Embassy of India

Washington DC

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RFP for Selection of an Outsource Service Provider for Visa, OCI, Renunciation, Passport and GEP Verification Services

The Embassy of India, Washington DC had floated an RFP on 10 July, 2020 inviting proposals from experienced and qualified Service Providers for providing outsourcing services for Visa, OCI, Renunciation, Passport and Global Entry Programme (GEP) at the Embassy of India, Washington DC and at the Indian Consulates at Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York and San Francisco.

2. As per the timeline of the RFP, a pre-bid Conference was held on 30 July, 2020 at 1000 hours (EST) at the Embassy of India, Washington D.C., which was attended by the representatives of the following companies.

(i) BLS International Services Limited

(ii)IVS Global Services Private Limited

(iii)Silver Touch Technologies Limited

(iv)VFS Global

(v)VisaMetric

(vi)Global Vox

3. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the Pre-Bid Conference was held through Digital Video Conferencing. The minutes of this pre-bid Conference were uploaded on Embassy’s website on 04 August, 2020. On the request of one of the bidders, bids were also allowed to be submitted with the CPV Division, Ministry of External Affairs by the due date of 10 August, 2020. Two companies – M/s BLS International Services Limited and M/s VFS Global submitted their bids by the stipulated deadline.

4. On 24 August, 2020, the technical bids of M/s BLS International Services and M/s VFS Global were opened in the presence of the representatives of these companies and the members of the Tender Evaluation Committee (TEC), and thereafter, evaluated as per the terms laid down in the RFP.

5. On 11 September, 2020, the financial bid of the qualified bidder was opened in the presence of the company representative and the members of the TEC, and thereafter evaluated as per the provisions of the RFP. On 30 September, 2020, the competent authority awarded the contract to M/s VFS Global.

6. The current contract with the existing service provider – M/s CKGS will end on 31 October, 2020. Modalities for transition of service provider are being worked and details of the same will be published in due course.

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