Key Tender Details

The bid document specifically records the submission deadline and opening date as 21 September and 22 September 2026 respectively. It also records the ₹47 lakh turnover criterion and three-year experience requirement.

Scope of Work

The tender is for hybrid professional training of personnel in Cyber and Information Security, including CISSP certification.

The training programme covers the following CISSP domains:

1. Security and Risk Management
   1. Governance
   2. Risk management
   3. Compliance
   4. Business continuity planning
2. Asset Security
   1. Data classification
   2. Data ownership
   3. Privacy protection
   4. Securing information assets
3. Security Architecture and Engineering
   1. Secure architecture
   2. Cryptography
   3. Security design for systems and networks
4. Communication and Network Security
   1. Network security
   2. Protocols
   3. Communication channels
   4. Network infrastructure security controls
5. Identity and Access Management (IAM)
   1. Identity management
   2. Access-control mechanisms
   3. Secure access
6. Security Assessment and Testing
   1. Risk assessment
   2. Vulnerability testing
   3. Penetration testing
   4. Security audits
7. Security Operations
   1. Incident response
   2. Security monitoring
   3. Logging
   4. Patch management
   5. Recovery strategies
8. Software Development Security
   1. Secure SDLC
   2. Secure coding practices
   3. Application security measures
9. CISSP Certification Examination

The attached Scope of Training specifies 30 days of online training and 5 days of offline classroom sessions. The programme is designed for five participants.

Training Schedule

The scope document specifies:

1. Online: 30 days / 6 weeks
2. Online duration: 2 hours per day
3. Offline classroom: 5 days
4. Offline duration: 6 hours per day
5. Training on Monday to Friday
6. Offline session timing includes 10:00 AM–1:00 PM and 2:00 PM–4:30 PM, with a lunch break.
7. The actual commencement date will be intimated by the Commandant, DSCC.

The scope also requires each participant to receive a hard copy of the ISC2 CISSP Official Study Guide and Practice Tests Bundle (Sybex Study Guide), with certification by ISC2 required.

Professional Qualification Criteria

The attached Additional Terms and Conditions prescribe significant technical qualifications for the training institute and trainers.

Training Institute

The bidder should be recognised, affiliated or accredited with one of the following:

1. C-DAC GIST-PACE;
2. A recognised university;
3. Scientific Society; or
4. Central Government agency dealing with IT training or collaboration.

Documentary proof of such recognition, affiliation or accreditation is mandatory.

Mandatory Certifications for the Bidder

The institute is required to possess valid:

1. CMMI Level 3
2. CMMI Level 5
3. ISO 9001:2015
4. ISO 27001:2022
5. ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018
6. ISO 14001:2015
7. ISO 45001:2018

Copies of the relevant certificates must be submitted with the bid.

Trainer Qualifications

The proposed trainers must possess valid professional certifications in:

1. CISSP
2. CISM
3. CISA
4. CRISC

The bidder must also submit certification copies, a signed undertaking confirming the trainer's association and willingness to be deployed, and documentary evidence establishing that the trainer is currently on the bidder's payroll.

The separate Scope of Training additionally specifies that the trainer must possess CISSP/CISM certification and at least 10 years' experience in the Information/Cyber Security industry.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Minimum Experience

The GeM bid requires 3 years of past experience in similar services. The experience should relate to provision of similar services to Central Government, State Government organisations or PSUs, with relevant contracts/orders submitted as evidence.

The Additional Terms further specify a minimum of three years' prior experience as of 31 July 2026 in conducting training on the specified subjects for Defence Services or Central/State Government organisations in similar fields.

2. Government/Defence Training Experience

The additional qualification document requires evidence of successfully executed similar CISSP/Information Security training orders for:

1. Indian Army
2. Indian Navy
3. Indian Air Force
4. Central Government
5. State Government

during the specified previous period.

3. Past Order Value

The Additional Terms require one or more successfully executed similar CISSP/Information Security Training orders having a cumulative value of ₹40 lakh or above during the preceding two years, supported by work orders and at least one appreciation letter from the relevant Government/Defence organisation.

4. ISC2 Relationship

The bidder must submit:

1. A valid official Purchase Order issued by ISC2 within the last six months as evidence of an active business relationship with ISC2;
2. Valid ISC2 login credentials; and
3. Documentary proof supporting the same.

Failure to submit the required evidence can result in disqualification.

