Key Information at a Glance
| Heading | Details |
|---|---|
| 1. State | India (Nationwide, with preference for states to be specified by applicant) |
| 2. Issuing Authority | Quality Council of India (QCI) |
| 3. Title of Tender/RFP | Expression of Interest (EoI) for Empanelment of Assessment Agency under MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme |
| 4. Value of the Tender | Not specified (Payment will be as per prescribed fee structure per assessment) |
| 5. Tender Fee | N/A (Not Applicable) |
| 6. EMD (Earnest Money Deposit) | Not mentioned (Not applicable for EoI stage) |
| 7. Last Date | April 30, 2026 |
| 8. Time of Submission | Not explicitly mentioned (presumably by end of business day 11.59 PM) |
| 9. Mode of Submission | Email (PDF format to procurement.zed@qcin.org) |
| 10. Download Tender/EOI | DOWNLOAD EOI |
Detailed Summary of the EoI
1. Objective
The Quality Council of India (QCI) invites proposals from eligible agencies to be empaneled as Assessment Agencies under the MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme. The scheme aims to enhance the competitiveness of MSMEs by promoting “Zero Defect & Zero Effect” practices.
2. Scope of Work (For Empaneled Agencies)
The selected agency will conduct assessments for three ZED Certification levels:
| Certification Level | Type of Assessment | Duration (Man-days) | Surveillance Type & Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | Desktop (Remote) | 1 man-day | Onsite, once after 18 months (0.5 man-day) |
| Silver | Remote | 2 man-days | Remote, annual (1 man-day) |
| Gold | Site (Onsite) | 4 man-days | Remote, annual (2 man-days) |
Key responsibilities include:
- Assigning qualified ZED assessors (minimum 2 per team, one with environmental competency).
- Conducting opening/closing meetings, assessments (app-based), and reporting.
- Managing Non-Conformance (NC) closure (5 opportunities within 30-60 days).
- Recommending award or continuation of certification.
- Ensuring data security, confidentiality, and insurance (public liability, professional indemnity).
- Bearing all travel, boarding, and lodging expenses of assessors.
3. Pre-Qualification Criteria (Mandatory)
| S. No. | Requirement | Document Required |
|---|---|---|
| a. | Accreditation – Must be accredited as a Certification Body / Inspection Body by NABCB (National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies) | Certificate of Accreditation |
| b. | Blacklisting – Should not be blacklisted by any Govt. Dept. or PSU in India | Non-Blacklisting Undertaking (Annexure-C) |
4. Preferred Requirements for Assessors (To be submitted if available)
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Education | Graduate (5 yrs exp.) OR Diploma in Engg. (8 yrs exp.) from recognized institute |
| Additional Qualification | Lead Auditor (QMS or other ISO) OR Certified ZED Assessor (under erstwhile scheme) |
| Experience | Minimum 3 years in operations/quality/management/auditing/consulting in manufacturing |
5. Submission Requirements (Technical Proposal)
The email submission (PDF format) must include:
- Form A (Annexure-A) – Application Form with general info, NABCB accreditation details, preferred states, NIC codes, PAN, GST.
- NABCB Accreditation Certificate.
- Documents for Assessors (CVs, experience, qualification certificates – if any).
Additional Annexures:
- Annexure-B – Format for declaring assessor expertise across ZED Disciplines (Business Practices, QMS, OHS, Environment, Energy, SCM, HR).
- Annexure-C – Non-Blacklisting undertaking on firm’s letterhead.
6. Important Terms & Conditions
- Validity of proposal: 90 days from last submission date.
- No subcontracting without QCI’s prior written consent.
- Conflict of interest strictly prohibited.
- Force Majeure clause included (pandemic, natural disasters, etc.).
- QCI’s rights: To reject any application, relax conditions, or amend EoI without assigning reasons.
- Confidentiality & Data Security: Agency must not share data; all data to be used only for this contract and removed/destroyed afterward.
- Indemnity: Agency indemnifies QCI against losses from deficient services or improper payments.
- Ethics: Zero tolerance for bribery or favors; agency must take action (expulsion/removal) if complaints arise.
7. Submission Guidelines
- Email Subject Line:
Expression of Interest (EOI) for Empanelment of Assessment Agency under MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme_DD/MM/YYYY [Date of submission] - Email Address:
procurement.zed@qcin.org - Document Format: PDF
- All pages must be sequentially numbered, signed, and stamped.
- Contact for Clarifications:
procurement.zed@qcin.org
8. Key Dates & Contacts
| Event | Date/Detail |
|---|---|
| Last Submission Date | April 30, 2026 |
| Technical Discussion Round | To be notified via email (if needed) |
| Contact Person | Procurement Team, QCI |
| Address | 2nd Floor, ICCW Building, 4, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, New Delhi – 110002 |
9. Important Notes for Applicants
- Only NABCB-accredited agencies are eligible.
- QCI is not responsible for late receipt of applications.
- A presentation may be requested from shortlisted applicants.
- The EoI is not a tender; it is an invitation for empanelment, and actual work will be allocated later.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This post contains a summary generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) for informational purposes only. SKILLSPEDIA.IN is a private entity and is not affiliated with any government agency. Document Access: To facilitate easy download, we may provide a backup copy of the tender document via Google Drive. Please note that the Tender Authority may issue updates (Corrigendums) at any time which may not be reflected in our copy. User Duty: Always verify details and check for updates on the Official Tender Website before bidding. We accept no liability for discrepancies or outdated information.