Bidding on Etimad fire system tenders, and on security system tenders, takes five stages: an establishment account on the Etimad platform, buying the tender documents (the booklet), sending inquiries, uploading the technical and financial offers with the bid guarantee before the deadline, and providing the final guarantee after award. Under the new procurement law, the bid (initial) guarantee is 1% to 2% of the offer value and the final guarantee is 5% of the contract value.
Key takeaways
- Offers for government tenders are submitted encrypted through the e-portal (Etimad), and late offers are not accepted.
- The bid guarantee is 1% to 2% of the offer value. An offer without it is rejected unless an exemption applies, including for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
- The final guarantee is 5% of the contract value. Under the new law it is due within 15 working days of the award notice and is held until final acceptance.
- Where technical and financial offers are separate, technical offers are opened first, and only financial offers of technically accepted bidders are examined.
- The new Government Tenders and Procurement Law was published in Umm Al-Qura in September 2026 and takes effect 120 days after publication. Until then, the current law, its regulations and the booklet apply.
In this article
- How do you bid on Etimad fire system tenders, step by step?
- How much does an Etimad tender booklet cost?
- Bid guarantee and final guarantee under the procurement law
- What goes into the technical offer for a fire or security tender?
- The financial offer and the bill of quantities
- How are offers opened and the tender awarded?
- Local content in fire and security tenders
- Where does AZEIDK help in a government tender?
- Frequently asked questions
- Conclusion
How do you bid on Etimad fire system tenders, step by step?
Etimad is the e-portal where Saudi government entities publish their tenders. The supplier user manual published by the platform (version 1, December 2019) sets out the following steps. Screen names in the current interface may differ.
- Log in with the establishment account: use “Login” on etimad.sa, then open the tenders and procurement service.
- Choose the tender: from the list of published tenders, or accept the invitation for a limited tender.
- Buy the booklet: pay the value of the tender documents with the payment number shown on the platform, then download the terms and specifications booklet. The booklet cannot be downloaded, and inquiries cannot be sent, before payment.
- Inquiries: through “communication requests” in the tender details, within the inquiry window.
- Submit the offer: attach the technical offer file and the financial offer file, fill in the bill of quantities (BOQ), then approve and send the offer before the deadline.
- Follow the result: from the awarded tenders screen and the award results notice.
A practical tip: do not leave buying the booklet to the last days. Most of the time goes into collecting supplier quotations, datasheets and certificates, and those are not ready in a day.
How much does an Etimad tender booklet cost?
There is no fixed price. Article 21 of the new law leaves it to the regulations to set the criteria for the value of tender documents, and the value is shown in each tender notice on the platform. If a tender is cancelled, Article 49 provides that bidders get back the value of the tender documents and their bid guarantees, as detailed in the regulations.
Bid guarantee and final guarantee under the procurement law
The figures below come from the text of the new Government Tenders and Procurement Law as published in Umm Al-Qura. Always check the booklet, which sets the exact percentage within the range.
| Item | Bid (initial) guarantee | Final guarantee |
|---|---|---|
| Rate | 1% to 2% of the offer value (Article 41) | 5% of the contract value (Article 59) |
| When submitted | With the offer | Within 15 working days of the award notice, extendable once by a similar period |
| If not provided | The offer is not accepted | As set by the law, its regulations and the award conditions |
| Exemptions | Including direct purchase, design competitions, SMEs and emergencies (Article 42) | Including contracts of up to SAR 300,000 (Article 59) |
| Held until | Award or expiry of the offer | The contractor meets its obligations and final acceptance |
An SME exempt from the bid guarantee is not exempt from liability. Under the new law, if a case arises in which the guarantee would be forfeited, the exempt bidder pays a fine of 2% of the offer value within 60 working days. On continuing-service contracts, such as maintenance contracts, the final guarantee is reduced each year in line with the work done, but never below 5% of the remaining contract value (Article 60). The final guarantee is also separate from the works warranty, the period after provisional acceptance during which the contractor must fix defects.
What goes into the technical offer for a fire or security tender?
