Para 1.10 — CONSULT_MANUAL

1.10.1 Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) (Rule 153

(ii) of GFR 2017) 1. The Policy: From time to time, the Government of India (Procuring Entity) lays down procurement policies to help inclusive national economic growth by providing long-term support to micro and small enterprises and disadvantaged sections of society and to address environmental concerns. The Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises, 2012 [amended 2018 and 2021] has been notified by the Government in exercise of the powers conferred in Section 11 of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006. Details of the policy along with the amendments issued in 20189 and 202110 are available on the MSME website11.

2. Eligibility: a) Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) registered under Udyam Registration are eligible to avail the benefits under the policy.

Note: Before considering any Purchase Preference mentioned below, the Procuring Entity should check the latest directives in this regard for necessary action. Purchase Preference provision shall invariably be part of the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) and Instructions to Bidders/ Consultants (ITB/ ITC).

1.10 Preferential Purchase from certain sources The Central Government may, by notification, provide for mandatory procurement of any goods or services from any category of bidders, or provide for preference to bidders on the grounds of promotion of locally manufactured goods or locally provided services. (General and Financial Rules, 2017, Rule 153 (iii)).

i) 12In case of an upward change in terms of investment in plant and machinery or equipment or turnover or both, and consequent re-classification, an enterprise shall continue to avail of all nontax benefits of the category (micro, small, or medium) it was in before the re-classification, for a period of three years from the date of such upward change. Non-tax benefits include benefits of various schemes of the Government, including Public Procurement Policy, Delayed Payments, etc. ii) MSEs would be treated as owned by SC/ ST or Women entrepreneurs: 1). In the case of proprietary MSE, proprietor

(s) are SC /ST or Woman; 2). In the case of partnership MSE, the SC/ ST or Women partners hold at least 51% (fifty-one per cent) shares in the unit; 3). In the case of Private Limited Companies, SC/ ST or Women promoters hold at least 51% (fifty-one per cent) share.

3. Applicability and Exemptions: a) The policy is applicable to Central Government Ministries/ Departments/ Public Sector Undertakings b) The policy is not applicable to State Government Ministries/ Departments/ State PSEs, but they have similar policies applicable in their state. c) Exemptions: Given their unique nature, defence armament imports shall not be included in computing the 25 (twenty-five) per cent goal for the Ministry of Defence. In addition, defence equipment like weapon systems, missiles, etc., shall remain out of the purview of such a reservation policy. Monitoring of goals set under the policy will be done, as far as they relate to the Defence sector, by the Ministry of Defence itself in accordance with suitable procedures to be established by them.

b) This Policy provides preferential procurement of goods produced and services rendered by MSEs. Traders/ distributors/ sole agents/ Works Contract are excluded from the purview of the policy.

4. Facilities for MSE: a) Reduced Transaction Costs: To reduce transaction cost of doing business, MSEs will be facilitated by providing them tender documents free of cost, exempting MSEs from payment of earnest money deposit, adopting e-procurement to bring transparency in tender process. However, exemption from paying Performance Bank Guarantee/ Security Deposit is not covered under the policy. b) Relaxation in Prior Turnover and Experience: The Procuring Entity may relax the condition of prior turnover and prior experience for start-up enterprises recognised by the Department for Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT), subject to meeting quality & technical specifications. Startups may be MSEs or otherwise. Such relaxation can be provided in the case of procurement of works as well. It is further clarified that such relaxation is not optional but normally has to be ensured, except in case of procurement of items related to public safety, health, critical security operations and equipment, etc.) where adequate justification exists for the Procuring Entity not to relax such criteria13. The decision of the Procuring Entity in this regard shall be final. Please also refer to para 1.10.4-2-b), 5.2.2-6-b) and 7.3.3-6) (table). (Rule 173

(i) of GFR 2017). c) Timely Payments: Chapter V of the MSMED Act, 2006 also has provision for ensuring timely payments to the MSE suppliers. The period agreed upon for payment must not exceed forty-five days from the deemed acceptance of the materials supplied by the MSEs; in case of any discrepancies in the supplies, then the Procuring Entity shall raise objection to the MSE supplier within 15 days from date of receipt of materials, if such objection is not raised, then it will be taken as deemed acceptance. For delays in payment the buyer shall be liable to pay compound interest to the supplier on the delayed amount at three times of the bank rate notified by the Reserve Bank. For arbitration and conciliation regarding recovery of such payments and interests, Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council has been setup in states.

