GeM (Government e-Marketplace)

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is an online platform for procurement of goods and services by the Government of India. It was launched in August 2016 with the aim of enhancing transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement. GeM provides an end-to-end digital solution for procurement of goods and services by the government. The platform is open to all central and state government departments, public sector units, and other government agencies.

GeM aims to simplify the procurement process and reduce the time and effort required to purchase goods and services. It eliminates the need for traditional tendering processes and allows for direct purchase from registered sellers on the platform. The platform also enables the government to take advantage of economies of scale by aggregating demand across various departments and agencies.

GeM provides a wide range of products and services including office supplies, books and stationery, electrical and electronic equipment, and construction and maintenance services among others. It also includes a feature of "Make in India" category to promote and encourage domestic production of goods and services.

In a nutshell, GeM is an innovative, user-friendly and transparent procurement platform that makes procurement process easy, efficient and cost-effective for Government buyers and at the same time provides a level playing field for suppliers to participate in Government procurement.

Advantages of GeM

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) offers several advantages for both government buyers and suppliers. Some of the key advantages of GeM include:

• Simplifies procurement process: GeM eliminates the need for traditional tendering processes and allows for direct purchase from registered sellers on the platform, making the procurement process faster and more efficient.
• Enhances transparency: GeM provides a transparent and open procurement process by allowing multiple suppliers to bid for a contract and by making all procurement data and information available to the public.
• Cost-effective: By aggregating demand across various departments and agencies, GeM allows the government to take advantage of economies of scale and negotiate better prices for goods and services.
• Encourages domestic production: GeM includes a feature of "Make in India" category to promote and encourage domestic production of goods and services.
• Easy Grievance Redressal: GeM has a feature of "GeM Samvad" for grievance redressal and for ensuring transparency and accountability in the procurement process.
• Wide Range of products and Services: GeM provides a wide range of products and services including office supplies, books and stationery, electrical and electronic equipment, and construction and maintenance services among others.
• User-Friendly: GeM has a user-friendly interface that simplifies the procurement process and makes it easy for government buyers to find and purchase the goods and services they need.
• Level playing field: It provides a level playing field for suppliers to participate in Government procurement.
• Reduces corruption: By digitizing the procurement process, GeM helps to reduce the potential for corruption and improves overall accountability.
• Increases efficiency: GeM allows for real-time tracking of procurement and delivery, which increases the overall efficiency of the procurement process.

Products on GeM

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) offers a wide range of products and services to government buyers. Some of the products and services that can be found on GeM include:

• Office Supplies: This includes items such as paper, pens, pencils, envelopes, and other commonly used office supplies.
• Books and Stationery: This includes items such as textbooks, novels, journals, and other types of reading materials.
• Electrical and Electronic Equipment: This includes items such as computers, laptops, printers, and other types of electronic equipment.
• Construction and Maintenance Services: This includes services such as building construction, electrical installation, and maintenance services.
• Furniture: This includes items such as office chairs, tables, and other types of furniture.
• Medical Equipment: This includes items such as hospital beds, diagnostic equipment, and other types of medical equipment.
• Laboratory Equipment: This includes items such as microscopes, centrifuges, and other types of laboratory equipment.
• IT and ITes: This includes items such as software, hardware, and IT-related services.
• Automobile: This includes items such as cars, buses, and other types of vehicles.
• Communication and Broadcasting equipment: This includes items such as radios, telephones, and other types of communication equipment.
• Solar Energy Equipment: This includes items such as solar panels, inverters, and other types of solar energy equipment.
• Water and Sanitation: This includes items such as water purifiers, sewage treatment plants, and other types of water and sanitation equipment.
• Cleaning and Housekeeping: This includes items such as cleaning supplies and services, and other types of housekeeping-related items and services.
• Make in India: This category promotes and encourages domestic production of goods and services.

Note: The above-listed products and services are examples of what is available on GeM, the platform offers a wide range of products and services which are updated and modified as per the requirements.

Key Role and Responsibilities

For Buyers

Platform Terms and Conditions

Buyers shall be responsible to remain updated with and adhere to the General Terms and Conditions and all other terms, conditions, policies and guidelines published on the GeM platform.

Information Disclosure

Buyers shall be responsible for ensuring that all information submitted on the platform by them is true and complete in all aspects.

Procurement Process

Buyers shall be responsible to ensure that procurement is done in compliance with the guidelines of the marketplace (including adherence to the timelines on order fulfillment and payment) and the General Financial Rules and other procurement policies/guidelines notified by the government from time to time as applicable when procuring on the GeM. Buyers shall also be responsible for ensuring appropriate use of the search and shortlisting functionality i.e. the buyer should use the filters provided for direct purchase appropriately and make selection basis the requirement.

Price Reasonability

The responsibility to ascertain the reasonability of price for all buying on GeM shall rest solely with the buyer. While GeM shall support multiple tools to help the buyer ascertain price reasonability, buyers must also use the Last Purchase Price as recorded by the buying entity in ascertaining price reasonability. In case of anomalies, buyers are expected to inform the GeM SPV and provide all details related to the more economical alternate source of procurement so that appropriate action can be taken to ensure that price reasonability is restored for all future transactions.

Procurement outside GeM

Buyers shall be responsible to ensure that GeM prices are not used for procurement outside of GeM i.e. to avoid entering into any offline contract with the seller directly based on the outcome of e-bid/RA conducted on GeM.

Annual Procurement Plan

Buyers shall be responsible to provide a projection of their annual demands in the format prescribed by GeM indicating required goods/services along with the specification, quality, quantity, consignee location and time of requirement etc. at the beginning of the financial year. This is as per Rule 149 (vi) of the GFR 2017.

Demand Splitting

Buyers shall be entirely responsible to prevent any misuse of the platform by means of splitting the demand and shall ensure that the right buying mode is used. Demand splitting for the purpose of using Direct Purchase instead of e-bid/RA or for avoiding the necessity of obtaining the sanction of higher authority shall not be permitted. This is as per Rule 149 (viii) of GFR 2017.

For Sellers

Platform Terms and Conditions

Sellers shall be responsible to remain updated regarding and adhere to the General Terms and Conditions and all additional terms, conditions, policies and guidelines published on the platform.

Information Disclosure

Sellers shall be responsible for ensuring that all information submitted on the platform is true and complete in all aspects and shall ensure that they possess key requisites for conducting business.

Product/service Listings

Sellers shall be responsible for ensuring that all statements and claims in their listings are true and complete and are complaint with GeM Terms and Conditions and the applicable provisions of law.

Maintaining Integrity

Sellers shall be responsible for ensuring that the price(s) offered are reasonable and to take all measures.