The government has set up an e-marketplace for procuring common use goods and services.
The Director General Supply and Disposal will host an online Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for common use goods and services. It can be used by government buyers for direct online purchases.
Purchases up to ₹50,000 can be made through any available supplier on the GeM. For purchases exceeding this limit, the supplier having lowest price amongst the available suppliers and meeting the requisite quality, specification and delivery period will have to be selected.
GeM will also provide tools for online bidding and online reverse auction which can be used by the purchaser.
The move is based on a suggestion by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The Department of Expenditure has added a new provision in the General Financial Rules (GFR) on the request of Commerce Department for creation of a one-stop GeM by Directorate General Supply and Disposal (DGS&D).
The DGS&D will host an online Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for common use goods and services. The GeM would be dynamic, self-sustaining and user-friendly. DGS&D will ensure adequate publicity, including periodic advertisements in newspapers of the GeM and the items to be procured through GeM, for prospective suppliers.
As per the guidelines, the procuring authorities will satisfy themselves that the price of the selected offer is reasonable.
The GeM may be utilised by government buyers (at their option) for direct online purchases.