ICV Certificate & Score in Qatar: How It Works & How to Improve It

What Is ICV in Qatar?

In-Country Value (ICV) is Qatar's framework for measuring and rewarding how much of a supplier's spending contributes to the local economy. Every supplier is evaluated in the same way: the ICV score is based on the share of your costs that is spent in Qatar, rather than on the size or age of your company.

ICV is mandatory to bid in tenders with the Energy Sector, including QatarEnergy. If you have no ICV score on the bid closing date, you are disqualified in the commercial evaluation unless you are exempt. ICV does not replace technical qualification: every supplier must pass the technical evaluation first, and the ICV score then plays a role in the commercial evaluation. The highest ICV score does not automatically win, so technical capability and competitive pricing still matter.

How the ICV Score Is Calculated

The current official formula is spend-based:

Eligible Local Cost includes all spend on:

• Goods and services, including manpower compensation and overhead spend
• Workforce training
• Supplier development
• Investments in fixed assets

The Bonus Scheme can add up to 15% through seven strategic behaviours: productivity and automation, capability building, investment growth, Qatarization, exports, research and development (R&D), and sustainability.

Two practical points follow from the formula. Spend on imported raw materials lowers your score, but you can offset it with local goods and services, workforce training, supplier development and fixed-asset investment in Qatar. And because purchases are weighted by the supplier's own ICV score, buying from suppliers with a higher ICV score raises yours.

How an ICV Certificate Is Issued

The certificate is issued by an approved ICV Certifier, not by a consultant. The official process has four steps:

• You engage an ICV Certifier from the list on the ICV portal.
• You complete the ICV scorecard and submit it to the certifier for validation.
• The certifier validates and approves the scorecard, and your score is published on the Suppliers' ICV Database.
• To close the engagement, the certifier uploads the signed ICV certificate and the Factual Findings Report.

According to the official ICV portal, the average process takes 2 to 3 weeks, the supplier bears all certification costs, and suppliers should obtain a new certificate every year. ICV certifiers are chartered accounting firms prequalified by Tawteen and must remain independent, so they cannot act as consultants on ICV certification.

Where ISO Certification Fits

ISO certification is not a line item in the base ICV formula, and it does not give you a score by itself. It helps in three honest ways:

Bonus Update on Your ICV Scorecard

If you receive an ISO certificate (or a SIRI assessment report) during the validity of your ICV certificate, you can submit it through the portal with a Request Bonus Update. If Tawteen approves it, your ICV scorecard is updated automatically.

Technical Evaluation Comes First

Every supplier must pass the technical evaluation, and ICV only affects the commercial evaluation. Tenders frequently ask for quality, safety and environmental management credentials as part of the technical requirements, which is where ISO 9001, ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 earn their place.

Training You Deliver in Qatar

Workforce training is one of the eligible local cost categories. Implementing a management system involves training and competency work in Qatar; whether a specific training cost counts towards your scorecard is for your ICV certifier to confirm.

The ISO 9001 + 45001 + 14001 Combination

Many Qatar contractors pursue all three core standards together as an Integrated Management System (IMS), because one document set and one audit programme can serve all three:

Aegis Services delivers all three certifications as an integrated package, using the shared High Level Structure to build one document set, one management review process and one internal audit programme. The result is a lower cost than pursuing three separate certifications. Learn more about ISO 9001 certification in Qatar or the IMS bundle.

The 3–6 Week Path to Multiple Certifications

Companies often worry that ISO certification will be too slow for a tender deadline. At Aegis Services our 3–6 week delivery model addresses this: a single gap analysis covering all three standards, a unified documentation structure, shared implementation activities, one internal audit and coordinated certification audits with an IAF-accredited body.

If you also need an ICV certificate, the two workstreams run in parallel: your ICV certifier handles the certificate, while Aegis helps with ICV readiness and score improvement.

Source: ICV facts above are based on the official ICV Digital Portal FAQ (icv.qa), checked on 10 October 2026. Always confirm current rules on the official portal.

Frequently Asked Questions