65" · 4K UHD · Android 13
Procurement
6 min read
Writing an AV tender specification in Oman
A good AV specification describes each room's outcome in measurable terms, lists quantities per site and states the documents bidders must return — so compliant bids can be compared line by line.
6 min read
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Government tenders in Oman are run under the Tender Law (Royal Decree 36/2008, as amended) and managed through the Esnad e-tendering platform.
- Since June 2025 the Secretariat General of the Tender Board has been the Projects, Tenders and Local Content Authority (Royal Decree 57/2025).
- Specify performance you can measure — size from the farthest viewer, resolution, touch points under the OS in use, ports, audio — not one brand's feature names.
- Write a room schedule: room type, farthest-viewer distance, quantity, and site by governorate and wilayat.
- Ask for prices in OMR with 5% VAT shown separately, a line-by-line compliance statement, datasheets and a warranty statement.
Who runs government tenders in Oman?
The Projects, Tenders and Local Content Authority. Royal Decree 57/2025, issued on 24 June 2025, renamed the Secretariat General of the Tender Board to this new name. Tenders are published and managed through Esnad (إسناد), the government's electronic tendering platform.
The legal framework is the Tender Law, issued by Royal Decree 36/2008 and since amended (for example by Royal Decree 83/2020), with its Executive Regulations issued by Tender Board Decision 29/2010. Article 3(a) of those regulations asks that specifications call for national products where they meet the required standards and quality.
Check the current rules
This guide summarises public sources for orientation. Your entity's procurement office and the Authority's published regulations are the reference for any specific tender.
What should an AV specification include?
Five parts: a room schedule, measurable performance requirements, the installation scope, the documents bidders must return, and the delivery programme. Writing each part separately stops a single ambiguity from sinking the whole comparison.
- Room schedule — room type, dimensions, farthest-viewer distance, quantity, and site by governorate and wilayat.
- Performance — size, resolution, touch, operating system and OPS, brightness, ports, audio, camera and certification.
- Installation scope — mounting, cabling, commissioning and handover, and what is excluded, such as builder work, containment, power and network points.
- Returnable documents — priced schedule, datasheets, compliance statement, warranty statement and any local-content plan required.
- Delivery programme — the date each site must be ready and any phasing by site.
How do you write measurable display specs?
State a minimum and a unit for every line, and tie screen size to the room rather than to a brand's range. The table shows wording that bidders can answer with a yes, a no or a number.
| Item | Measurable wording | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 86" (16:9) minimum, sized so the farthest viewer is within 6 × image height (ANSI/AVIXA V202.01:2016) | Readable text from the back row |
| Resolution | 3840 × 2160 native | Avoids "4K-ready" ambiguity |
| Touch | At least 20 simultaneous touch points under the operating system that will be used | Some panels list different counts for Android and Windows |
| Operating system | Android 13 or later, Google EDLA certified; OPS slot for a Windows module where required | Security updates and app access |
| Brightness | At least 350 cd/m² | Bright rooms and glare |
| Inputs | At least 2 × HDMI 2.0 and 1 × USB-C with at least 65 W power delivery | Laptop connection on one cable |
| Audio | Built-in speakers of at least 2 × 15 W | Presentations without extra hardware |
| Mounting | Mount matched to the panel's VESA pattern, rated above the panel's listed weight | Safe load on the wall or trolley |
| Conferencing | Video bar certified for Microsoft Teams Rooms or Zoom Rooms, as listed by Microsoft or Zoom | Certification is verifiable |
| Warranty | Manufacturer warranty; period, holder and service terms stated in the bid | Comparable after-sales terms |
Sample clause
Interactive display, classroom type A: 75" (16:9) minimum; 3840 × 2160 native; infrared or equivalent touch with at least 20 simultaneous points under Android; Android 13 or later, Google EDLA certified; at least 2 × HDMI 2.0 and 1 × USB-C (65 W); speakers at least 2 × 15 W; supplied with a VESA-matched wall mount rated above the display's weight; installed and commissioned. Bidders state manufacturer, model and part number.
Should the specification name a brand?