Financial Criteria

There is an important point for bidders to note.

The main GeM Bid Details specify a minimum average annual turnover of ₹47 lakh for the preceding three years.

However, the attached Additional Terms and Conditions separately prescribe a minimum average annual turnover of ₹50 lakh during the last three financial years, along with positive net worth. A Chartered Accountant certificate confirming turnover and positive net worth is required.

Tender Expert Observation

Because the two documents show different turnover figures—₹47 lakh in the GeM bid details and ₹50 lakh in the attached Additional Terms—bidders should treat this as a point requiring careful review against the complete tender/ATC and, if necessary, clarification from the Buyer. GeM's GTC states that bid-specific ATC forms part of the contractual framework and may prevail over GTC/STC where there is a conflict.

For conservative pre-bid qualification assessment, an organisation should therefore be prepared to satisfy the higher ₹50 lakh turnover requirement unless the Buyer clarifies otherwise.

Solvency

The Additional Terms also require a Solvency Certificate of at least ₹10 lakh at bid submission. There is an apparent date inconsistency in the scanned clause regarding the acceptable date of issue of the solvency certificate; bidders should obtain clarification before relying on the date wording.

Tender Fee and EMD

EMD

The GeM bid specifies:

EMD: ₹59,000

The advisory bank is State Bank of India. The bid also states that EMD may be accepted in the form of a surety bond, subject to the applicable conditions.

EMD Exemption

Yes – applicable to eligible categories subject to GeM rules.

The bid states that a bidder seeking EMD exemption must submit valid supporting documentation. Under the MSE policy, service providers for services can qualify for EMD exemption where the applicable conditions are satisfied; traders are excluded.

The GeM GTC also provides EMD exemptions for eligible MSEs, DPIIT-recognised startups and other specified categories, subject to submission and validation of the prescribed documents.

Mode of EMD

The GeM GTC provides for bid security through permitted instruments such as an Insurance Surety Bond, Demand Draft, Fixed Deposit Receipt, Banker's Cheque, Bank Guarantee/e-Bank Guarantee or online payment in an acceptable form specified by the bid.

For bids requiring EMD, GeM GTC states that the scanned EMD document is to be uploaded online and, where applicable, the hard copy is to reach the Buyer within five working days of bid opening.

Tender Fee

Tender Fee: Not specified / Not applicable.

Importantly, the bid's GeM terms state that asking for a Tender Fee / Bid Participation Fee is not permitted under the applicable GeM framework.

Consolidated Tender Qualification Table

The GeM bid confirms hybrid training, online and offline duration, five trainees, and Bhopal as the consignee location.

Important Dates

The bid document records the bid date as 11 September 2026 and the closing/opening schedule as 21 and 22 September 2026 respectively.

The applicable GeM GTC also states that e-bidding invitations ordinarily provide at least 10 clear days between publication and the specified closing/opening schedule.

Document Checklist for Bidders

A. Basic Bid Documents

1. Valid GeM Seller/Service Provider registration
2. Bid submission/compliance documents
3. Experience documents
4. Bidder turnover documents
5. Certificates requested under ATC
6. All mandatory technical compliance documents

The GeM bid specifically identifies Experience Criteria, Bidder Turnover and Certificate(s) requested in ATC as seller documents.

B. Organisation Qualification

1. C-DAC GIST-PACE / recognised university / scientific society / Central Government IT-training recognition or affiliation proof
2. CMMI Level 3 certificate
3. CMMI Level 5 certificate
4. ISO 9001:2015 certificate
5. ISO 27001:2022 certificate
6. ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 certificate
7. ISO 14001:2015 certificate
8. ISO 45001:2018 certificate
9. Relevant accreditation/affiliation documents

C. Financial Documents

1. Audited financial statements for relevant years
2. Chartered Accountant certificate for turnover
3. Proof of minimum applicable turnover
4. Chartered Accountant certificate confirming positive net worth
5. Solvency Certificate for minimum ₹10 lakh
6. EMD document of ₹59,000, unless validly claiming exemption
7. Valid EMD exemption supporting certificate, where applicable

The GeM conditions require documentary evidence such as audited balance sheets or a CA/Cost Accountant certificate for turnover.

