Guidelines for Bidders
(The following section is meant only to provide guidance to bidders about MSTC’s e-bidding
portal for coal linkage auctions. These guidelines are subject to change from time to time
depending on the development of the portal. Bidders are advised to keep checking the latest
guidelines from the website to keep themselves updated. They may also contact the offices of
MSTC to seek clarification on any point. MSTC shall not be responsible for any mistake
committed by any bidder or for any consequent loss to the bidder due to misunderstanding
anything written hereunder.)
System Requirement
The following requirements need to be fulfilled for optimum use of MSTC e-auction system for Coal
Linkage.
(1) A computer connected to internet through an ISP.
(2) The computer should have adequate RAM depending on version of Windows.
(3) The computer (Desktop / Laptop) should have Windows 7 or above.
The website is best viewed in Internet Explorer version 7 or above. In case there is a different
version being used, the website should be added to Compatibility View Settings as shown below
Tools > Compatibility View Settings>
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Add our website mstcecommerce.com
4) The website http://www.mstcecommerce.com should be added to the list of “Trusted Sites”.
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(5) All the ActiveX controls of the Internet Explorer should be Enabled as shown below.
Tools > Internet Options
Security > Custom level >
Uncheck “Enable protected Mode”
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Enable ALL Active–X Controls and Plug-ins
The custom settings should be reset to the lowest possible option from the drop down.
(6) Disable “Use Pop-up blocker” under the heading Miscellaneous
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(7) The settings under Browsing History (Under Tools Internet Options General) for Check
for newer versions of web pages should be kept at Every time I visit the webpage as shown
below.
(8) Latest Drivers for your Digital Signature Certificate should be installed properly in the
computer.
(9) The PC should run as an Administrator to install packages on being prompted on screen like
TCS signer file for signing with DSC, Java encryption applet for data encryption, etc.
(10) The protected mode of the computer should be turned off as described in the next page.
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Under Tools> Internet Options > Security > There is a check box “ENABLE PROTECTED MODE”. To
enable the Digital Signature Certificate appear in the Signer the box should be unchecked as shown
below.
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After Changing the settings the message might appear on your screen “Your current security
settings put your computer at risk. Click here to change your security settings” as shown in
subsequent screenshots. This should not be fixed under any circumstances. Initially it might appear
with a blue question mark as shown below.
In the above case, the blue question mark sign indicates that the website wants to run certain add-
on/s. That should be done by right clicking on the icon and running the add-ons as shown in
subsequent screenshots.
Right Click on the message and run the add-on/s as they appear.
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A sample add-on is shown below when the add-on wants to run. Click on Run to allow that add-on.
Another add-on “TCS Signer” also needs to run similarly to allow DSC’s to sign digitally.
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