The booklet is the reference, but fire alarm, fire fighting and CCTV offers are more often rejected for missing documents than for price. Prepare these files early:
- Compliance statement: a table matching every specification clause to what you offer, with any deviation stated clearly.
- Datasheets: for each main item, such as the fire alarm panel, detectors, fire pump set, sprinklers, valves and cameras.
- Certificates: UL, FM or LPCB listings as the specification requires, plus the Saudi certificate of conformity through the SABER platform for products covered by the SASO technical regulation for fire control materials and equipment, such as extinguishing equipment and fire pumps.
- Method statement and programme: the stages of supply, installation, testing and handover.
- Team and experience: as the booklet asks, without claims you cannot prove.
Before pricing, review the drawings and specifications themselves. Many differences between bids come from different readings of the scope. The checklist in fire drawings and specifications review helps you find missing items, and the drawings and specifications review service is available when needed.
The financial offer and the bill of quantities
The financial offer on Etimad is built on the BOQ attached to the booklet. Article 40 of the new law requires total prices, including fees and taxes, to appear in the original offer. Discounts given in a separate letter are disregarded, and prices generally cannot be changed after submission.
Points to watch:
- Price every item as it appears in the BOQ. Do not merge items or leave lines blank.
- Make sure the model you priced is the same model whose datasheet is in the technical offer.
- A very low price can be excluded: Article 46 allows exclusion of an offer 25% or more below the estimated cost, after the committee discusses it with the bidder and finds the bidder unable to perform.
To compare supplier quotations before entering your prices, see how to compare fire system quotations.
How are offers opened and the tender awarded?
If the booklet requires a technical offer separate from the financial offer, technical offers are opened first (Article 43). Technical offers are examined, then only the financial offers of technically accepted bidders are examined, and the financial offers of excluded bidders are returned unopened (Article 44). A strong price is worthless if the technical offer fails.
After the award notice there is a standstill period of 3 to 10 working days during which the contract cannot be signed, so bidders can lodge a grievance (Article 50). The winner then provides the final guarantee and signs within the set period.
Local content in fire and security tenders
Article 9 of the new law gives priority to local SMEs and to local content, with the mechanism set out in the preference regulations. Read the booklet’s local content requirements carefully and ask your suppliers for documents that support what they offer. AZEIDK holds the Saudi Local Content certificate.
Where does AZEIDK help in a government tender?
AZEIDK’s role with a bidding contractor or supplier is the technical side of the offer. Through technical supply we quote the fire and security BOQ items with the datasheets and certificates available for each model, and through technical selection of systems and equipment we help choose equipment that meets the specification. For the role of each party in the supply chain, see manufacturer, distributor, supplier and contractor: the difference.
Frequently asked questions
What is the bid guarantee percentage on Etimad tenders?
1% to 2% of the offer value under Article 41 of the new procurement law. The booklet sets the exact percentage for each tender.
What is the final guarantee and when is it due?
5% of the contract value. Under the new law it is due within 15 working days of the award notice, and the period can be extended once by a similar period.
Are SMEs exempt from the bid guarantee?
Yes, under Article 42 of the new law. An exempt SME still pays a fine if a forfeiture case arises, set at 2% of the offer value under the new law.
Can I download the booklet before paying for it?
No. According to the supplier manual published by Etimad, payment is required before downloading the booklet and before adding inquiries.
When does the new procurement law take effect?
120 days after publication in the official gazette. It was published in Umm Al-Qura in September 2026, and the current law and its regulations apply until then.
Why are fire system offers rejected at the technical stage?
The most common reasons are missing datasheets or required certificates, a priced model that differs from the model described, or no compliance statement against the specification.
Conclusion
Winning Etimad fire system tenders starts with the booklet, not the price. Buy the booklet early, raise every unclear item in the inquiry window, build a technical offer with complete documents that match the BOQ, and apply the guarantee rates and deadlines set by the booklet and by the law in force on the day you submit.
Preparing a bid for a fire or security tender? Send the BOQ and specification, and the AZEIDK team will quote the items with the datasheets and certificates available. Talk to the AZEIDK team
