"ESI Corporation intends to start use of smart cards for providing medical and other benefits for its beneficiaries under current and contemplated benefits of ESI Scheme or government scheme," the corporation said, while inviting Expression of Interest from IT and ITes service providers for operationalise the scheme.

The selected firm would have to provide "total solution for the use of smart cards in ESI institutions all over the country on turn-key basis", it said.

Presently, the ESI scheme covers over 91 lakh families and the total number of beneficiaries under the scheme are about 3.5 crore. It extends to shops, restaurants, cinemas including preview theatre, road motor transport undertakings and newspaper establishment employing 20 or more persons.

The scheme has been implemented across India except, Sikkim, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.

The interested firms can send their proposals by February 6, the ESI said, adding, the vendors would be selected after obtaining Request for Proposal from shortlisted bidders.

According to the ESI, the selected company would operate the smart card scheme on a turn key basis and also impart training in operation of transaction to all stakeholders.

The prospective bidders, it said, should be a national level IT/ITes firm in operation for at least five years and must have a turnover of Rs 5 crore in the past three years.