FAQs

1. What e-services can I use in the e-TS?

The e-TS enables all users to view forecast of works tenders and notices of Invitation to Tender. Users may also register an account in the e-TS. Upon successful registration, registered users can download tender documents and related documents issued by the procuring departments, send messages/tender queries to and receive responses from the procuring departments, and submit tenders via the system. Register users can also reply tender clarifications from the procuring departments and view tender result on the submitted tenders.

2. How secure is the e-services under the e-TS?

The e-services implemented under the e-TS will comply with the standing and established security guidelines and authentication framework for Government IT systems. Transmission and storage of sensitive data are encrypted, protected and controlled according to the prescribed guidelines and procedures.  Other measures such as access right control and authorisation, audit logging, etc. are in place and periodic system security audit will be carried out to ensure system and data security.

3. What can I do if I have any questions about the e-TS and its related e-services?

For enquiries, please contact the e-TS Helpdesk.

4. Why the time displayed in the e-TS is not the same as my computer?

The e-TS synchronizes with the Hong Kong Standard Time which is maintained by the Hong Kong Observatory.  The time difference may be due to network latency, this effect may become significant over mobile data network and in a congested or distant network.

5. Why can't some Chinese characters (Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese) display properly on my computer screen?

The e-TS adopts Unicode and Hong Kong Supplementary Character Set (HKSCS) as the encoding standard for Chinese characters.  If your computer does not support these two encoding standards, some Chinese characters may not be displayed properly in e-TS.  You can visit the GovHK below for more information about Chinese characters and HKSCS.

https://www.gov.hk/en/about/helpdesk/faq/other/index.htm

https://www.gov.hk/en/about/helpdesk/softwarerequirement/hkscs.htm

6. Do I need to pay for account registration in the e-TS?

No.  Account registration is free of charge in e-TS.

7. Do I need to pay any annual / monthly fee in the e-TS?

No annual/monthly fee will be charged in the e-TS.

8. Why am I not getting email notifications from the e-TS?

The email from the e-TS may be classified as spam and put in junk mail box by your email provider.  You may check your email setting and mark etsadmin@egismail.gov.hk as not a spam.

9. What are the system requirements for using the e-services under the e-TS?

You can access the e-services through a web browser on computers or mobile devices. The webpages on e-TS are best viewed with the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Safari or Google Chrome. For details of minimum requirements, please visit https://www.gov.hk/en/about/helpdesk/softwarerequirement/

1. How can I register for an account in the e-TS?

Please go to the registration page of e-TS and follow the instructions to register for an account.

Registering for an account in the e-TS does not mean that you have applied for inclusion in the List of Approved Contractors for Public Works/ the List of Approved Suppliers of Materials and Specialist Contractors for Public Works maintained by the Development Bureau.  If you wish to do so, you need to submit application(s) to the relevant government departments.

2. I am not a supplier/contractor in Hong Kong, can I register as a user in the e-TS?

Yes, you can register as a user in the e-TS by providing basic business information as required (e.g. registrant name and business registration number) during account registration.

3. What should I do if I cannot receive the Personal Identification Number (“PIN”) for verifying my account email address during account registration?

Please check if the email containing the PIN has been directed to the junk mail folder of your account mail box.  If you cannot receive the PIN after the specific time period, you can click the button “Resend PIN” shown at the bottom of the page “Verify your email address” during account registration.

4. What can I do if I forget my account and password?

You can click “Forgot Password” in the login page of the e-TS to reset your password.  If you forget your account email address, you may contact e-TS Helpdesk.

5. What can I do if I cannot log in to the e-TS?

If you cannot log in to the e-TS, please check and ensure you have entered the correct account email address and password.  Please also check that you have not inadvertently enabled the “Caps Lock” button when you enter the account email address and password.  If you have forgotten the password, you can click “Forgot Password” on the login page of the e-TS and follow the instructions to reset your password.  If the problem persists, you may contact e-TS Helpdesk.

6. What should I do if I want to update my account information (e.g. business name, address or contact telephone number etc.)?

You may log in the e-TS and click “Manage Account” to update and edit the account information.  Afterwards, please click “Save”.  The changes will come into effect immediately.

7. How can I ensure that I can receive all related tender information in the e-TS?

You should always keep your account information up-to-date by using the “Manage Account” function in the e-TS.  Besides, you may go to the “My Tender” page after log in to view all related tender information, such as the list of tenders that you have been invited via the e-TS and the list of tenders with new information issued by the procuring department.