D. Experience Documents

1. Minimum three-year similar-service experience proof
2. Government/Defence training work orders/contracts
3. Completion/performance certificates
4. Relevant work orders for each required financial year
5. Similar CISSP/Information Security training work orders
6. Work orders supporting cumulative ₹40 lakh or more
7. At least one Government/Defence appreciation letter

E. Trainer Documents

1. Trainer CV/profile
2. CISSP certificate
3. CISM certificate
4. CISA certificate
5. CRISC certificate
6. Proof of association with bidder
7. Signed deployment/willingness undertaking
8. Payroll/employment proof
9. Evidence of required Cyber/Information Security industry experience

F. ISC2 Documents

1. Valid official ISC2 Purchase Order issued within the specified six-month period
2. Valid ISC2 login credentials
3. Supporting proof of active ISC2 business relationship

The Additional Terms specifically state that these documents must be uploaded for scrutiny by the Technical Evaluation Committee and that non-submission can result in disqualification.

Submission Guidelines

Eligible bidders should submit their bid through the GeM portal before the prescribed closing time.

Key submission points

1. Ensure the organisation's GeM profile and relevant registrations are current.
2. Upload all technical qualification documents before bid closure.
3. Upload turnover and financial documents as prescribed.
4. Upload all mandatory certification documents.
5. Upload trainer certifications and employment/association evidence.
6. Submit relevant Government/Defence work orders and completion/performance evidence.
7. Submit ISC2 relationship documents.
8. If claiming MSE or Startup relaxation, upload the relevant supporting documents.
9. If claiming EMD exemption, ensure the applicable exemption certificate is valid and uploaded.
10. Do not include price elements in the technical bid where the GeM two-packet process requires pricing in the financial bid. GeM GTC provides that price elements should be submitted in the financial bid in applicable multi-packet bidding.
11. Keep the original EMD instrument ready where physical submission is required.
12. Closely monitor GeM for corrigenda, clarifications and changes in dates.

The tender provides two days for technical clarifications during technical evaluation.

The bid also permits automatic extension under specified circumstances: seven days per extension, up to three extensions, where the minimum bid threshold for disabling auto-extension is not met.

Tender Expert Assessment

From a bidder's perspective, this is a high-documentation, specialist cybersecurity training tender rather than a routine training-services opportunity.

The most important qualification risks are:

1. Turnover discrepancy

The GeM bid states ₹47 lakh, whereas the attached ATC states ₹50 lakh. This should be clarified with the Buyer. A bidder seeking to minimise qualification risk should currently plan around the ₹50 lakh benchmark.

2. Multiple mandatory certifications

The requirement for CMMI Level 3, CMMI Level 5 and five ISO standards, together with the required trainer certifications, substantially narrows the pool of eligible training organisations.

3. ISC2 relationship

The requirement for a recent official ISC2 Purchase Order and valid ISC2 login credentials is particularly important. A training company that merely has trainers with CISSP certification may not automatically satisfy this requirement.

4. Defence/Government experience

The tender places considerable emphasis on prior training for Defence/Central/State Government organisations. Bidders should maintain a clearly indexed experience file with work orders, completion evidence and appreciation letters.

5. Trainer deployment proof

Certification alone may not be enough. The bidder needs to establish the proposed trainer's association with the organisation and current payroll status.

6. EMD and tender fee

The EMD is ₹59,000, subject to applicable exemption provisions. A separate tender fee is not specified, and the GeM framework does not permit a buyer to impose a tender/bid participation fee contrary to the applicable rules.

EMD and Submission

The bid requires an Earnest Money Deposit of ₹59,000. Eligible bidders can claim EMD exemption under applicable GeM provisions by submitting valid supporting documentation. The bid also provides for a 5% ePBG.

The procurement is to be submitted through the GeM online platform. Where EMD is applicable in physical-instrument form, the applicable GeM provisions require the scanned document to be uploaded with the bid and the physical instrument to be submitted within the prescribed period after bid opening.

Important Deadline

The last date for submission is September 21, 2026, at 1:00 PM, while the bid is scheduled to open on September 22, 2026, at 1:00 PM. The bid offer validity is specified as 180 days from the closing date.

No specific Pre-Bid Meeting date, time or venue has been identified in the tender documents reviewed for this analysis. Prospective bidders should therefore check the live GeM bid page and any subsequent corrigendum or clarification before submitting their offers.

The tender provides significant opportunities for established cybersecurity training organisations, but the extensive certification, Government/Defence experience, trainer qualification, financial and ISC2-related requirements mean that bidders should complete a detailed compliance audit before submission.

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