible under that scoring criterion. Relevant project experience is also evaluated using work orders, completion certificates, client letters and project summaries.

Pre-Qualification / Eligibility Criteria

The principal pre-qualification requirements are:

1. Minimum Organizational Experience

The bidder must have been in existence for a minimum of three years as on the last date of submission of the EOI.

Acceptable evidence includes:

1. Certificate of Incorporation/Registration
2. GST Registration Certificate
3. PAN
4. Other statutory documents establishing the date of formation.

2. Minimum Average Annual Turnover

The bidder must have an average annual turnover of at least ₹1 crore during the last three financial years.

Evidence should include audited financial statements and/or a Chartered Accountant's certificate showing turnover for the relevant three financial years.

3. Assessment and Certification Capability

The bidder must demonstrate capability to undertake assessment and certification in accordance with applicable NSQF, NCVET and NCrF requirements.

Evidence may include relevant approvals, affiliations, certifications, agreements/MoUs, work orders and completion certificates.

4. Non-Blacklisting Requirement

The bidder must not have been blacklisted, debarred or declared ineligible by a Central Government Ministry/Department, State Government Department, PSU, statutory body or Government agency as on the EOI submission date.

A signed self-declaration on the bidder's letterhead is required.

Financial Criteria

The principal financial eligibility requirement expressly stated in the EOI is the minimum average annual turnover of ₹1 crore for the last three financial years.

No minimum Net Worth requirement is expressly specified in the provided EOI document.

Also, no financial bid is invited at the EOI stage; the evaluation is technical in nature.

Financial & Tender Requirement Summary

Tender-fee clarification: The document specifically calls the ₹30,000 amount a "Proposal Processing Fee", rather than a conventional tender fee.

EMD clarification: The EOI specifies an EMD of ₹5,000 but the provided document does not specify an EMD payment mode or an EMD exemption provision. Therefore, bidders should verify the applicable payment instructions and exemption provisions on the AP e-Procurement Portal rather than relying on an assumed exemption or payment method.

Submission Guidelines

The EOI must be submitted only through the AP e-Procurement Portal.

Physical submissions are specifically not accepted. Bidders are required to upload:

1. Signed EOI document
2. Supporting documents prescribed under the annexures
3. Required declarations and undertakings.

Official Portal

AP e-Procurement Portal:
https://tender.apeprocurement.gov.in/

The EOI document also directs bidders to monitor the APSSDC/Naipunyam and AP e-Procurement websites for notices, amendments and clarifications. The EOI states that separate individual or print-media communication will not necessarily be issued for such updates.

Detailed Document Checklist for Bidders

The following checklist is prepared from the EOI's eligibility requirements and Annexures I to VIII.

Organizational and Legal Documents

1. Certificate of Incorporation / Registration
2. PAN
3. CIN / LLPIN / Society Registration document, as applicable
4. GST Registration Certificate, where applicable
5. MSME Registration, if available
6. Registered and corporate office details
7. Organization profile
8. Website details
9. Authorized signatory details
10. Brochure / Annual Report, if available
11. Details of previous Government/PSU empanelment, if any

Annexure I requires the bidder profile and legal/statutory credentials to be submitted on the bidder's letterhead.

Financial Documents

1. Audited financial statements for the last three financial years
2. CA certificate confirming annual turnover, where applicable
3. Evidence establishing average annual turnover of at least ₹1 crore
4. Any other financial document required by the AP e-Procurement Portal

Experience Documents

1. Relevant project list for the last five years
2. Project/program title
3. Client/institution details
4. Domain area
5. Project duration
6. Candidate/participant numbers
7. Bidder's role
8. Project objectives
9. Training/research areas
10. Delivery mode
11. Outcomes achieved
12. Relevance to Quantum, AI or advanced technology skilling
13. Work Orders / MoUs
14. Completion Certificates
15. Client Endorsements / Letters

The EOI's Annexure II specifically requests relevant experience for the last five years and supporting evidence.

Quantum, AI and Curriculum Documents

1. Domain expertise statement
2. Quantum/AI credentials
3. Details of programs executed
4. Research publications
5. Patents / whitepapers, if any
6. Curriculum structure and modules
7. Learning outcomes and pedagogy
8. NSQF mapping
9. NCrF level and credit mapping
10. Learning hours
11. Competency standards
12. Qualification descriptors and progression pathways
13. QP/NOS mapping, where available
14. NCVET approval/affiliation evidence
15. Awarding/assessment body details
16. Curriculum samples
17. Benchmarking references
18. Industry/academic collaboration documents

The EOI requires explicit mapping of proposed courses to applicable NSQF and NCrF requirements and supporting NCVET/awarding-body evidence.

