Understanding EMD, Tender Fee and Tender Value

What EMD, tender fee and tender value mean in Indian government tenders, and how to plan your bid around them.

Tender value

The estimated value of the work as published by the department. It sets the scale of the contract and often the eligibility thresholds.

EMD (Earnest Money Deposit)

A refundable deposit you submit with your bid to show you're serious. It's returned to unsuccessful bidders and adjusted for the winner. Plan your cash flow around it.

Tender fee

A non-refundable fee paid to access and submit the tender. Small compared to EMD, but factor it into your bidding costs.