LPA行政書士法人
LPA Administrative Scrivener
Corporation
Bidding Qualification
A bidding qualification is a credential required to take part in public tenders conducted by local governments or public agencies. As a principle, it must be obtained separately for each public institution, such as government ministries, local governmental authorities, or affiliated organizations.
1. Unified Qualification for All Government Ministries and Agencies
The “Unified Qualification for All Government Ministries and Agencies” refers to a standardized qualification system required to participate in open or selective tenders for the manufacture, sale, or provision of goods and services. Each ministry and agency applies this system based on common evaluation criteria.
Both Japanese and foreign entities may obtain this qualification. This qualification is valid for a limit period of time (3 years at the most) and needs to be renewed.
1.1. Ministries and Agencies Where This Qualification is Valid
1.2. Grades in the Unified Qualification for All Ministries and Agencies
There are four grades in the Unified Qualification for All Ministries and Agencies.
Under this system, applicants are evaluated and assigned a grade from A to D. The grade determines which public procurement projects a company is eligible to participate in.
You can assess the grade you might obtain based by completing the following questionnaire. This assessment is granted for information purpose only and does not constitute any legal assessment.
2. Bidding Qualifications for local governmental authorities (prefecture, city, or town)
In some prefectures, there is a unified prefectural qualification, which allows participation in bids throughout the prefecture’s municipalities. However, as the specific conditions often vary by municipality, it is essential to carefully review the requirements in advance and obtain the appropriate qualification.
In particular, if your company plans to begin by participating in tenders within the region where your business office is located to build a track record, you will need to obtain the municipality-specific bid participation qualification, rather than the “Unified Qualification for All Government Ministries and Agencies” mentioned earlier.
3. Bidding Qualifications for Affiliated Organizations
For affiliated organizations, the bid participation qualification differs from both the Unified Qualification for All Government Ministries and Agencies and the local governmental authorities qualification.
Many such organizations establish their own unique qualification requirements.