1. How can I view the forecast of works tenders from works department?

At the homepage of the e-TS, click “Forecast of Works Tenders” -> “Works Tenders”, the list of works tender forecast will be displayed.

1. How can I view the tender notices of Works Tenders?

You need not register for an account in the e-TS if you wish to view the tender notices only.  After clicking “Tender Notice” -> “Works Tenders” in the e-TS, the list of tender notices will be displayed.  For the tenders marked with “e-Service”, you can click it to view the details.

2. How do I know if e-Service is available for a particular tender?

There is a column entitled “e-Service” on the Tender Notices page of the e-TS.  If the word “Yes” appears, it means that e-Service is available for the particular tender.  You may download the tender documents and other related documents from the e-TS.  You may also send message/query to the procuring department through the e-TS. 

On the other hand, if the word “No” appears, only basic information of the tender notice will be shown and e-Service is not available for that particular tender.  If you click that tender case on the Tender Notices page of the e-TS, you will be re-directed to the website of relevant procuring department where you can view the details of that tender notice.

1. How can I view an Invitation to Tender for Works Tenders in the e-TS?

If you have registered for an account in the e-TS before the tender invitation date and have been invited by the procuring department under selective tendering, you will receive a notification email in your account.  You may click the hyperlink in the notification email to view the Invitation to Tender by logging into the e-TS.  Alternatively, you may log in to the e-TS directly, go to the “My Tender” page and click the radio button “Tenders invited” to view the list of tenders that you have been invited by the procuring department via the e-TS.

2. Will I receive Invitations to Tender once I have registered as a user in the e-TS?

You will only receive an Invitation to Tender if you are invited for that tender by the procuring department.  Registering an account in the e-TS does not automatically qualify you to be included in the invitation list of the procuring department.  The procuring department is not bound to issue an Invitation to Tender to you.

1. How can I obtain tender documents of Works Tenders?

If you wish to download tender documents of works tenders, you have to register for an account in the e-TS.  After log in to the e-TS, you can click the button “Download Tender Document” in the top right-hand corner of the relevant tender notice to download the files.  If you have been invited to tender by the procuring department, you can then click the button “Read Terms and Conditions” and go through the download process.  Otherwise, you may submit a request to download the tender documents to procuring department via the e-TS.

2. How can I view the tenders that I have downloaded tender documents?

Please log in to the e-TS and go to the “My Tender” page.  You can click the radio button “Tender Documents Downloaded” to view the list of tenders that you have downloaded the tender documents.

3. How can I view the tender documents of works tenders with .p7s extension?

The tender documents are digitally signed in .p7s extension to ensure confidentiality of message and data integrity.  To view these tender documents, you will need a software supporting .p7s or you can use the digital signing tool “DSigner” which is available for download on the Tender Notice Page of the e-TS.  There are other alternative digital signing tools available in the market and you are not obliged to use DSigner.  If you choose to download, install and use DSigner, you are deemed to abide by the relevant Terms and Conditions.

4. Can I download the tender documents repeatedly?

Provided that you are invited by the procuring department or your request to download tender documents process is completed successfully, you can download the tender documents at any time until the tender closing.

5. How can I download the tender addendum of Works Tenders?

You may log in to the e-TS and scroll down the page “View Details of Tender Notice” to check whether tender addendum has been issued by the procuring department.  If you have been invited to tender by the procuring department or you have already downloaded the tender documents, you can then click the button “Read Terms and Conditions” at the tender addendum section and go through the download process.

1. How can I send messages/tender queries regarding a tender to the procuring department?

You have to register for an account in the e-TS in order to send messages/tender queries to the procuring department.   After logging in the e-TS, please go to the relevant tender notice of that tender and click the button “Send Messages/Tender Queries” in the top right-hand corner.  Please fill in the required information and upload file attachment (if any), then click “Send”.  You will receive a notification through email to your account once the procuring department responds to your messages/tender queries.

2. Who can see the messages/tender queries that I have sent to the procuring department?

Only you and the procuring department will be able to see the messages/tender queries that you have sent.

3. Can I withdraw the messages/tender queries sent?

The message cannot be withdrawn once it is sent.  However, you can send a new message/tender query to supplement or clarify your previous messages/tender queries.

