Need an ICV certificate to bid for Energy Sector tenders? This guide explains exactly how ICV certification works in Qatar, how your ICV score is calculated, and how Aegis Services helps you prepare, backed by 18+ years of Qatar compliance experience.
The In-Country Value (ICV) programme measures how much of a supplier's spending contributes to Qatar's economy. Every supplier receives an ICV score, and that score is confirmed by an ICV certificate issued by an approved ICV Certifier.
ICV certification is mandatory to bid in tenders with the Energy Sector, including QatarEnergy. If a supplier has no ICV score on the bid closing date, it is disqualified in the commercial evaluation, unless it is exempt.
ICV does not replace technical qualification. All suppliers must first pass the technical evaluation, and the ICV score then plays a role in the commercial evaluation. There is no minimum ICV score to bid, and the highest score does not automatically win the contract.
Your ICV score also matters to your customers: when a company buys from a supplier with a higher ICV score, its own ICV contribution rises, which gives high-ICV suppliers a commercial edge even outside formal tenders.
Five steps from registration to a signed certificate. The average process takes 2 to 3 weeks, and the certificate is renewed every year.
The supplier pays all certification costs directly to the certifier.
The current ICV formula is spend-based, so it rewards money that stays in Qatar rather than company size.
Aegis Services is not an ICV certifier. We help you prepare, so your certification is smooth and your score is as strong as your real business allows.
We map your spend, payroll, training, supplier and fixed-asset data against the ICV scorecard categories, so there are no surprises when you engage a certifier.
We identify practical levers: moving purchases to Qatar-based suppliers, documenting workforce training and supplier development, and capturing eligible investments.
An ISO certificate issued during your ICV certificate's validity can be submitted through the portal as a Request Bonus Update, subject to approval. Aegis delivers ISO 9001, 14001, 45001 and more in 3–6 weeks.
Audited financials, cost breakdowns, payroll and training records arranged in the way your certifier needs them, which keeps the process inside the 2–3 week average.
ICV certifiers must stay independent and cannot consult on certification. We prepare you, and you choose your certifier from the official list.
ICV certificates are renewed yearly. We plan the cycle early so you can keep bidding without gaps while your next certificate is processed.
Related guides: ICV Score & ISO certification · ISO 9001 in Qatar · IMS bundle (ISO 9001, 14001 & 45001)
An ICV certificate confirms your In-Country Value (ICV) score, which measures how much of your spending contributes to Qatar's economy. It is issued by an approved ICV Certifier after the certifier validates your ICV scorecard, and your score is then published on the Suppliers' ICV Database.
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, for example suppliers established in Qatar for under two years, or eligible micro and small suppliers that hold a Blanket Score. Outside the Energy Sector, requirements depend on the individual tender.
According to the official ICV portal, the average certification process takes 2 to 3 weeks. The real timeline depends mainly on how complete and well organised your financial and supporting records are.
Suppliers should obtain a new ICV certificate every year. Plan your renewal early. During a grace period you can still take part in Energy Sector tenders, but you must submit a letter from your ICV Certifier confirming that the new certification process has started.
ICV certificates are issued by ICV Certifiers, which are chartered accounting firms prequalified by Tawteen. You choose a certifier from the list on the ICV portal. The supplier manages the certification process with the chosen certifier and bears all associated costs.
No. ICV certifiers must remain independent and cannot act as consultants to suppliers on ICV certification. A consultancy such as Aegis Services can help you prepare by reviewing your scorecard inputs, organising your evidence and planning improvements, but the certificate itself is issued only by the ICV certifier you choose.
The ICV score is spend-based: ICV Score = (Eligible Local Cost / Total Cost) + Bonus, where the bonus rewards seven strategic behaviours. 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, and if Tawteen approves it your scorecard is updated. ISO certification also helps you pass the technical evaluation that comes before ICV counts in the commercial evaluation.
No. There is no minimum ICV score to bid with the Energy Sector. ICV is used as a parameter in the commercial evaluation, and all suppliers must first pass the technical evaluation. The supplier with the highest ICV score is not guaranteed to win, so technical capability and competitive pricing still matter.
Any supplier established in Qatar for less than two years is exempt from mandatory ICV. A new supplier that still wants an ICV certificate within that period can use internally approved management accounts signed by an authorised signatory (between 9 and 15 months from the date of establishment) or audited financial statements (up to 18 months from establishment).
Contact Aegis Services for a free ICV readiness review. We'll look at your scorecard inputs, show where your score can improve, and map the fastest route to certification.
Or email: sales@aegis.qa