Rule 197 — Rule 197 helps government officers understand what
Original Rule Text
Rule 197 "Non-Consulting Service" means any subject matter of procurement (which as distinguished from 'Consultancy Services'), involve physical, measurable deliverables/ outcomes, where performance standards can be clearly identified and consistently applied, other than goods or works, except those incidental or consequential to the service, and includes maintenance, hiring of vehicle, outsourcing of building facilities management, security, photocopier service, janitor, office errand services, drilling, aerial photography, satellite imagery, mapping etc.
What This Means
Rule 197 helps government officers understand what a 'Non-Consulting Service' is when they need to buy something for their department. Simply put, these are services where you can clearly see, measure, or count what you're getting, and you can set very specific standards for how well the service should be performed. It's different from hiring a consultant for advice, and it's also different from buying physical items (goods) or undertaking construction projects (works), unless those items or works are just a small, necessary part of the service itself.
Think of it this way: if you can write down exactly what the service provider needs to deliver, how much of it, and how often, then it's likely a Non-Consulting Service. For instance, if you hire a cleaning company, you can specify how many rooms to clean, how often, and what standards of cleanliness to meet. This rule is important because it guides how government departments should categorize and procure these types of services.
By correctly identifying them, officers can apply the right financial rules and procedures for tendering, contracting, and payment, ensuring transparency and efficiency in government spending. Common examples include hiring vehicles, managing office facilities, providing security, or even specialized services like aerial photography or mapping.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Key Points
- 1Non-Consulting Services involve physical, measurable deliverables or outcomes.
- 2Performance standards for these services can be clearly defined and consistently applied.
- 3They are distinct from 'Consultancy Services', which typically involve intellectual input or advice.
- 4They are also different from 'goods' or 'works', except when goods or works are incidental to the service.
- 5Common examples include maintenance, vehicle hiring, facility management, security, and office support services.
- 6This rule helps government officers correctly categorize procurements for appropriate financial procedures.
Practical Example
Imagine the Ministry of Health needs to outsource the management of its main office building in Delhi. This includes daily cleaning, security personnel, maintenance of air conditioning units, and a dedicated helpdesk for staff issues. The procurement officer, Ms. Sharma, reviews Rule 197. She notes that these services involve clear, measurable outcomes: a clean building (measurable by inspection), a certain number of security guards on duty (measurable by presence), functional AC units (measurable by performance checks), and a responsive helpdesk (measurable by response times and resolution rates).
Since these are not 'Consultancy Services' (they don't need expert advice on policy) and while they involve some 'goods' (cleaning supplies, spare parts for AC), these are incidental to the primary service of managing the facility. Therefore, Ms. Sharma correctly categorizes this as a 'Non-Consulting Service' procurement. This classification then guides her in selecting the appropriate tender process, drafting the service level agreements with specific performance indicators, and setting up payment schedules based on the achievement of these measurable deliverables, ensuring the Ministry gets exactly what it pays for.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Frequently Asked Questions
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This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.