Key Tender Details at a Glance

The detailed Key Events and Dates table in the EOI specifies the 24 August release, 26 August pre-bid meeting, 1 September 15:00 submission deadline and 3 September 15:00 technical opening.

Important Deadline Note

There is a timing inconsistency within the tender document. The opening notice on page 1 mentions submission up to 1 September 2026 at 18:00 hrs, whereas the formal Key Events and Dates section on page 8 states 1 September 2026 at 15:00 hrs. Bidders should treat the detailed schedule as the primary schedule but verify the latest position on Mahatenders.gov.in and any corrigendum before submission. The EOI expressly states that amendments and revised dates may be published through the e-procurement portal.

Scope of Work

The primary objective is to empanel eligible agencies to conduct skill development programmes for Scheduled Caste beneficiaries in Maharashtra.

The scope broadly covers:

1. Short Term Skill Development Training

Agencies are expected to conduct residential and non-residential Short Term Training (STT) across approved sectors and job roles.

2. Entrepreneurship Development Programme

Empanelled agencies may conduct EDP programmes designed to facilitate entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities.

3. Recognition of Prior Learning

The EOI includes RPL training, enabling eligible candidates to obtain recognition/certification of existing skills.

4. NSQF-Aligned Training

Training must follow relevant NSQF, NOS and Qualification Pack (QP) requirements. Assessment and certification are to be undertaken through approved/recognised agencies as prescribed by the tender.

5. Candidate Mobilisation and Counselling

The selected agency must undertake ground-level candidate mobilisation at its own cost and provide counselling regarding the nature of work, employment opportunities, remuneration, career prospects and associated risks.

The agency is also responsible for collection and verification of documents such as domicile, caste certificate, income certificate, non-creamy layer certificate, educational certificates, identity proof and photographs.

6. Training Centre and Infrastructure

Training centres must have appropriate infrastructure, classrooms, laboratories, equipment and other facilities in line with applicable NSDC/SIDH and NSQF-related requirements.

For residential programmes, the EOI specifies accommodation and related requirements, including accommodation for at least 60 candidates and a maximum distance of 1 km between the training centre and accommodation.

7. Trainers

Trainers must possess appropriate qualifications, domain expertise and ToT certification for the relevant courses.

8. Soft Skills

The training programme is also expected to include:

1. Spoken English
2. Business Communication
3. Personality Development
4. Industry-Relevant Training
5. Detailed Interview Preparation

The EOI specifically highlights soft-skill development for candidates from weaker sections.

9. Assessment and Certification

Internal assessments are required, followed by final assessment and certification through approved agencies such as MSBSVET/SSC/NCVET-approved agencies within the prescribed period.

10. Placement and Self-Employment

The empanelled agency has a significant outcome responsibility. It must provide a minimum of three placement opportunities to eligible trainees and target at least 75% placement/self-employment within three months of certification.

Placement documentation may include employer details, appointment/offer documentation, salary slips, bank statements and other verification records. Self-employment may be supported through UDYAM registration, Shop Act documentation, bank statements and photographs.

11. Post-Placement Tracking

The agency must maintain placement records for at least six months and provide information such as salary details, career progression, employer feedback, ID cards, salary slips and bank statements when required.

12. Reporting and Monitoring

The agency must maintain candidate, attendance, progress, assessment, placement and self-employment records and cooperate with inspections and monitoring by MPBCDC LTD.

The EOI also makes clear that training delivery cannot be subcontracted, franchised or transferred to third parties.

Eligible Organisations

The EOI invites applications from the following categories:

1. Government of India (GoI) Departments
2. Government of Maharashtra (GoM) Departments
3. GoI/GoM Undertakings
4. GoI/GoM Companies
5. Sector Skill Councils (SSCs)
6. National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)

The prospective bidder categories are specifically listed under the shortlisting criteria.

Minimum Pre-Qualification Criteria

The principal eligibility requirements are as follows:

Registration

The bidder must provide valid registration/incorporation documentation.

Minimum Average Annual Turnover

The bidder must have a minimum average annual turnover of Rs. 3 crore from Skill Development Training activities over the last three financial years out of the last four financial years:

1. FY 2022-23
2. FY 2023-24
3. FY 2024-25
4. FY 2025-26

The turnover must be supported by financial statements, ITRs and the CA-certified turnover certificate prescribed in the tender.

Positive Net Worth

The bidder must have a positive net worth for the last three financial years, specifically FY 2022-23, FY 2023-24 and FY 2024-25.

Minimum Experience

The organisation must have been legally registered and providing skill development training for at least five years as on the EOI release date.

