e-Procurement System

A state of the art Mission Mode Project (MMP) under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) of Government of India, e-Procurement System is a process of procuring the items electronically, aimed to mould government tendering simplified, transparent and result-oriented developed by NIC. This facility drastically reduces the tendering cycle time and reduces most of the indirect costs and enhances transparency in procurement. Electronic procurement covers every stage from the notification process through to payment and eventually contract management. Electronic procurement comprises the set of following modules, associated with the public procurement functionality supported: e-notification, e-tendering, e-awarding and e-payment. With the adoption of an e-procurement system, the following benefits are envisaged.

  • Enhancing security and confidentiality.
  • Transparency and fairness.
  • An efficient and cost-effective advertising medium for public authorities.
  • Documentation can be made readily available.
  • Dismantling barriers which impede fair competition.
  • Facilitates prompt completion of contracts.
  • Reduced administrative and transaction costs.
  • More competition into the process, ensuring value for money for the government.
  • Saves money and time for suppliers and buyers.

This electronic mode of procurement was open heartedly embraced by the Government of Kerala. Kerala e-Procurement System has now become an extraordinary portal for procurement activities of the state and is maintained spectacularly by IT Mission of the State. The Government vide GO (P) No 15/2013/Fin dated 07/01/2013, ordered that from 01-04-2013, all Government departments/Boards/PSUs should follow e-Procurement for all tenders involving cost above Rs 25 lakh.
Irrigation Department made an earnest attempt to commence the e-Tendering process before the deadline set by the Government. The department identified the work ‘Formation of Vadakara-Mahe Canal under the Inland Navigation Directorate to be tendered first, on electronic mode. With assistance from Kerala, IT Mission officials from Inland Navigation Directorate were given training. The Honorable Minister for Water Resources unveiled the formal launching of e-Tendering in his chamber on 09-01-2013. With that jump-start, the department has gained a clear edge over other Government departments in electronic procurement.
The department planned a systematic method to educate the officials to use the e-Tendering system. Three regional workshops were conducted by the department at Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Kozhikode for training the e-Tendering authorities with the help of IT Mission. e-Tendering is now fully operational up to the circle level offices in the department. Milestones achieved till date:

  • Total no of tenders published - 1723
  • The total value of tenders – 363930.08 Lakh
  • Officials trained – 200
  • DSC issued – 75

e-Tenders Kerala: www.etenders.kerala.gov.in