Glossary term
Technical Deviation List
The table a bidder submits with its offer listing every point where the offered equipment differs from the client's technical specification.
Last reviewed by the OdysseyGPT team
What it is
A technical deviation list is the table a manufacturer submits with its offer, listing clause by clause where the equipment differs from the specification, why, and what it would cost to comply instead.
Key Takeaways
- It covers technical exceptions only; commercial deviations go on a separate sheet.
- Each row cites one clause and gives one status.
- A deviation that is not on the list may not be considered at all.
Why it matters
A technical deviation list records each exception to the specification: the clause, the requirement, what is offered instead, the status, a justification and, often, the cost of withdrawal (what it would cost to comply). Buyers use it to accept, reject or clarify each point before scoring the bid. It differs from a commercial deviation sheet, which covers terms such as payment and liquidated damages. Some buyers are strict about what counts as declared: BHEL valve tenders, for example, ignore deviations that appear only in the priced copy of the offer, so a missing row can leave the manufacturer bound to a requirement it cannot meet.
How OdysseyGPT uses it
OdysseyGPT reads the specification, datasheets and addenda and drafts candidate deviation rows, each citing the clause and page it came from. An engineer decides which rows are real deviations, writes the justification and prices the cost of withdrawal.
Evaluation questions
Who reads the deviation list?
The EPC or owner's technical evaluator, who accepts, rejects or raises a query on each row during technical bid evaluation.
Should compliant clauses appear on it?
No. Compliant clauses belong in the compliance matrix; the deviation list carries exceptions only.
Frequently asked questions
What is tender deviation?
Any point where a bidder's offer does not meet the tender's requirements as written. Bidders declare deviations so the buyer can accept, reject or price them before award.
What is cost of withdrawal?
The price and lead-time change if the buyer rejects a deviation and the bidder must comply with the original requirement.
References
BHEL corrigendum: deviation sheet columns and rules
BHEL