Tender Key Details at a Glance

The GeM bid records an estimated bid value of ₹25.96 lakh inclusive of taxes, while the ATC's experience thresholds mathematically correspond to an estimated base value of ₹22 lakh because 40%, 50% and 80% of ₹22 lakh equal ₹8.80 lakh, ₹11 lakh and ₹17.60 lakh respectively. However, the tender expressly specifies the experience amounts as ₹8.80 lakh, ₹11 lakh and ₹15.40 lakh, so bidders should follow the stated tender thresholds rather than independently reconstructing the estimated cost. The GeM document also states that estimated bid value is primarily for guidance on eligibility/EMD and does not determine the price bidders must quote.

Scope of Work

The principal requirement is to provide end-to-end support for CMMI-DEV V3.0 Maturity Level 5 with Supplier Agreement Management (SAM).

The scope is significantly broader than a standalone certification exercise. It covers consulting, process improvement, training, evidence development, mock appraisal, external appraisal coordination and post-certification maintenance.

1. Project Initiation and Planning

The selected service provider will be required to undertake:

1. Kick-off meeting.
2. Governance and communication structure.
3. Detailed six-month implementation schedule.
4. Resource plan and RACI matrix.
5. Appraisal scope and evidence strategy.
6. Risk, issue, dependency and decision-management mechanism.

2. Gap Analysis

The consultant will assess:

1. Existing processes.
2. Process Asset Library (PAL).
3. Quality Management System (QMS).
4. Project implementation.
5. Organisational support functions.
6. Metrics and quantitative management.
7. Supplier Agreement Management.
8. Existing appraisal evidence.

The consultant must identify gaps, risks and improvement opportunities and provide a prioritised remediation plan.

3. PAL and QMS Enhancement

The scope includes updating the complete PAL and relevant:

1. Policies.
2. Standard and defined processes.
3. Procedures.
4. Guidelines.
5. Templates.
6. Checklists.
7. Work instructions.
8. Tailoring guidance.
9. Supporting records.

The consultant must also develop/update the QMS plan covering training, metrics, data collection, internal quality audits, management reporting, CAPA and continual improvement.

4. ML5 Quantitative and Process Performance Management

The service provider will strengthen organisational measurement and performance-management mechanisms, including:

1. Performance objectives and indicators.
2. Measurement definitions.
3. Baselines and targets.
4. Data sources and ownership.
5. Quantitative analysis.
6. Process-performance dashboards.
7. Management reports.
8. Traceable quantitative evidence.

5. Supplier Agreement Management

The SAM component includes:

1. Reviewing supplier population and appraisal boundary.
2. Supplier selection and engagement.
3. Supplier agreements.
4. Supplier monitoring and acceptance.
5. Performance and issue management.
6. SAM procedures, templates, records and metrics.
7. Preparation of supplier-related appraisal evidence.

6. Training and Awareness

The selected bidder must conduct hands-on training for at least 20 nominated TCIL personnel.

Training is expected to cover CMMI-DEV V3.0 ML5, SAM, process implementation, metrics, quantitative management, audit/evidence preparation and appraisal participation. Training materials, attendance records, assessments/feedback and completion reports are also required.

7. Implementation and Evidence Generation

The bidder will support one complete implementation/evidence cycle, including:

1. Internal quality audit plans and reports.
2. CAPA records.
3. Training records.
4. Management reports.
5. Metrics and data-analysis reports.
6. Process-improvement records.
7. Evidence repository.
8. Evidence matrix.
9. Periodic evidence-readiness reviews.

8. Mock Appraisal

A formal mock appraisal must be conducted before the external appraisal. This includes interviews, artifact/evidence review, implementation verification, findings, corrective-action recommendations and re-verification.

9. External Appraisal and Certification

The selected consultant will coordinate with ISACA for appraisal planning, scheduling, preparation and conduct of the Benchmark Appraisal, including registration and documentation and result/publication activities.

10. Annual Maintenance

After successful certification, the bidder must provide two weeks of maintenance support annually for two consecutive years, including health assessment, audit support, review of ML5 evidence and metrics, SAM review, PAL/process improvement review and annual reporting.

Project Schedule and Deliverables

The tender provides a structured implementation schedule. Activities from project initiation through external appraisal are to be completed within six months from placement and acceptance of the Purchase Order, followed by annual maintenance for two years.

The above schedule is based on the tender's deliverables table.

Professional / Technical Qualification Criteria

The tender has a specialist qualification requirement. The bidder must be an authorised CMMI Institute Partner for the CMMI Dev v3.0 model and must submit documentary proof.

