To restore public confidence after the NEET paper leak controversy, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has floated a tender worth Rs 7.5 crore to hire a professional security firm for round‑the‑clock protection of its headquarters, regional offices, and sensitive facilities.
The contract, initially for two years and extendable twice by a year, will cover premises, confidential exam material, server rooms, warehouses, and record rooms. The selected agency will regulate entry and exit, verify staff and visitors, and ensure only authorised personnel access restricted areas.
Advanced security systems will include metal detectors, GPS‑enabled guard patrols, biometric attendance, and digital incident reporting. Confidentiality requirements will remain binding even after the contract ends.
Unlike earlier cost‑based selections, NTA has adopted a quality‑and‑cost model, giving 70% weightage to technical capability and 30% to financial bids. Bidders must have at least five years’ experience, an average annual turnover of Rs 10 crore, and prior work at high‑security establishments.
The tender, issued on July 25, closes on August 17 for security services and August 20 for printing services. Officials said the move is part of a broader procurement exercise to tighten controls across the examination chain — from printing and storage to digital infrastructure.