Only as a reference, if at all. A performance specification lets several manufacturers comply; if you name a reference model, add "or equivalent" and list the measurable criteria that define equivalence, so evaluators can check each bid against the same lines.
What documents should bidders return?
- A priced schedule in OMR, line by line against your room schedule, with VAT shown separately.
- Manufacturer datasheets for every model offered.
- A compliance statement answering every specification line: complies, does not comply, or deviation with explanation.
- A warranty statement naming the warranty holder, period and service terms.
- A delivery and installation plan by site, with the exclusions stated.
- A local-content plan where the tender requires one.
What are the local-content and SME rules?
Local content (In-Country Value) is part of government procurement: under regulations reported in December 2023, bidders submit a local-content plan, the Authority sets requirements for tenders above RO 3 million and may review contracts of RO 500,000 to 3 million. Separately, Ministry of Finance Financial Circular 1/2025 directs government units to award supply, service and works tenders of up to RO 25,000 to SMEs holding a Riyada card.
How should VAT and currency be handled?
Ask for prices in Omani Rial with VAT shown as a separate line. Oman's VAT Law (Royal Decree 121/2020) sets a basic rate of 5%, in force since 16 April 2021, so a separate VAT line keeps bids comparable.
What are the most common specification mistakes?
- Naming one brand's software or feature names instead of the outcome you need.
- Stating touch points without saying under which operating system.
- Choosing screen size without the farthest-viewer distance.
- Specifying a mount without tying it to the panel's VESA pattern and weight.
- Asking for an OPS PC without saying which Windows edition and licence.
- Leaving out power, data and wall readiness, so the installation scope is disputed on site.
MENTIONED IN THIS GUIDE
ViewSonic ViewBoard 86" 4K EDLA Android Interactive Display (IFP8652-2ED)
Example of a panel whose listing shows DisplayPort, VGA, USB-C (100 W rear) and RS232 — useful when a specification requires legacy inputs or room control.
Send us the BOQ
Send the tender reference, closing date and BOQ. We return an itemised OMR quotation with datasheets and a line-by-line technical compliance sheet.
Frequently asked questions
Where are government tenders in Oman published?
On Esnad, the government's electronic tendering platform, run by the Projects, Tenders and Local Content Authority.
Can a specification name a brand?
Many specifications name a reference model and accept equivalents. If you do, list the measurable criteria that make a product equivalent, and check your entity's procurement rules under the Tender Law and its Executive Regulations.
What VAT rate applies to AV equipment in Oman?
The basic rate of 5% under the VAT Law (Royal Decree 121/2020), in force since 16 April 2021. Ask bidders to show it as a separate line.
Can you help with a tender specification or BOQ?
Yes. We quote tender quantities with manufacturer datasheets and technical compliance sheets, and can suggest measurable wording for each line.
About TouchScreens Oman
TouchScreens Oman supplies interactive displays, video conferencing, digital signage, mounts and OPS PCs to organisations across the Sultanate, on a quotation-only basis. Guides are written from our catalogue data and the sources listed.
Sources: Royal Decree 57/2025 renaming the Secretariat General of the Tender Board (Decree.om); Projects, Tenders and Local Content Authority (PTLC); Isnad: first electronic interface for government tenders (Oman Government Portal); Esnad e-tendering platform (Projects, Tenders and Local Content Authority); Tender Law — Royal Decree 36/2008 (Qanoon.om (Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs)); Royal Decree 83/2020 amending the Tender Law (Decree.om); Tender regulations (Executive Regulations, Tender Board Decision 29/2010) (PTLC); Oman's Tender Board sets regulations for enhanced national content (Oman Observer); MoF directs public units to award tenders up to RO25,000 to SMEs (Muscat Daily); VAT Law (Royal Decree 121/2020) (Oman Tax Authority); Tax rates (Oman Tax Authority); Oman — other taxes (VAT effective date) (PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries); ANSI/AVIXA V202.01:2016 Display Image Size for 2D Content in Audiovisual Systems (DISCAS) (AVIXA); Teams Rooms certified systems and peripherals (Microsoft).