Faculty and Infrastructure Documents

1. Faculty CVs
2. Faculty qualification details
3. Faculty experience
4. Faculty engagement/appointment evidence
5. Mentor/advisor profiles
6. Academic advisors
7. Industry experts
8. Research collaborators
9. Classroom details and capacity
10. Laboratory details and capabilities
11. LMS details
12. Virtual lab/simulator details
13. Assessment and proctoring tools
14. Concurrent learner capacity
15. Faculty expansion plan
16. Technology scalability plan

Training Delivery Documents

1. Delivery model description
2. Online / blended / classroom / lab-based delivery details
3. LMS information
4. Virtual laboratory/simulator information
5. Platform architecture
6. Annual training capacity
7. Concurrent learner capacity
8. Faculty and technology scaling plan
9. Platform screenshots/access details

The EOI's Annexure V specifically requires details of delivery models, digital infrastructure and scalability.

Assessment and Certification Documents

1. Certification level applied for
2. Assessment philosophy
3. Examination structure
4. Practical/project assessment methodology
5. Proctoring and anti-malpractice measures
6. Pass/merit criteria
7. Competency thresholds
8. Re-assessment policy, if applicable
9. Sample assessment tools
10. Assessment/evaluation SOP
11. Sample certificate
12. Industry/academic recognition evidence
13. NSQF/NCrF alignment
14. NCVET approval/recognized awarding-body affiliation evidence
15. Learner outcome measurement framework

The EOI requires sample assessment tools, assessment SOPs and a sample certificate as mandatory enclosures under the assessment and certification framework.

Presentation and Declaration

1. PPT/PDF presentation on the proposed approach
2. Understanding of the Quantum and AI Skill Certification Program
3. Implementation approach
4. Training delivery methodology
5. Distinctive strengths and innovations
6. Past experience and achievements
7. Way forward and value proposition for Andhra Pradesh
8. Signed Declaration and Undertaking
9. Authorized signatory's name/designation
10. Signature and organization seal

Annexure VII requires a soft-copy PPT/PDF presentation, while Annexure VIII requires a signed and scanned declaration/undertaking to be uploaded through the AP e-Procurement Portal.

Important Dates

These dates are based on the Key EOI Details provided in the document.

Tender Expert Analysis

From a tender-readiness perspective, this EOI is particularly relevant to training organizations, edtech companies, universities/institutions, skill development organizations, advanced technology training providers and organizations with Quantum/AI capabilities and appropriate certification partnerships.

The most important qualification issue is not merely the ₹1 crore turnover requirement. Applicants should also be prepared to demonstrate technical depth, Quantum/AI domain expertise, NSQF/NCrF alignment, NCVET-related capability, faculty strength, infrastructure, assessment systems and scalability.

The technical scoring structure indicates that organizations with established Quantum and AI capabilities, relevant advanced technology projects, strong curriculum mapping and mature delivery infrastructure are likely to be better positioned. The evaluation also gives significant weight to the bidder's presentation and proposed methodology.

A bidder should therefore avoid treating this as a simple eligibility-based EOI. The submission should be developed as a comprehensive technical proposal, with documentary evidence supporting every major capability claimed.

Key Risks and Points to Note

1. No guaranteed business volume:
Empanelment does not guarantee candidate allocation, work orders, contracts or Government funding.

2. Technical score is critical:
A minimum score of 70/100 is required for consideration, but achieving 70 marks does not automatically guarantee empanelment.

3. No financial bid at EOI stage:
The document expressly states that no financial bid will be invited at this stage.

4. Net worth is not specified:
The provided EOI does not prescribe a minimum net worth threshold.

5. EMD details require portal verification:
The EOI specifies ₹5,000 EMD but does not clearly state the EMD payment mode or an exemption mechanism in the provided document.

6. Date inconsistency:
The Key EOI Details provide concrete submission and opening dates, while the later Important Dates table says some dates are "To be specified". Bidders should verify the latest portal notification/addendum before filing.

7. Amendments may change timelines:
APSSDC reserves the right to amend, reschedule, extend or cancel the EOI process. Bidders should monitor the official portal for updates.

Why This EOI Matters for the Quantum and AI Skilling Ecosystem

The proposed program reflects the growing importance of advanced technology skills in areas including AI, quantum computing, cybersecurity, cryptography, sensing, healthcare, finance, defence and other technology-intensive sectors.

APSSDC's proposed three-tier structure seeks to create a progression from foundational awareness to applied skills and eventually advanced specialization, research and innovation. The courses are intended to be linked to applicable NSQF/NCrF requirements, with defined learning outcomes, competencies, learning hours, assessment methodologies and credits.

For eligible organizations, empanelment could provide an opportunity to showcase their approved programme offerings, credentials and training capabilities to interested learners through the designated platform. However, the EOI itself makes clear that empanelment should not be interpreted as Government accreditation, endorsement or a guarantee of financial engagement.

Consultation and Advisory Support

For consultation and advisory services related to this EOI, tender documentation, eligibility assessment, technical proposal preparation, compliance review and submission support:

Call & WhatsApp: 9630030343
Email: support@skillcouncils.com