MANEPS Registration Guide
How to register as a supplier on Malawi's mandatory electronic procurement system
Important: As of April 2026, MANEPS registration is mandatory for all suppliers wishing to bid on government tenders in Malawi. Paper-based bids are no longer accepted for most procurements.
In this guide
1. What is MANEPS?
MANEPS (Malawi National Electronic Procurement System) is the government's official e-procurement platform. It was developed with World Bank support under the Good Governance and Public Sector Development Project (GGPDP) and became mandatory for all government procurement in April 2026.
MANEPS digitises the entire procurement cycle:
- Tender publication — all government tenders published electronically
- Bid submission — suppliers submit bids online, no physical delivery
- Evaluation — structured evaluation with audit trail
- Contract award — award notifications sent through the platform
- Contract management — performance tracking and payments
2. Why You Must Register
Since April 2026, MANEPS registration is no longer optional. Here's why it matters:
Legal requirement
The PPDA Act 2025 mandates electronic procurement. Unregistered suppliers cannot participate.
Access all tenders
Government tenders from all ministries, parastatals, and councils are now published on MANEPS.
Automatic notifications
Receive email alerts when new tenders matching your categories are published.
Transparent process
Full audit trail of bids, evaluations, and awards. Reduced corruption risk.
3. Registration Requirements
To register on MANEPS, you need:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Business registration | Registered with Registrar General (Business Registration Act) |
| Tax compliance | Valid Tax Clearance Certificate from MRA (renewed annually) |
| PPDA registration | Valid PPDA Supplier Registration Certificate |
| Email address | Active email for account verification and notifications |
| Mobile number | Malawi mobile number for SMS verification |
| Internet access | Reliable connection for uploading documents and submitting bids |
4. Required Documents
Have these documents ready before starting registration (PDF format, max 5MB each):
- 1 Business Registration Certificate — from the Registrar General's Office
- 2 Tax Clearance Certificate — current, from MRA (valid for the current tax year)
- 3 PPDA Supplier Registration Certificate — see our PPDA guide for how to register
- 4 Company profile or capability statement — summarising your experience, key personnel, and past contracts
- 5 Bank reference letter — from your business bank (some tenders require this)
5. Step-by-Step Registration
Visit the MANEPS Portal
Go to maneps.mw and click the "Supplier Registration" or "Register" button on the homepage.
Create Your Account
Enter your email address, mobile phone number, and create a strong password. You will receive a verification code via email or SMS — enter it to confirm your account.
Complete Your Business Profile
Fill in all required fields: company legal name, Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), business registration number, physical address, postal address, and contact details. For sole traders, use your personal details.
Upload Required Documents
Upload your business registration certificate, tax clearance certificate, and PPDA registration certificate. Files should be in PDF format, clear and legible. Maximum file size is typically 5MB per document.
Select Supply Categories
Choose the goods, works, or services categories that match your business. You can select multiple categories. This determines which tender notifications you receive.
Submit and Wait for Verification
Review all information and submit your application. The PPDA verification team will review your documents. This typically takes 5-10 business days. You'll receive an email notification once approved.
Start Bidding
Once approved, log in to MANEPS to browse active tenders, download documents, and submit bids electronically. You can also browse tenders on TendersMW for a consolidated view across all sources.
6. Supply Categories
MANEPS uses the same category system as PPDA. Common categories include:
Goods & Supplies
Office equipment, stationery, vehicles, fuel, medical supplies
Construction & Works
Building, roads, bridges, renovation, infrastructure
Consulting Services
Advisory, research, evaluations, audits
IT & Technology
Software, hardware, networks, digital transformation
View all categories to see current tender counts.
7. Fees and Costs
MANEPS registration itself is free. However, you need the following paid registrations:
| Item | Cost | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| PPDA Registration (Citizen) | MWK 25,000 | 2 years |
| PPDA Registration (Foreign) | MWK 100,000 | 2 years |
| Tax Clearance Certificate | Free (if tax compliant) | 1 year |
| Business Registration | MWK 12,000 - 35,000 | Perpetual |
| MANEPS Account | Free | Ongoing |
See our PPDA procurement guide for detailed fee schedules by category.
8. Using MANEPS to Bid
Once registered, here's how to use MANEPS for bidding:
Browse tenders
Log in and browse active tenders by category, procuring entity, or keyword. You can also set up email notifications for your categories.
Download tender documents
Download the full tender document, terms of reference, and any addenda. Some tenders charge a document fee (typically MWK 5,000-20,000).
Prepare your bid
Follow the tender document instructions exactly. Prepare technical and financial proposals as separate documents. Use the templates provided.
Submit electronically
Upload your bid documents through MANEPS before the deadline. The system timestamps all submissions — late submissions are automatically rejected.
Track results
Check the platform for evaluation results and award notifications. You can also view past tender results for benchmarking.
9. Common Issues & Fixes
Verification email not received
Check your spam/junk folder. If still missing, try re-registering with a different email or contact PPDA helpdesk. Gmail and Yahoo work best.
Document upload fails
Ensure files are PDF format, under 5MB, and not password-protected. Compress large files. Use a stable internet connection.
Account stuck in "Pending"
Verification takes 5-10 business days. If longer, call the PPDA helpdesk at +265 1 770 335 or email info@ppda.mw.
Cannot find a tender
Some tenders are restricted to specific categories. Ensure your profile includes the correct supply categories. Also check TendersMW search for tenders from other sources.
Bid submission error
Don't wait until the last minute. Submit at least 2 hours before the deadline. If the system is down, take screenshots as evidence and contact the procuring entity.
10. PPDA vs MANEPS — What's the Difference?
| Aspect | PPDA | MANEPS |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Regulator and oversight body | E-procurement platform |
| Registration | Supplier registration (required) | Platform account (required) |
| What you do | Get approved as a supplier | Find and bid on tenders |
| Fee | MWK 25,000 / 100,000 | Free |
| Order | Register first | Register second |
Bottom line: You need both. Register with PPDA first (it's the prerequisite), then create your MANEPS account to access the e-procurement system.
11. Tips for Success
Keep documents current
Tax clearance expires annually. PPDA registration every 2 years. Set calendar reminders for renewal.
Complete your profile fully
Incomplete profiles get lower visibility. Add past contracts, references, key personnel, and company capabilities.
Check daily for new tenders
Some tenders have short windows (14 days). Enable email notifications and check MANEPS and TendersMW daily.
Start small
Build your track record with smaller contracts before bidding on large ones. Past performance is a major evaluation factor.
12. Useful Resources
- ‣ MANEPS Portal: maneps.mw
- ‣ PPDA: ppda.mw — supplier registration and regulations
- ‣ MRA: mra.mw — tax clearance and TIN registration
- ‣ PPDA Helpdesk: +265 1 770 335 / info@ppda.mw
- ‣ How to Bid: Our comprehensive bidding guide
- ‣ Procurement Law: PPDA Act 2025 reference