Rule 144 — GFR

Rule 144 Fundamental principles of public buying (for all procurements including procurement of works). Every authority delegated with the financial powers of procuring goods in public interest shall have the responsibility and accountability to bring efficiency, economy, and transparency in matters relating to public procurement and for fair and equitable treatment of suppliers and promotion of competition in public procurement. The procedure to be followed in making public procurement must conform to the following yardsticks: -

(i) The description of the subject matter of procurement to the extent practicable should - a. Be objective, functional, generic and measurable and specify technical, qualitative and performance characteristics. b. Not indicate a requirement for a particular trade mark, trade name or brand.

(ii) The specifications in terms of quality, type etc., as also quantity of goods to be procured, should be clearly spelt out keeping in view the specific needs of the procuring organisations. The specifications so worked out should meet the basic needs of the organisation without including superfluous and non- essential features, which may result in unwarranted expenditure.

(iii) Where applicable, the technical specifications shall, to the extent practicable, be based on the national technical regulations or recognized national standards or building codes, wherever such standards exist, and in their absence, be based on the relevant international standards. In case of Government of India funded projects abroad, the technical specifications may be framed based on requirements and standards of the host beneficiary Government, where such standards exist.

Provided that a procuring entity may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, adopt any other technical specification.

(iv) Care should also be taken to avoid purchasing quantities in excess of requirement to avoid inventory carrying costs.

(v) Offers should be invited following a fair, transparent and reasonable procedure.

(vi) The procuring authority should be satisfied that the selected offer adequately meets the requirement in all respects.

(vii) The procuring authority should satisfy itself that the price of the selected offer is reasonable and consistent with the quality required.

(viii) At each stage of procurement, the concerned procuring authority must place on record, in precise terms, the considerations which weighed with it while taking the procurement decision.

(ix) A complete schedule of procurement cycle from date of issuing the tender to date of issuing the contract should be published when the tender is issued.

(x) All Ministries/Departments shall prepare Annual Procurement Plan before the commencement of the year and the same should also be placed on their website.

(xi) [Notwithstanding anything contained in these Rules, Department of Expenditure may, by order in writing, impose restrictions, including prior registration and/ or screening, on procurement from bidders from, or bidders having commercial arrangements with an entity from, a country or countries, or a class of countries, on grounds of defence of India, or matters directly or indirectly related thereto including national security; no procurement shall be made in violation of such restrictions.]1