The service provider is also required to:

1. Provide qualified CMMI personnel with current credentials and appropriate experience.
2. Ensure appraisal personnel satisfy applicable CMMI/ISACA eligibility and certification requirements.
3. Provide a qualified lead consultant.
4. Provide named subject-matter resources.
5. Maintain authorised CMMI partner status throughout the engagement.
6. Maintain confidentiality of TCIL information and appraisal evidence.
7. Provide timely status, risk and issue reporting.
8. Keep advice and deliverables aligned with current CMMI/ISACA requirements.

Important: The reviewed tender does not prescribe a separate academic degree, such as MBA/M.Tech/BE, for the lead consultant. Therefore, such qualifications should not be presented as mandatory unless subsequently specified through a corrigendum or clarification.

Eligibility Criteria

The principal eligibility conditions include the following:

Organisation Type

The bidder should be an Indian registered company under the Companies Act 1956/2013, proprietorship, partnership firm or government society, with appropriate registration/incorporation documentation.

Make in India

Only Class-I and Class-II local suppliers as defined under the applicable DPIIT framework are eligible. A Make in India undertaking with local-content calculation is mandatory.

The tender's prescribed undertaking identifies minimum local-content requirements of 50% or more for Class-I and more than 20% but less than 50% for Class-II.

CMMI Partner Status

The bidder must be an authorised CMMI Institute Partner for CMMI Dev v3.0 and submit proof.

PAN and GST

Valid PAN and GST registration are required. Where GST registration is not available, the tender permits an undertaking to obtain registration before commencement of work if awarded.

Blacklisting / Debarment

The bidder must not be blacklisted, debarred, banned or restricted by a Union Government, State Government or PSU as on the bid submission date. A prescribed No-Conviction Certificate is required.

Insolvency and Legal Status

The bidder must not be insolvent, in receivership, bankrupt, under winding-up proceedings or have suspended business activities.

TCIL Previous Performance

Vendors whose TCIL purchase orders were cancelled on a risk-and-cost basis due to non-performance or non-submission of performance guarantee during the previous two years are not eligible.

Local Office

The bidder should have a local office where the work is to be executed. Address proof must be provided, or the bidder may submit an undertaking to establish a local office after award.

Consortium / Subcontracting

Consortium bidding is not allowed and subcontracting is not allowed.

Financial Criteria

The ATC/NIT specifies:

1. Average annual financial turnover: minimum ₹6.60 lakh for the last three financial years ending 31 March 2025.
2. MSEs & Startups: ₹5.50 lakh turnover threshold is specified in the ATC/NIT.
3. Net worth: Must be positive as on 31 March 2025.
4. PBT: Profit Before Tax must be positive in two out of the last three financial years as on 31 March 2025.

Documentary evidence such as audited financial statements/balance sheets or appropriate accountant certification is required to establish turnover and financial eligibility.

Minimum Experience Requirement

The bidder must have at least seven years of experience in successfully completed similar works.

The tender defines similar work as:

“Consulting, Appraisal and Certification Services for CMMI Dev v3.0 ML5 with SAM.”

The bidder may satisfy the project-experience requirement through any one of the following:

1. Three similar completed works, each costing at least ₹8.80 lakh, excluding taxes; or
2. Two similar completed works, each costing at least ₹11 lakh, excluding taxes; or
3. One similar completed work, costing at least ₹15.40 lakh, excluding taxes.

For MSEs & Startups, the corresponding stated values are ₹7.70 lakh, ₹9.90 lakh and ₹14.30 lakh respectively. Work orders and completion certificates from the client must be submitted.

The project-experience section also asks bidders to provide customer/department information, contact details, project scope, contract value, project dates, status, tenure and project type.

EMD and Tender Fee

EMD

EMD Amount: ₹25,000

The tender permits EMD through:

1. Demand Draft in favour of Telecommunications Consultants India Limited, payable at New Delhi.
2. Fixed Deposit Receipt.
3. Banker's Cheque.
4. Electronic transfer.
5. Bank Guarantee/e-BG from an eligible scheduled commercial bank through SFMS.
6. Insurance Surety Bond.

The EMD validity is 120 days.

Tender Fee

Tender Fee: Nil.

EMD Exemption

The ATC states that MSEs and Start-up Enterprises are exempted from payment of EMD and Tender Fees, subject to submission of the required supporting registration documents. MSE bidders should submit a valid Udyam Certificate, while Startups should submit the applicable DIPP/DPIIT registration certificate.

Tender-consultant note: The GeM summary page displays “No” against MSE and Startup relaxation for experience/turnover, while the detailed TCIL ATC/NIT separately provides reduced financial/experience thresholds and specific Startup exemptions. This is a material document-level difference. Bidders should verify the current GeM bid configuration and, where necessary, raise clarification through the GeM portal before submission rather than relying on an assumption.

EMD Payment Mode: Online or Offline?

