Threshold conditions (tnai saf) in Israeli tenders: what they are and how to check them
Updated: · 3 min read
What counts as a threshold condition (tnai saf), the most common ones, how to prove you meet them and the mistakes that get bids rejected before price is even considered.
Threshold conditions (תנאי סף, tnai saf) are the minimum requirements a bidder must meet for its bid to be considered at all. They are pass/fail: a bidder who misses even one is disqualified, even with the lowest price. This is the most common reason bids are rejected, so check the threshold conditions first — before spending days on the bid.
How threshold conditions differ from evaluation criteria
Threshold conditions decide who may take part. Evaluation criteria (אמות מידה, amot mida) decide who wins among those who pass. For example, “at least three years of experience providing cleaning services” can be a threshold condition, while “2 points for each additional year of experience” is an evaluation criterion. Experience beyond the threshold does no harm, but it earns nothing unless the tender says so.
Common threshold conditions
| Condition | Example | Usual proof |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | A company registered in Israel, or a registered VAT dealer (עוסק מורשה) | Companies Registrar extract, VAT registration certificate |
| Experience | 3 similar projects in the last 5 years, at least one for a public body | Experience table in the appendix, references, contracts or invoices |
| Turnover | At least ₪2 million in each of 2023–2025 | Accountant’s certificate in the tender’s wording |
| Licences and registrations | Service-contractor licence (רישיון קבלן שירות), Contractors Register (פנקס הקבלנים), AMAR medical-device register | Copy of the valid licence or registration |
| Standards | ISO 9001, ISO 27001 | Valid certificate |
| Team | A project manager with at least 5 years of experience | CVs, diplomas, proof of employment |
| Taking part in the process | Attending the bidders’ conference, buying the tender documents | Conference minutes, receipt |
| Guarantee | A bid guarantee for a set amount | Bank or digital guarantee in the tender’s wording |
| Legal requirements | Affidavits under the Public Bodies Transactions Law | Affidavits certified by a lawyer |
How to read threshold conditions correctly
- Read every word. “At least”, “cumulatively”, “in each of the years”, “in 2023–2025” — each changes the meaning. Turnover of ₪2 million “in each of the years” is not an average.
- Check who must meet the condition. Almost always the bidder itself — the legal entity submitting the bid. Experience of an affiliated company, of the owner personally or of a subcontractor usually does not count unless the tender explicitly allows it.
- Check the date. As a rule, you must meet the conditions by the submission deadline, not “by the start of work”.
- Find the required proof. The tender says how each condition is proven, often with a form in an appendix. A certificate in different wording may be refused.
- Read the answers to clarification questions. They can relax a threshold condition — or tighten it.
If a condition is unclear or unfair
If a condition is ambiguous, ask for clarification. If it restricts competition without justification, ask for it to be changed. Do this during the clarification stage, before its deadline. After submission it is too late: a bidder who took part without challenging the tender terms will find it hard to challenge them later.
Questions to ask before deciding to bid
- Is there a condition we “almost” meet? If so, the risk of disqualification is high.
- Do we already hold all the proof, or do we need references and certificates from past clients?
- Can our accountant issue a certificate in the tender’s wording before the deadline?
- Does the tender allow a joint bid with a partner who covers the conditions we miss?
What happens if you do not meet a condition
The tender committee rejects bids that do not meet the threshold conditions. In some cases the committee may ask a bidder for a clarification or a missing document — for example, when the bidder met the condition on the submission date but forgot to attach the proof. This is not a right, and you should not rely on it: a material defect means disqualification.
In SafPass each threshold condition is shown in the Hebrew original with an English translation, a clause-and-page reference and a status against your company’s documents: met, certificate missing or not met. Within minutes you can see whether a tender is worth the effort.