7. Policy Implementation: a) A Review Committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of MSME for monitoring and reviewing of Public Procurement Policy for MSEs. M/O MSME will review and/or modify the composition of the Committee as and when required. This Committee will, inter alia, review the list of 358 items reserved for exclusive purchase from MSEs on a continuous basis, consider requests from Central Government Departments, CPSUs for exemption from 25 (twenty-five) percent target on a case-to-case basis and monitor achievements under the Policy. b) To monitor the progress of procurement by Central Government Ministries/ Departments and CPSEs from MSEs, Ministry of MSME has launched the MSME ‘Sambandh’14 Portal on 8th December 2017 for uploading procurement details by all CPSEs on a monthly and an annual basis which is regularly monitored by the Ministry. c) To redress the grievances of MSEs related to non-compliance of the Policy a Grievance cell named “CHAMPION Portal” has been set up in the Ministry of MSME. d) Clarifications: Office of Development Commissioner (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) issued FAQs 15 on Public Procurement Policy for MSE Order, 2012, placed at Annexure-19.

6. Developing MSE Vendors: The Central Ministries or Departments or Public Sector Undertakings shall take necessary steps to develop appropriate vendors by organising Vendor Development Programmes (VDP) or Buyer-Seller Meets focused on developing Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) for procurement through GeM Portal. To enhance the participation of MSEs owned by SCs /STs/ Women in Government procurement, Central Government Ministries/ Departments/ CPSEs should conduct Special Vendor Development Programmes/ Buyer-Seller Meets for SC/STs and Women MSEs.

5. Purchase Preference a) Under the amended Public Procurement Policy for MSEs, Order 2012, the Central Government Ministries/ Departments/ Public Sector Undertakings shall procure a minimum of 25 per cent of their annual value of goods or services from MSEs. (In accordance with General Financial Rules, 2017, Rule 153-(ii)). i) The annual goal of procurement from MSEs also includes subcontracts to Micro and Small Enterprises by large enterprises and consortia of Micro and Small Enterprises formed by the National Small Industries Corporation. If a subcontract is given to MSEs, it will be considered as procurement from MSEs. ii) The annual target of 25% procurement from MSEs is only a minimum. The MSE purchase preference is mandatory for all procurements (except for exemptions as per sub-para 3-c above), even after this target is achieved. For example, it is not permissible for organisations to earmark only some goods/ services to be procured exclusively from MSEs to achieve the annual target and not apply MSE procurement preferences to the rest of the goods/services. b) In tender, if the L1 price is from someone other than an MSE, participating Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE) quoting prices within a price band of L1+15 (fifteen) per cent shall be allowed to supply up to 25 (twenty-five) per cent of the total tendered value by bringing down their price to L1 price. If there is more than one eligible MSE within such price band who agree to match the L1 price, the 25 (twenty-five) per cent quantity is to be distributed proportionately to them

Note: If the procuring entity negotiates with the non-MSE L1 bidder, the price band (L1+15%) should be calculated based on the original L1 price, not the lower negotiated price, and such eligible MSE bidders shall be called to match the new negotiated L1 price as per procedure mentioned above for placement of 25% quantity. i) In case the tender item cannot be split or divided, etc., the MSE quoting a price within the band L1+15% may be awarded for full/ complete supply of the total tendered value to MSE, considering the spirit of the Policy for enhancing Government procurement from MSEs. ii) Out of the target of 25% of annual procurement from MSEs (Not in the specific tender), the sub-target of 4% of annual procurement from MSEs is earmarked for procurement from MSEs owned by Scheduled Caste (SC)/ Scheduled Tribe (ST) entrepreneurs, and 3% of annual procurement from MSEs is earmarked for procurement from MSEs owned by women entrepreneur. However, in the event of failure of such MSEs to participate in the tender process or meet tender requirements and L1 price, the 4% sub-target for procurement earmarked for MSEs owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs and 3% earmarked to women entrepreneurs will also be met from other MSEs.