HIRING OF EXPERT MANPOWER FROM MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY

These are factual observations drawn mechanically from the documents below — not findings, opinions, or allegations of wrongdoing. Verify each against the linked original.

What we observed

• The department changed this document 3 times after first publishing it.
• It is among the most-amended tenders for this body in our archive (3 corrigenda recorded).
• A corrigendum changed “eligibility_criteria” from “The firm should have experience of conducting Communication Qualification/Development Reports of at least three states governments, event management, publishing books, newsletters, magazines, content development, social media management and conducting workshops” to “Hard Copies of Work orders/service agreements, Work orders/service agreements, books/newsletters as hard proof of the activities has to be furnished.” (corrigendum dated 2021-02-25).
• A corrigendum changed “eligibility_criteria” from “The firm should be fully equipped with trained and skilled Communication professionals and should have the latest instruments such as computers, scanners, high speed photocopy machines etc. at its offices.” to “The firm should have experience of conducting Communication Qualification/Development Reports of at least three states governments, event management, publishing books, newsletters, magazines, content development, social media management and conducting workshops” (corrigendum dated 2021-02-25).
• A corrigendum changed “eligibility_criteria” from “The firm should place 7 professionals as listed below : S. Designation Role Qualification No. 1 Senior Advisor Overall media and Communication strategy: Pan India Masters Degree/PG Diploma in Mass Communication/Journalism/Sociology/Social Work or MBA” to “The selected bidder shall have to give an undertaking on stamp paper that there is no linkage of any kind between them and any organization which is having conflict of interest with NTA like coaching classes etc.” (corrigendum dated 2021-02-25).
• A corrigendum changed “eligibility_criteria” from “The bidder should participate as a single entity, no consortium or group companies will be allowed.” to “The bidder should participate as a single entity, no consortium or group companies will be allowed.” (corrigendum dated 2021-02-25).
• A corrigendum changed “eligibility_criteria” from “The bidder should not have been blacklisted by any of the State or Central Government or any Organization.” to “Bidders should not have been blacklisted by any of the State or Central Government or any Organization.” (corrigendum dated 2021-02-25).
• A corrigendum changed “eligibility_criteria” from “The bidder should not have been found guilty of any criminal offence by any Court of law.” to “Should not have been found guilty of any criminal offence by any Court of law.” (corrigendum dated 2021-02-25).
• A corrigendum changed “eligibility_criteria” from “The selected bidder shall have to give an undertaking on stamp paper that there is no linkage of any kind between them and any organization which is having conflict of interest with NTA like coaching classes etc.” to “The bidder should not have been blacklisted by any of the State or Central Government or any Organization.” (corrigendum dated 2021-02-25).
• A corrigendum changed “eligibility_criteria” from “The firm’s average turnover from Media Management and PR activities in India during the last three financial years (2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20) should be at least Rs 5 cror” to “The firm’s average turnover from Media Management and PR activities in India during the last three financial years (2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20) should be at least Rs 5 cror” (corrigendum dated 2021-02-25).
• A corrigendum changed “EMD” from “Rs 5,00,000 (Five lakhs only)” to “Rs 5,00,000 (Five lakhs only) only in form of Demand Draft/ NEFT/RTGS drawn in favor of DG, NTA, Noida or remitted online to NTA bank account” (corrigendum dated 2021-02-26).

Points a citizen might reasonably ask

• What prompted each amendment, and was the closing date extended to give bidders time to respond?
• Do the eligibility and scope requirements match the stated purpose and estimated value?
• Were all amendments published on the portal before the deadline?