What is ATC?
Additional Terms and Conditions
ATC (Additional Terms and Conditions) are bid-specific clauses a buyer adds to a tender, most often a GeM bid, on top of the standard terms and conditions.
What is ATC?
ATC stands for Additional Terms and Conditions. On GeM, a bid is governed by the portal’s general terms and conditions and any category-specific terms. The buyer can then add its own bid-specific clauses, known as ATC, to cover requirements the standard terms do not.
ATC may be chosen from standard clauses offered on the portal or uploaded as a separate document. Other tenders use similar ideas under names such as special conditions of contract.
What it contains
ATC often sets out the details that decide whether a bid qualifies, so it can matter as much as the specification.
- Extra eligibility conditions and supporting documents to upload
- Delivery, installation, inspection and warranty terms
- Payment terms and any performance security requirements
- Site visits, certificates or OEM authorisation the buyer wants
- Penalty or liquidated damages clauses specific to the bid
Tips for bidders
Download and read the ATC document before you decide to bid. Many rejections happen because a document asked for only in the ATC was not uploaded.
If an ATC clause looks restrictive or conflicts with the portal’s terms, raise it through the bid’s clarification or representation process before the deadline, rather than ignoring it.
Common questions
Common questions about ATC in government tenders.
It is the set of buyer-added, bid-specific terms that sits alongside GeM’s standard terms. You will usually find it in the bid document or as an attached file.
Generally yes, as ATC forms part of the bid conditions. If a clause is unclear or seems unfair, seek clarification before you submit.
Buyers are expected to keep ATC consistent with GeM’s terms and procurement rules. Clauses that conflict with them can be challenged through the portal’s processes.
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