As a prelude to its efforts to outsource its consular services in future, the Indian embassy has uploaded the details of its outsourcing plans on its website (www.indianembassyqatar.gov.in).

The embassy said in a statement that the Request for Proposal (RFP) to select an `adequately experienced company' to function as a Service Provider for providing visa/passport and other consular services in the country would be uploaded today on the website.

Indian ambassador P Kumaran had recently indicated the embassy's desire to outsource its consular services through private agencies, in three locations across the State of Qatar. The embassy, he had said, felt such a move would be helpful to the consumers and it would help them receive better consular services than what is being provided now.

It is expected that a large number of consular services would be outsourced but certain attestations could only be done at the embassy.

The new locations for consular services are likely to be in Al Hilal or its immediate surroundings in the city, Salwa Road or its neighbourhoods in the Industrial Area and Al Khor town, it was indicated at a meeting the journalists in the Indian community had with the embassy officials recently.

As per the RPF (reference no. EoI Doha/Cons/OS/RFP/2016 Dated 21 November, 2016), the selected company should enter into a combined contract with the Indian embassy to deliver the said services to the customers.

The announcement could also be found on the Central Public Procurement Portal (www.eprocure.gov.in).

It says the Embassy of India, Doha reserves the right on all matters related to the selection of the technically and commercially qualified bidder for the contract and the embassy's decision in this regard would be final.