The tender effectively permits both, depending on the form selected.

For electronic payment, the tender provides prescribed electronic modes including RuPay debit card, BHIM-UPI and NEFT. The bidder must provide the UTR number in the technical online bid.

Where EMD is furnished through instruments such as DD, BG, FDR or Insurance Surety Bond, the tender requires the relevant original/offline instrument to be submitted at:

General Manager (SCM)
Telecommunications Consultants India Limited
TCIL Bhawan, Greater Kailash-I
New Delhi – 110048

The bid itself remains an online submission.

Submission Guidelines

Online submission is mandatory for this tender. The bidder must submit the techno-commercial bid through the prescribed GeM process.

The tender specifies a Two Packet Bid structure.

Important submission requirements

1. Complete the technical/eligibility documentation.
2. Submit the unpriced BOQ with the technical bid.
3. Submit the prescribed Price Bid Excel file.
4. Submit the required experience documentation.
5. Submit financial/turnover evidence.
6. Submit CMMI Partner proof.
7. Submit PAN and GST documents.
8. Submit Make in India undertaking/local-content calculation.
9. Submit No-Conviction Certificate.
10. Submit eligibility undertakings.
11. Submit Board Resolution and Authorization Letter for the authorised signatory.
12. Provide local-office proof or undertaking.
13. Submit EMD evidence/UTR or valid exemption documentation, as applicable.
14. Ensure all bid documents are signed by the authorised signatory wherever required.

The bid documents include a specific Price Bid Excel template containing three principal commercial components: training/consulting/appraisal/certification, first annual maintenance and second annual maintenance.

Price Bid Structure

The uploaded price schedule contains:

1. Training, Consulting, Appraisal and successful CMMI Dev V3.0 ML5 with SAM certification.
2. Successful completion of first annual maintenance support after certification.
3. Successful completion of second annual maintenance support after certification.

The commercial schedule requires basic price, GST percentage, GST amount and total price including GST.

Bid Validity and Evaluation

The bid must remain valid for 120 days after the date of bid opening. A bid offering a shorter validity period is liable to be treated as non-responsive.

TCIL will conduct detailed evaluation of substantially responsive bids. Technically or financially non-responsive bids may be rejected, including after opening of the price bid. Among technically qualified bidders, the lowest bid is identified as L1, excluding taxes, with applicable purchase preference provisions.

Important Tender Dates

The GeM bid records the closing date/time as 30 September 2026 at 17:00 hours and opening as 01 October 2026 at 17:00 hours.

Pre-Bid Meeting: No specific pre-bid meeting date or time was found in the reviewed 42-page ATC/NIT document. The tender instead states that queries should be raised only through the GeM portal, and queries submitted through other modes will not be entertained.

Tender Document Checklist for Bidders

The following checklist can be used by prospective bidders before submitting the TCIL CMMI tender:

Corporate / Registration Documents

1. Certificate of Incorporation / Registration.
2. Partnership Deed, where applicable.
3. PAN Card.
4. GST Registration Certificate or applicable undertaking.
5. Organisation and contact details.
6. Local office address proof or undertaking.

Professional / Technical Documents

1. Valid CMMI Institute Partner proof for CMMI Dev v3.0.
2. Details/CVs or credentials of qualified CMMI personnel, where applicable.
3. Lead consultant and subject-matter resource details.
4. Relevant project experience details.
5. Work orders/purchase orders for qualifying projects.
6. Client completion certificates.
7. Project Experience format prescribed in the ATC.
8. Technical compliance statement / No-Deviation Certificate.
9. Unpriced BOQ.

Financial Documents

1. Audited financial statements / balance sheets for relevant years.
2. Turnover certification, where required.
3. Evidence establishing positive net worth.
4. Evidence of PBT in two of the last three financial years.
5. Completed Bid Submission Form with turnover details.

Mandatory Undertakings / Declarations

1. Make in India Undertaking.
2. Local-content calculation.
3. No-Conviction Certificate.
4. No-blacklisting/debarment declaration.
5. Insolvency/bankruptcy undertaking.
6. Land-border procurement compliance undertaking.
7. TCIL previous-order/non-performance undertaking.
8. Skilled workforce/RPL undertaking.
9. Document authenticity undertaking.
10. Clause-by-clause compliance statement or No-Deviation Certificate.

Bid Security

1. EMD of ₹25,000; or
2. Valid EMD exemption documentation, where eligible.
3. UTR/payment proof for electronic EMD.
4. Original DD/FDR/BG/Insurance Surety Bond where the selected EMD mode requires offline submission.

Authorisation

1. Board Resolution.
2. Authorisation Letter.
3. Authorised signatory's details.
4. Signature and seal wherever prescribed.

