What is OEM?
Original Equipment Manufacturer
An OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) is the company that makes a product; in tenders it may bid directly or authorise resellers to bid for it.
What is an OEM?
In tenders, an OEM is the manufacturer or brand owner of the product being offered. A bidder who is not the OEM, such as a dealer, distributor or system integrator, is usually called a reseller or authorised partner.
Tenders define OEM in their own way. Some include brand owners who outsource manufacturing; others stick to the actual manufacturer. Read the definition in the tender document.
OEM vs reseller bidding
Many tenders allow both OEMs and their authorised resellers to bid, but the rules differ.
- Some tenders accept bids only from OEMs
- Resellers are often asked for OEM authorisation, such as a MAF
- Some tenders bar an OEM and its reseller from bidding in the same tender, or limit an OEM to authorising one bidder
- The tender may set separate criteria for the OEM, such as experience, service centres or certifications
OEMs on GeM
On GeM, OEMs manage their resellers through the GeM OEM panel and can grant reseller authorisation so others can offer their brand. GeM has its own rules on OEMs, resellers and related provisions, which change from time to time, so check the current terms.
Common questions
Common questions about OEM in government tenders.
It is the manufacturer or brand owner of the product offered. Tenders often set rules on whether the OEM, its resellers or both can bid.
Many tenders forbid it, to avoid two bids for the same product. Check the tender’s clause on OEM and dealer participation.
Let's talk about your workflows
Book a discovery call or send us a message.
We’ll get back to you within one business day.
30 minutes to walk through how your team bids or procures today. No pitch, no pressure—just a focused conversation about your tender workflow.
- See where AI can save your team the most time
- See QuickBid on tenders from your industry
- Get a recommended product and setup
Schedule a discovery call
Tell us about your goals, and we’ll tailor our expertise to fit your needs. Fill out the form below, and we’ll get back to you soon.