How to Apply for G-PASS Company Designation — Public Procurement Service Review Criteria and Documents for Promising Companies in Overseas Procurement Markets

Procedure

1. 1. Check eligibility and grounds for exclusion

   Only small and medium-sized enterprises (Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises, Article 2) or mid-sized enterprises registered for competitive bidding on KONEPS may apply. Designation may be refused in cases such as forged, altered or false application documents, bankruptcy or insolvency, or being within a period of sanctions as an unjust business operator, so check these first. Because the Administrator sets the eligibility and procedure in each announcement, check the application period and the performance recognition period in the announcement for that round.

2. 2. Organize evidence for quantitative performance

   The 60 quantitative points in the first-stage review for new designation consist of export performance over the last 3 years (15 points), overseas certifications held (12 points), international industrial property rights held (12 points), foreign-language overseas marketing materials (9 points), and participation in overseas exhibitions or export support programs over the last 3 years (12 points). Export performance is scored by bracket, from 15 points for 5,000,000 dollars or more down to 7 points for less than 10,000 dollars, and 6 points are given even with no certifications or industrial property rights. Only one bonus item may be chosen, such as supplier registration in overseas procurement markets, venture startup procurement company, innovative product company, or history of attending training and briefing sessions.

3. 3. Prepare materials for the non-quantitative evaluation

   The 40 non-quantitative points consist of the possibility of entering overseas markets and of carrying out the export plan (15 points), efforts related to overseas procurement markets or exports (15 points), and capability to enter overseas procurement markets together with the capability assessment opinion (10 points). Write the target countries, target products, overseas certifications held, sales channels and schedule so that they are consistent with each other. Companies with no export performance in the last 3 years as of the application month become subject to the Public Procurement Service's overseas procurement market capability assessment.

4. 4. Submit the application and go through the first and second reviews

   Submit the new designation application in Form No. 1 of the regulation (Form No. 2 for redesignation) and the applicant company documents in Form No. 3 to the Administrator of the Public Procurement Service or a person designated by the Administrator. In the first-stage review, 3 to 5 reviewers score the application, and the applicant must reach both an average total of 60 points or more and at least 60% of the maximum non-quantitative score; for redesignation an average total of 60 points or more is enough. In the second stage, the Contract Review Council deliberates on suitability and grounds for exclusion, and a G-PASS designation certificate is issued upon designation.

5. 5. Management after designation and redesignation

   The designation period is 5 years from the designation date, and redesignation is possible up to 2 times, with applications accepted from 90 days before the designation period expires. The Public Procurement Service grades G-PASS companies A, B or C, and C-grade companies may not use the designation mark on the KONEPS online shopping mall. Companies that had no export performance in the 3 years before designation must complete export-related training or briefing sessions organized by the Public Procurement Service, KOTRA and others at least 2 times within 1 year after designation and submit proof.

Required documents

• G-PASS company new designation application (Regulation on Designation, Management and Export Support of Promising Companies for Overseas Procurement Markets, Form No. 1; Form No. 2 for redesignation)
• Applicant company documents (same regulation, Form No. 3)
• Proof of KONEPS competitive bidding registration and materials confirming small and medium-sized or mid-sized enterprise status
• Proof of export performance for the last 3 years
• Copies of overseas certifications and international industrial property right registrations
• Overseas marketing materials such as foreign-language catalogs, promotional videos and websites
• Proof of participation in overseas exhibitions or export support programs, and copies of certificates for export-related training or briefing sessions (if eligible for bonus points or preference)
• Letter of authorization (when submitted by an agent)

Fees

Generally in the range of tens of thousands to several hundred thousand won in the industry · We will advise after consultation, depending on whether it is a new designation or redesignation, the volume of export performance and certification evidence to organize, and how much of the non-quantitative evaluation material needs to be newly written. Government fees are separate.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Public Procurement Service Act, Article 28
• Regulation on Designation, Management and Export Support of Promising Companies for Overseas Procurement Markets (Public Procurement Service notice, effective July 1, 2025), Articles 3 to 15, 20 and 21
• Regulation on Designation, Management and Export Support of Promising Companies for Overseas Procurement Markets, Annexes 1, 2 and 3
• Regulation on Designation, Management and Export Support of Promising Companies for Overseas Procurement Markets (issued October 1, 2026, effective January 1, 2027), Articles 5 to 11

Checked against the statutes on 2026-10-10

Statutes and public notices change, so each case needs to be checked individually. Statute titles are given in English for reference. The Korean statutes are the authoritative text.

Check these first

• From January 1, 2027, the amended regulation takes effect and the review stages, pass standards and redesignation period change, so first check which regulation the announcement for the application round applies.
• A designation obtained by false or fraudulent means may be cancelled, so state export performance, certifications and participation records consistently with the supporting evidence.

Frequently asked questions