In addition, the bidder must have a registered office, regional office or branch office in Maharashtra and active skill-development operations in Maharashtra for at least three years.

Candidate Training Experience

The bidder must have trained at least 500 candidates in Maharashtra during the last five years under relevant skill-development programmes.

Placement/Self-Employment Performance

A minimum 75% placement/self-employment rate is prescribed for the relevant industries and sectors.

Clean Track Record

The bidder, its relevant promoters/directors/partners/trustees and associated entities must not be barred or blacklisted by the Government of Maharashtra, Government of India, State/Central Government bodies, PSUs or relevant public agencies.

Partners, directors, trustees and owners must also not have criminal cases as specified in the EOI.

Financial and Commercial Criteria

Tender Fee

The formal Key Events section specifies a tender fee of Rs. 11,800, comprising Rs. 10,000 plus Rs. 1,800 GST, payable online. The tender also states that the fee is mandatory and there is no exemption.

Document inconsistency: The first-page notice separately mentions Rs. 10,000 in one payment instruction, while the detailed schedule specifies Rs. 11,800 inclusive of GST. For publication and bidder guidance, Rs. 11,800 should be presented as the scheduled tender fee, subject to confirmation from the latest Mahatenders portal/corrigendum.

EMD

The EOI defines the term EMD in its glossary, but the reviewed tender schedule does not prescribe an EMD amount or EMD payment mode. Accordingly, SkillCouncils.com should not invent an EMD figure or claim a formal EMD exemption where the document does not expressly provide one.

Submission Guidelines

Bidders should follow the following submission requirements:

1. Register/enrol on https://mahatenders.gov.in.
2. Obtain the required login credentials.
3. Hold a valid Class III Digital Signature Certificate (DSC).
4. Download and study the complete EOI and subsequent corrigenda/addenda.
5. Prepare the proposal using the prescribed formats and annexures.
6. Submit all required documents online only.
7. Ensure the proposal is properly page-numbered.
8. Upload documents in the same sequence as the proposal.
9. Every page and supporting document should be duly signed and sealed by the authorised signatory.
10. Pay the applicable non-refundable tender fee through the prescribed online payment mechanism.
11. The bidder purchasing the tender document and the bidder submitting the proposal must be the same.
12. The proposal must be unconditional.
13. Supporting documentary evidence must accompany eligibility claims.
14. Late submissions will not be entertained.

The EOI specifically requires online submission of documents and supporting material and states that the proposal should be page-numbered, sequentially uploaded and signed/sealed by the authorised signatory.

Evaluation and Qualification Process

The tender follows a technical evaluation framework.

Stage 1 – Test of Responsiveness

The authority will first check compliance with pre-qualification requirements, completeness and required documentation.

Stage 2 – Technical Evaluation: Part A

Part A carries 80 marks.

Key parameters include:

The bidder must secure at least 64/80 marks (80%) in Part A to qualify for the technical presentation.

Stage 3 – Technical Presentation: Part B

Part B carries 20 marks and evaluates areas such as:

1. Project approach and methodology
2. Candidate mobilisation and implementation plan
3. District presence and training infrastructure
4. Placement/entrepreneurship strategy
5. Industry tie-ups and active MOUs
6. Sector-wise skill-development experience

The combined technical evaluation carries 100 marks.

Stage 4 – Due Diligence

A bidder securing at least 70/100 marks proceeds to due diligence.

MPBCDC LTD. may verify information, MOUs, placement records, documents, offices, trainers and proposed training centres through field-level verification. Failure during due diligence can lead to disqualification.

Detailed Document Checklist

The EOI's Annexure 15 – Minimum Eligibility / Qualifying Criteria Checklist requires the following documentation. The checklist on pages 33-34 contains 27 entries.

The tender additionally contains Annexure 18 for Pre-Bid Queries, which bidders should review where they intend to submit questions before the pre-bid meeting.

Important Compliance Points for Bidders

Bidders should pay particular attention to the following provisions:

1. Consortium/JV arrangements are not allowed.
2. Franchise and subcontracting are prohibited.
3. Training delivery cannot be outsourced to third parties.
4. Training centres must be owned, leased or directly controlled by the bidder and approved under the tender requirements.
5. Conditional EOIs may be rejected.
6. Incomplete proposals or proposals without documentary proof may be rejected.
7. A bidder submitting more than one EOI in the prohibited circumstances may face disqualification.
8. The bidder purchasing the tender document must be the same entity submitting the bid.
9. A valid Class III DSC is required for online submission.
10. The bidder must monitor Mahatenders.gov.in for corrigenda and amendments.

