Asks subordinate officers to refrain from creating Custom/BoQ bids
SRINAGAR: The Finance Department has said that the buyers are misusing GeM platform by way of creating Custom /BoQ bids for any item for which regular catalogue/category-based bidding is available on GeM.
Following this the department has advised all the Administrative Departments to direct their subordinate officers to refrain from creating Custom/BoQ bids for any item for which regular category is available on GeM.
A circular in this regard has been issued by the Finance Department which reads, “It has come to the notice of Finance Department that buyers are misusing the GeM platform by way of creating Custom /BoQ bids for any item for which regular catalogue/category-based bidding is available on GeM”.
Some buyers are opting for BoQ based bidding or custom catalogue based bidding for cases that are possible through regular catalogue/category-based bidding, it added.
As Custom/BoQ bids are manually created by Buyers, the Bidders and their Product Offerings in such bids are not validated by GeM. In Custom/ BoQ bids, the credentials of sellers on their authorization by the OEMs are not validated since there is no pre-uploaded catalogue or OEM mapping possible.
Custom catalogue and BoQ based bidding is not to be resorted to in respect of items for which regular categories exist on GeM. This is particularly important in respect of Information Technology, Cyber Security, Surveillance and Medical Equipment categories etc., where there is possibility of data transfer through the equipment. In addition, adequate care needs to be taken by the Buyer to ensure compliance of the restrictions under Rule 144(xi) of GFR, 2017, MSE and MII Purchase Preference while creating Custom or BoQ based bid for categories not available on GeM.
GeM has informed that it would be constrained to cancel any bid created by the Buyer using Custom / BoQ bid method for which regular categories exist on GeM, irrespective of the stage up to which the bid has progressed. Buyers are necessarily required to refrain from creating Custom/BoQ bids for any item for which regular category is available on GeM.
Accordingly all the Administrative Departments are advised to direct their subordinate officers to refrain from creating Custom/BoQ bids for any item for which regular category is available on GeM.