4. Where can I see the procuring department’s response to my messages/tender queries?

After the procuring department has responded to your messages/tender queries, you will receive a notification through email to your account.  You may click the hyperlink given in the notification email and log in to your e-TS account to view the response.  Alternatively, you may also log in to the e-TS directly, go to the “My Tender” page and click the radio button “New Information Issued” to view the list of tenders with new information issued.  Please click the tender notice of the tender that you have sent the messages/tender queries previously, and the procuring department’s response can be found under the section “Messages/Tender Queries Sent” at the bottom part of the tender notice.

5. Can I reply to the response from the procuring department?

“Send Messages/Tender Queries” is a one-off conversation.  For further enquiries, you can a send new message/tender query in the e-TS to the procuring department.

6. Can I attach files to my messages/tender queries?

Yes, you may attach files to your messages/tender queries with the total file size not exceeding 20MB.  The e-TS accepts files in PDF format only.

1. Are there any requirements for tender submission via the e-TS?

There are requirements on the file number and size, please refer to the table below:

2. What kind of file format is accepted by e-TS for the submission of tender?

The e-TS accepts two types of file formats viz (i) .p7s file format using Public-Key Cryptography Standard #7 (PKCS #7) and CMS Advanced Electronic Signatures (CAdES), and (ii) .zip file format. All electronic files of your tender are required to be digitally signed in .p7s file format with a valid Recognized Certificate issued under the name of your organization before uploading to the system. You may compress the digitally signed files into .zip file format and upload to e-TS for tender submission.

3. How does an oversea organization apply and obtain a Recognized Certificate issued under the name of its organization?

An oversea organization may appoint and authorize a local representative to apply and obtain a Recognized Certificate on its behalf. For details of the Recognized Certification Authorities in Hong Kong, please go to “Home > e-TS > Useful Information > Recognized Certification Authorities in Hong Kong”.

4. Is it necessary to provide a “p12 file” for tender submission via e-TS?

If you registered an e-TS account as a contractor/supplier on the List of Approved Contractors for Public Works and/or the List of Approved Suppliers of Materials and Specialist Contractors for Public Works, it is not necessary to provide a “p12 file” during tender submission via e-TS. Otherwise, a “p12 file” will be required for authentication purpose during tender submission via e-TS. Please note that “p12 file” is a digital certificate file in a standard format called PKCS#12 in .p12 file extension. Your “p12 file” is stored in the storage medium provided by the Recognized Certification Authorities.

5. If one or more files attached to my tender have virus, will the e-TS clean the virus or notify us to send a virus-free document again?

The e-TS will not open any files with virus detected nor notify the corresponding tenderer about such problem. It is the sole responsibility of tenderers to ensure that their files submitted are virus-free. Please refer to the tender provisions of individual tenders on how such cases will be handled by the procuring department.

6. How much time should be allowed for submission of tender via the e-TS?

The time required to complete the tender submission depends on many factors including but not limited to the speed of broadband at the tenderer’s office, total file size of the submission and the number of concurrent submissions from other tenderers. To upload a 5GB tender over an encrypted channel (SSL Tunnel / HTTPS) in around 60 minutes would normally require an upload stream at minimum 30 Mbps (Mega Bit Per Second). Tenderers are strongly advised to allow sufficient time to complete tender submission via e-TS before tender close.

7. Would the tender submission files be accessed by others during transmission through the e-TS?

The e-TS complies with the standing and established security guidelines and authentication framework for Government IT systems. Transmission of tender submission files is encrypted, protected and controlled according to the prescribed guidelines and procedures. All tender files received by the e-TS will only be opened after tender close.

1. How do I know if a tender clarification is requested by the procuring department?

If the procuring department requests you to clarify your tender, you will be notified through email via the e-TS. You may click the hyperlink given in the email and log in to your e-TS account to view the request.

Alternatively, you may also log in to the e-TS directly and go to the “My Tender” page and click the radio button “Submitted Tenders” to view the list of tenders submitted by you. Please click the relevant tender and check if there are any messages from the procuring department under the section “Tender Clarifications”.

2. Can I attach files to my Response to Tender Clarification?

Yes, you can attach a maximum of 5 files to your Response to Tender Clarification with a total file size not exceeding 20MB. The e-TS accepts files in .p7s file extension only.

1. How do I know the tender result?

An email will be sent via the e-TS to all tenderers once the procuring department announces the tender result. You may click the hyperlink given in the email and log in to your e-TS account to view the tender result.

Alternatively, you may also log in to the e-TS directly and go to the “My Tender” page and click the radio button “Submitted Tenders” to view the list of tenders submitted by you. Please click the relevant tender and the tender result can be found under the section “Tender Result”.