Government e-Market | GeM-How to work efficiently

Buyer

Government e Marketplace

Government e Marketplace (GeM) is an online platform for public procurement in India. The initiative was launched on August 9, 2016 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India with the objective to create an open and transparent procurement platform for government buyers. It was created in a record time of 5 months to facilitate online procurement of Goods & Services

General Financial Rules (GFRs) – Brief and certain exemptions General Financial Rules (GFRs) are a compilation of rules and orders of Government of India to be followed by all while dealing with matters involving public finances. These rules and orders are treated as executive instructions to be observed by all Departments and Organisations under the Government and specified Bodies except otherwise provided for in these Rules. These rules can be accessed here. The following exemptions under GFRs may be useful when procuring innovative products created by startups: • Rule 173 (i) of the GFRs exempts the startup from Prior Experience and Prior Turnover requirements for DPIIT Recognized Startups subject to meeting of quality & technical specifications and making suitable provisions in the bidding document. • Rule 149 of the GFRs state the various procurement limits of goods that can be procured through GeM. The GeM portal shall be utilized by the Government buyers for direct online purchases as under:- i. Up to Rs.50,000/- through any of the available suppliers on the GeM, meeting the requisite quality, specification and delivery period. ii. Above Rs.50,000/- and up to Rs.30,00,000/- through the GeM Seller having lowest price amongst the available sellers, of at least three different manufacturers, on GeM, eeting the requisite quality, specification and delivery period. The tools for online bidding and online reverse auction available on GeM can be used by the Buyer if decided by the competent authority. iii. Above Rs.30,00,000/- through the supplier having lowest price meeting the requisite quality, specification and delivery period after mandatorily obtaining bids, using online bidding or reverse auction tool provided on GeM. The above mentioned monetary ceiling is applicable only for purchases made through GeM. For purchases, if any, outside GeM, relevant GFR Rules shall apply 

• Rule 154 of the GFRs state the process of procurement of goods without quotation.

Purchase of goods upto the value of Rs. 25,000 (Rupees twenty five thousand) only on

each occasion may be made without inviting quotations or bids on the basis of a certificate

to be recorded by the competent authority in the following format. “I, am personally

satisfied that these goods purchased are of the requisite quality and specification and

have been purchased from a reliable supplier at a reasonable price.”

• Rule 155 of the GFRs state the purchase of goods by Purchase Committee. Purchase of

goods costing above Rs. 25,000 (Rupees twenty five thousand only) and upto

Rs.2,50,000/- (Rupees two lakh and fifty thousand only) on each occasion may be made

on the recommendations of a duly constituted Local Purchase Committee consisting of

three members of an appropriate level as decided by the Head of the Department. The

committee will survey the market to ascertain the reasonableness of rate, quality and

specifications and identify the appropriate supplier. Before recommending placement of 

Terms and Conditions for enrolment of Buyer on GeM (Government e-Marketplace) 1. In the GeM Pilot (Phase), Central Government Ministries/Departments/State Governments including its attached/subordinate offices, Central Public Sector Units (CPSUs)/PSUs and Autonomous Bodies acting through its authorized officer(s) for and on behalf of President of India/Governor of state/CPSU/Autonomous Bodies, as the case may be, are authorized to register and purchase Goods/Services offered by “Vendor(s)/Seller(s)” on GeM. Gradually, the services shall be extended to other government users as well as territories. 2. On GeM, for purchases upto Rs.50,000/-, “Purchaser (s)/Buyer(s)” are authorised to source required items through any of the available suppliers on the GeM meeting requisite quality, specifications and delivery period. However, for purchases above Rs.50,000/-, “Purchaser (s)/Buyer(s)” are authorised to source required items through the supplier having lowest price amongst the available suppliers on the GeM meeting requisite quality, specifications and delivery period. Aforesaid, powers have been vested in the Government user departments so that they can meet their requirement of common user goods and services with the flexibility and speed of e-market place and relieve them from repeated mundane activity of bid management. It is important that these powers are used judiciously so that there is effective and efficient utilisation of precious government resources. Accordingly, it has been decided that every Ministry/Department/CPSU/ Autonomous Bodies shall nominate a primary user at the level of Deputy secretary/equivalent (or officer as referred in Office memorandum,( Office memorandum on clarification of HoD/Primary User on GeM. ) for using GeM Portal. This seniority has been kept keeping in view the flexibility of purchase provided to the government user using GeM as per GFR amendment vide Rule 141A. 

3. Accordingly, the primary registration to the government users is granted at the level of Deputy secretary/equivalent officer in respective government departments. The GeM have the facility for aforesaid primary users to create subordinate secondary users in the system with specific role and responsibilities of Buyers, DDOs, Consignees and PAOs. The secondary users in the system shall be person of responsibilities as approved by primary user, but not below the rank of a section officer/equivalent. These authorised secondary users shall have the rights and privileges as assigned to them by the primary user. The secondary users can not create further users in the system. 4. The primary user can also create a supervisor in the system. The Supervisor in the system shall be Director/Deputy Secretary equivalent officer. All the activities carried out by the secondary users in the GeM are notified to the concerned Supervisor Officer apart from being notified to other concerned secondary users. For example, if Secondary User “A” places purchase order in GeM with Secondary User “B” as consignee and Secondary User “C” as PAO, the system notification shall be sent to Secondary Users “B” and “C” as soon as Secondary User “A” places online order in GeM apart from sending notification to concerned supervising/supervisory officer. 5. The secondary users can interact with GeM helpdesk to resolve day to day operational issues. However, issues requiring escalation shall be referred to at the level of Supervisor Officer. 6. The detailed guidelines for registration are detailed below in the succeeding sub paragraphs