Para 4.17 — GOODS_MANUAL

4.17.1 Electronic Procurement (e-Procurement - Rule 160 of GFR 2017) 1. Electronic procurement (e-procurement) is the use of information and communication technology (specially the internet) by the buyer (through a third-party e-Procurement portal) in conducting procurement processes with the vendors/ contractors for the acquisition of goods (supplies), works and services aimed at open, non-discriminatory, and efficient procurement through transparent procedures. A generic description of how eProcurement is conducted is detailed in ‘Appendix 3: Electronic Procurement (eProcurement) and e-Auction’.

2. It is mandatory for ministries/departments to receive all bids through e-procurement portals that are GCQE78 compliant for all procurements. This condition will not be applicable for the procurement made without quotation (under Rule 154 of GFRs, 2017) or through purchase committee (under Rule 155 of GFRs, 2017).

4.17. Channels of Procurement Public procurement can be performed through manual bids, eProcurement Platforms, GeM Portal, or third-party agencies.

3. Normally, in e-procurement, no physical/ off-line tender documents are provided, nor are any manual bids accepted. It is not a good practice to call both electronic and manual bids in the same tender. Sub-paras 4), 5) and 6) below allow exemptions in specific situations mentioned therein, from e-Procurement, in cases where it is not convenient or feasible. 4. In Global Tender Enquiry (by any mode – Open Tender, Limited Tender or Single Tender), e-procurement may not be mandatorily insisted upon; however, e-publishing would still be mandatory. (refer to para 4.3.1 above). 5. In individual cases where national security and strategic considerations demand confidentiality, Ministries/ Departments may exempt such cases from e-procurement after seeking the approval of the concerned Secretary and with the concurrence of Financial Advisers. In case of tenders floated by Indian Missions and CPSE units abroad, the Competent Authority for deciding the tender may exempt such cases from e-procurement. 6. The National Informatics Centre (NIC) has an e-Procurement portal called Government eProcurement of NIC (GePNIC). There are other service providers in the Public Sector (e.g., MSTC) and Private sector that can be utilized for e-procurement. Details about the process of e-procurement are available from the service providers. Appendix 3 also gives such generic details of the e-procurement process. 7. Ministries/ Departments that do not have a large volume of procurement or carry out procurements required only for the day-to-day running of offices and have not initiated eprocurement through any other solution provided so far may use e-procurement solution developed by NIC. Other Ministries/ Departments may either use an e-procurement solution developed by NIC or engage any other service provider (GCQE79 compliant) following due process. 8. These instructions will not apply to procurements made by Ministries/ Departments through Government e-Marketplace (GeM).