Government e-Market Place – GeM is dynamic, self sustaining and user friendly portal for making procurement by Government offices. It is the short form of one stop Government e-Market Place hosted by DGS&D (Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals) where common user goods and services can be procured. It is the Government’s bold step with the aim to transform the way in which the procurement of goods and services is done by the government sector. DGS&D with technical support of National eGovernance Division (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) has developed GeM portal for procurement of both Products & Services. The portal was launched on 9th August 2016 by the Commerce & Industry Minister.
Procurement on GeM has been authorized by General Financial Rules by making necessary changes in government rules. Presently more than 7400 products in about 150 product categories and hiring of transport service are available on GeM POC portal. Transactions for more than Rs 140 Crore have already been processed through GeM. GeM is a completely paperless, cashless and system driven e-market place that enables procurement of common use goods and services with minimal human interface.
The advantage of buyers is that they has got a rich listing of products for individual categories of Goods/Services through which they can Search, Compare, Select and Buy facility. The transaction of goods can be done online, as and when required. There is transparency and ease of buying. The Vendor rating system is continuously monitored. User-friendly dashboard for buying and monitoring supplies and payments along with easy return policy is available in this platform.
On the other hand, sellers will be getting direct access to all government departments. Only one stop shop for marketing of various goods with minimal efforts is needed. Bids or reverse Auction is possible and new product suggestion facility is available for sellers. The price can be changed based on the market conditions. Seller friendly dashboard for selling and monitoring of supplies and payments and the purchase procedures is consistent and uniform. This portal also eliminates human interface in vendor registration, order placement and payment processing, to a great extent.
GeM facilitates the listing of products for individuals, prescribed categories of Goods or Services of common use. It also looks, estimate, compare and buying facility on dynamic pricing basis of the products. A market place where majority will be common user items. The purchase can be done online, as and when required. Single Window System will be pertained for aggregating demands and ordering. Transparency and ease of buying is ensured. Both low value buying as well as bulk buying at competitive price using reverse auction or e-bidding is prevailing under this system. The vendor will be monitored regularly. User friendly dash board for buying and monitoring supplies and payments along with return policy is also implemented under this system.
Being an open platform, GeM offers no entry barriers to bonafide suppliers who wish to do business with the Government. The seller has to go through a registration process in this platform. For this, information regarding Aadhar/PAN credentials, bank details, details of the products, Income Tax Returns should be provided. At every step, SMS and e-Mail notifications are sent to both buyer, his/her head of organization, paying authorities as well as sellers. Online, cashless and time bound payment on GeM is facilitated through integration with PFMS and State Bank Multi Option System (SBMOPS); web-services integration is being extended to payment systems of Railways, Defence, major PSUs and State Governments. Seamless processes and online time-bound payment, which is also mandated by the Department of Expenditure, has given confidence to the vendors and reduced their ‘administrative’ cost involved in pursuing officers for timely payment.