Commercial Bid

1. Price Bid in prescribed Excel format.
2. Basic price.
3. GST percentage.
4. GST amount.
5. Total price including GST.
6. Separate commercial components for certification and two annual maintenance activities.

The tender's contents expressly include sections for the Bid Security/EMD format, Authorisation Letter, Make in India Undertaking, No-Conviction Certificate, Eligibility Undertaking, Bid Submission Form and Performance Security format.

Key Compliance Points for Tender Consultants and Bidders

From a tender-compliance perspective, this procurement has several areas that bidders should review carefully:

1. CMMI Partner status is a core eligibility condition

This is not a generic IT consultancy tender. The bidder must establish authorised CMMI Institute Partner status for CMMI Dev v3.0.

2. Experience must closely match the definition of similar work

Generic ISO certification, software consulting or quality-management projects should not automatically be assumed to satisfy the experience requirement. The tender defines similar work specifically around CMMI Dev v3.0 ML5 with SAM.

3. Consortium and subcontracting are prohibited

A bidder that cannot independently deploy the required CMMI resources should examine its eligibility carefully because consortium bidding and subcontracting are expressly prohibited.

4. Online bid submission is mandatory

Even where EMD is furnished through an offline instrument, the bid itself must be submitted online.

5. EMD exemption requires documentary evidence

Eligible MSEs and Startups should upload the applicable Udyam/DPIIT documentation; failure to provide the required proof may result in the bidder being treated as non-exempt.

6. Technical compliance should be completed before commercial submission

TCIL states that incomplete or non-conforming bids can be rejected. The bidder should therefore conduct a clause-by-clause compliance review before final submission.

Performance Security

The successful bidder will be required to provide Performance Security equivalent to 5% of the contract value, valid for 33 months, within 15 days from the date of the GeM contract.

The tender does not provide for advance payment. Payment is linked to achievement/completion of specified milestones, including successful certification and each annual maintenance activity.

Tender Consultant's Overall Assessment

This tender is best suited to established CMMI consulting and appraisal organisations that can demonstrate the required CMMI Dev v3.0 partner status, relevant ML5/SAM project credentials, qualified personnel and the ability to independently execute the complete six-month appraisal-readiness programme.

The commercial opportunity is not limited to the initial certification exercise. The scope combines:

Consulting → Gap Assessment → PAL/QMS Improvement → Quantitative Management → SAM → Training → Evidence Generation → Mock Appraisal → External Appraisal → Certification → Two-Year Maintenance

This makes the tender particularly relevant for CMMI partners with an integrated consulting, appraisal-readiness and post-certification support capability.

A major bidder-side priority should be ensuring that the CMMI Partner credential, seven-year experience requirement, qualifying project values, financial documents and mandatory undertakings are all supported with documentary evidence.

There is also a notable difference between the GeM summary's indication of no MSE/Startup relaxation for experience/turnover and the detailed TCIL ATC/NIT provisions that provide reduced thresholds and specific Startup exemptions. This should be treated as a point requiring verification through the GeM portal before bid submission.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TCIL CMMI tender number?

The tender number is GEM/2026/B/8017341.

What is the last date to submit the TCIL CMMI tender?

The bid submission deadline is 30 September 2026 at 5:00 PM.

When will the TCIL CMMI tender open?

The bid is scheduled to open on 01 October 2026 at 5:00 PM.

What is the tender fee?

The tender fee is Nil.

What is the EMD amount?

The EMD is ₹25,000.

Is EMD exemption available?

Yes. The ATC states that eligible MSEs and Startup Enterprises are exempt from EMD and tender fees, subject to submission of prescribed supporting documents.

Is online submission mandatory?

Yes. Online bid submission is mandatory.

Is consortium bidding permitted?

No. Consortium bidding is expressly prohibited, and subcontracting is also not allowed.

What is the minimum annual turnover?

The detailed TCIL NIT/ATC specifies ₹6.60 lakh average annual turnover for the last three financial years, with ₹5.50 lakh specified for MSEs and Startups.

What is the minimum experience?

The tender requires seven years of experience in similar services, with prescribed project-value alternatives.

Is a pre-bid meeting scheduled?

No pre-bid meeting date/time is specified in the reviewed tender documents. Tender queries are required to be raised through the GeM portal only.

Publisher's Note / Disclaimer

This tender update has been prepared from the uploaded GeM Bid Document, TCIL Additional Terms & Conditions (ATC), Scope of Work, payment documents, GeM availability report and Price Bid schedule. The information is presented for public information and tender-awareness purposes. Bidders should verify the latest GeM bid, corrigenda, amendments and official tender documents before submission. Where differences exist between a GeM summary field and the detailed ATC/NIT, bidders should seek official clarification through the prescribed GeM channel.

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