Guides · Documents
What do turnover and experience criteria mean in a GeM bid?
A turnover criterion sets the minimum annual sales a bidder must show, usually as an average over the last three financial years and proven with audited accounts or a CA certificate; an experience criterion asks for similar work completed in a recent period, proven with completion certificates or work orders. Both are gates, not scores: fail one and the bid is out at technical evaluation.
Turnover
- Stated as an amount, often as an average annual turnover over the last three financial years, sometimes a single-year minimum.
- Proven with audited balance sheet and P&L, or a CA-certified turnover certificate with a UDIN. A one-page CA certificate satisfies most clauses without the full accounts.
- Buyers check turnover before awarding larger contracts; smaller bids often set none.
Experience
- Stated as similar supplies or services completed in a recent period, sometimes with a minimum value per order.
- Proven with completion or performance certificates from the clients and, where a certificate is slow to come, work orders with invoices.
- The bid defines "similar"; do not assume a broad reading.
The relaxations
- DPIIT-recognised startups are exempt from prior-turnover and prior-experience conditions on many bids, subject to quality and technical requirements.
- Micro and small enterprises may be exempt on bids where the buyer says so.
- The bid document states which relaxation it applies; the relaxation must be claimed with the certificate.
Where iBid.Win helps
The Company Portfolio stores accounts, CA certificates, completion certificates and work orders once, reads financial years and identifiers out of them, and checks a bid's turnover and experience requirements against what is on file.
Frequently asked
Can turnover from a sister company be used?
No. Turnover must be the bidding entity's own unless the bid expressly allows a parent or group figure.
Does experience have to be with a government buyer?
Only if the bid says so. Many accept private-sector completion certificates for similar work.
What if my accounts for the last year are not audited yet?
Bids usually accept the last three audited years available and a provisional statement for the current one. Check the bid's wording.
Last checked 08 September 2026. Written from GeM's published process and this platform's own rules; the bid document and the GeM portal are the authority on any date or amount.