The EOI expressly prohibits consortium, joint venture, franchise and subcontracting arrangements and requires direct control over training infrastructure.

Key Dates for MPBCDC EOI 2026

*The first-page notice contains a separate reference to 18:00 hrs on 1 September. Bidders should verify the final deadline on the official e-procurement portal and any subsequent corrigendum.

Pre-Bid Meeting

The pre-bid meeting is scheduled as an online meeting on 26 August 2026 at 12:00 hrs. Prospective bidders seeking to raise queries are required to submit their questions in the prescribed format at least one day before the meeting. The tender states that telephonic queries will not be accepted.

The EOI states that the online meeting link will be provided to interested parties who request it through dgm.p1@mpbcdc.in.

Tender Fee, EMD and Estimated Cost – Quick Reference

The EOI should therefore be treated as an empanelment opportunity rather than a conventional tender with a declared estimated contract value. Actual training targets, work orders and applicable training costs are to be determined in accordance with MPBCDC's process and subsequent work orders/MOU. The EOI states that selection does not guarantee work allocation.

What Makes This EOI Important for Skill Development Agencies?

The MPBCDC EOI provides an opportunity for qualifying skill-development organisations to seek empanelment for programmes targeted at Scheduled Caste beneficiaries across Maharashtra.

However, the eligibility threshold is relatively significant. Organisations need to demonstrate:

1. At least five years of skill-development experience;
2. Rs. 3 crore minimum average annual skill-development turnover;
3. Positive net worth for three consecutive financial years;
4. At least three years of active skill-development operations in Maharashtra;
5. At least 500 candidates trained in Maharashtra during the last five years;
6. Minimum 75% placement/self-employment performance;
7. Adequate qualified manpower and ToT-certified trainers;
8. Appropriate training infrastructure;
9. Government/PSU or other relevant institutional experience; and
10. Strong documentation capable of passing due diligence.

The technical evaluation also rewards higher turnover, larger training volumes, stronger placement/self-employment outcomes, additional Maharashtra experience, greater trainer availability, government empanelments and awards.

Tender Expert's Practical Advisory

From a bid-preparation perspective, eligible organisations should begin with a compliance matrix rather than preparing the technical proposal first.

The highest-risk areas are likely to be:

1. Financial documentation: Ensure the three selected financial years meet the turnover requirement and that the CA certificate, audited financial statements and ITRs are consistent.
2. Maharashtra experience: Keep work orders and completion certificates demonstrating three years of active operations readily available.
3. Candidate numbers: Ensure the minimum 500 Maharashtra trainees are supported by acceptable government/PSU/autonomous-body documentation.
4. Placement evidence: The 75% requirement needs documentary support rather than only self-declared figures.
5. Trainer records: Prepare ToT certificates, staff profiles and payroll evidence.
6. Training-centre verification: Proposed centres should be operationally ready because they may be subject to field-level due diligence.
7. No subcontracting: The proposed delivery model should be directly controlled by the bidder.
8. Annexure consistency: Information submitted in Annexures 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 16 and 17 should be internally consistent.
9. DSC and portal readiness: Complete Mahatenders registration and DSC-related formalities well before the deadline.
10. Deadline verification: Because the document contains a discrepancy between 15:00 and 18:00 for the submission deadline, bidders should rely on the latest official portal/corrigendum before final submission.

Conclusion

The MPBCDC Skill Development EOI 2026 is an important empanelment opportunity for eligible government-linked departments, undertakings, companies, Sector Skill Councils and NSDC-related organisations involved in skill development.

The EOI covers STT, EDP, RPL and other skill-development programmes for Scheduled Caste beneficiaries in Maharashtra. The key qualification benchmarks include Rs. 3 crore minimum average annual skill-development turnover, positive net worth for three financial years, five years of skill-development experience, three years of Maharashtra operations, at least 500 candidates trained and a minimum 75% placement/self-employment rate.

The submission is online through Mahatenders.gov.in, with a scheduled tender fee of Rs. 11,800 including GST. No estimated project cost or EMD amount is specified in the EOI reviewed for this article.

The scheduled bid submission deadline is 1 September 2026 at 15:00 hrs, with technical bid opening scheduled for 3 September 2026 at 15:00 hrs, if possible. Given the conflicting 18:00 reference elsewhere in the document, prospective bidders should verify the final deadline on the official portal before submitting.

Official E-Procurement Portal: https://mahatenders.gov.in

Consultation and Advisory: For tender consultation and advisory, please call or WhatsApp 9630030343 or email support@skillcouncils.com.