For an Oman tender bid bond, the tender notice states whether that tender requires a bond and how much. The Tender Law sets a minimum of 1% of the total bid value, while Circular 1/2024 extends an exemption subject to controls and two exceptions. Document prices and registration fees are separate charges. Check the notice and the amount shown on Esnad before paying or arranging a guarantee.
Check the costs before preparing your bid
- Read the notice for the document price, where to obtain documents, submission date, bid validity and required guarantees, as specified in Article 18 of the Executive Regulation.
- Confirm the document price on Esnad against Decision 92/2019, or the SME prices in Decision 62/2025.
- Check whether the bid bond exemption and its exceptions apply under Circular 1/2023 and Circular 1/2024. Ask the Authority if the notice leaves this unclear.
- Plan for the performance bond and its deadline if awarded, under Article 44 of the Tender Law.
For the wider process, read how to bid on Oman government tenders and the Esnad portal guide.
In the 1 November 2026 hub snapshot, 870 tenders were open and 467 of them still had documents on sale.
Browse this week's tenders, then confirm each opportunity's requirements in its official notice.
How much do tender documents cost?
Decision 92/2019 sets document prices and annual registration and renewal fees. Issued on 26 November 2019 and published in Official Gazette 1321, it applies from 1 December 2019 and repealed Decision 20/2010. Annex 1 sets these document prices:
| Tender category | Price basis | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction and operation and maintenance works | 0.01% of estimated tender value | OMR 25 | OMR 1,500 |
| Supplies and services | 0.005% of estimated tender value | OMR 25 | OMR 150 |
| Local consultancy services | 0.025% of estimated tender value | OMR 25 | OMR 150 |
| International consultancy services | Fixed OMR 300 | - | - |
| Prequalification invitation | Fixed OMR 50 | - | - |
For SMEs, Decision 62/2025 sets document prices as a percentage of estimated tender value, not less than OMR 10 and not more than OMR 100. It covers construction and operation and maintenance, supplies and services, IT services and consultancy tenders. Confirm the exact price on Esnad. See the SME and Riyada guide and browse SME tenders.
Under Article 19(a) of the Executive Regulation, documents are issued to anyone wishing to participate after payment of their price.
Is the document price refundable on cancellation?
Article 40 of the Tender Law distinguishes cancellation before and after the envelope opening date. Before that date, the buyer receives a refund on returning the complete documents. After that date, only those who submitted a bid receive a refund. Confirm the arrangements with the relevant entity.
When is the bid bond required?
Article 43 of the Tender Law requires every bid to carry a temporary guarantee of at least 1% of its total value. Article 41(d) excludes a bid without the full bid bond. Read these provisions alongside the exemption circulars and the tender notice.
Circular 1/2023 originally exempted companies from the 1% bid bond until 25 February 2024. Circular 1/2024 extended that exemption, under the same controls, until work on developing the Tender Law is finished.
Under those controls, the company signs an undertaking to keep its bid for the period set when the tender strategy is approved. A company withdrawing before bid validity ends is barred from government tenders for one year. Entities report these withdrawals within 10 working days.
The two exceptions in Circular 1/2023 retain the 1% bid bond for:
- Tenders with an estimated cost above OMR 3,000,000 whose annual economic return exceeds 10% of that estimated cost.
- International companies with no base in Oman bidding in international tenders, except international companies in tenders to supply medicines and medical supplies.
When is the bid bond returned or forfeited?
Under Article 43, the bond is forfeited if the bidder withdraws during bid validity. Unsuccessful bidders receive it back when validity ends, or earlier on award or cancellation. The winner receives it back once the performance bond is provided.
How do electronic bank guarantees work in Esnad?
The Authority's Esnad FAQ gives two ways to change the guarantee amount: submit a new request to the bank through the system, or amend the request when the bank returns it to the company.
A guarantee cannot be cancelled while attached to a bid, before the bid is opened, or until the tender is awarded and the system steps are complete. If the system's status is unclear, confirm with the Authority before seeking cancellation.
What performance bond is due after award?
Under Article 44 of the Tender Law, the winner provides a performance bond of 5% of the total awarded value. The deadline is 10 working days from the day after notification, or 20 working days for a contractor abroad. With approval from the head of the entity, it may be extended by up to 10 days. Consultancy firms provide a professional insurance policy instead.
If the winner misses the deadline, Article 45 allows the Board to cancel the award and forfeit the bid bond.
For a delayed construction project, Circular 3/2024 requires the contractor to renew the performance bond to cover the works until completion, plus the guarantee period under clause 20.4 of the unified contract. Confirm the applicable period with the relevant entity.
What are the registration and renewal fees?
Decision 92/2019, Annex 2 lists the following fees. Annual registration or renewal covers one main field.
| Grade | Application | Annual registration or renewal | SME annual fee in Annex 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | OMR 10 | OMR 200 | OMR 200 |
| First | OMR 10 | OMR 150 | OMR 75 |
| Second | OMR 10 | OMR 75 | OMR 37 |
| Third | OMR 5 | OMR 50 | OMR 25 |
| Fourth | OMR 5 | OMR 50 | OMR 25 |
Each extra sub-field costs OMR 5 for Excellent, First and Second grades. The Esnad registration page lists the same application and one-year fees. Fees for 2 to 5 years equal the one-year fee multiplied by the number of years.
The Esnad FAQ states a 50% SME registration discount. If the full fee appears, select the SME option under "Register/Renew", then "Update profile". The Annex 2 SME column and the FAQ differ for the Excellent grade. Confirm the fee Esnad shows before paying.
Article 10 of Decision 104/2022 requires payment within 30 days of the acceptance notice. Otherwise, the application is cancelled automatically.
The registration manual specifies bank card payment. If you paid but the system still requests payment, the FAQ says to click "Verify" to complete it.
Read the Esnad registration guide and contractor classification guide for related guidance.
Check your tender match
Start with the tender match check for your business, then confirm fees and guarantees in the official notice and on Esnad.
For wider context, read the Oman tender market report.
Sources
The sources below were verified on 2 November 2026:
- Executive Regulation of the Tender Law, Decision 29/2010.
- Decision 92/2019 on document prices and registration and renewal fees.
- Decision 62/2025 on SME document prices.
- Tender Law issued by Royal Decree 36/2008.
- Circular 1/2023 on bid bond exemption controls.
- Circular 1/2024 extending the bid bond exemption.
- Circular 3/2024 on government construction projects.
- Authority FAQ on Esnad.
- Decision 104/2022 on classification and registration.
- Esnad registration service page.
- Esnad company registration user guide.
OmanPro is independent of the official authorities; the official texts prevail.
