Government e-Marketplace (GeM), a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has taken a number of initiatives in the fight against COVID-19 Pandemic. GeM, which operates a dynamic, self-sustaining and user friendly portal for procurement of goods and services by Government offices, has taken steps to enable quick, efficient, transparent and cost-effective purchases in this hour of need. 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 portal. 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 steps taken recently are as follows:

1. A dedicated page for COVID 19 related categories has been created on GeM: https://gem.gov.in/covid19
2. Following categories have been created for medical supplies in addition to the 32 existing ones and are live on GeM:
   1. Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Sample Collection Kit
   2. Reusable vinyl/rubber gloves (cleaning)
   3. Eye protection (visor/goggles)
   4. Disposable thermometers.
   5. Single-use towels
   6. UV tube light for sterilization.
   7. Surgical Isolation Face Shield
   8. Medical waste incinerator

3. Following categories have been created for auxiliary supplies in addition to 52 categories and 7 services that existed:
   1. General purpose tool kit
   2. Wrought aluminum utensils

Total	173
Medical Related	120
Auxiliary	53

4. With this, all categories recommended by NITI Ayog in medical and auxiliary supplies are now on GeM. All OEMs, resellers and suppliers for the above newly created categories are being identified for onboarding on GeM.
5. The total number of COVID-19 related  categories on GeM as on date are:

     Detailed list of categories for medical and auxiliary supplies are enclosed at Annexure – 1 and Annexure – 2 respectively.

6. The timelines and status of various interventions for ease of procurement for COVID-19 related items are as follows-

1. Shorter duration Bids with shorter delivery period for specific categories. Bid Cycle for COVID-19 related categories has been reduced to 3 days from existing 10 days. Buyers would also be able to reduce the Delivery Period for such items to 2 days considering the time critical nature of the items. This is already live on the portal.
2. Filter for Delivery Lead Time selection by buyer in  L1 buying. Will be live by 1 April 2020
3. Prioritization of Product/Brand Approval for Covid Specific Categories. Will be live by 28 March 2020
4. New business rule for controlling price increase. Will be live by 1 April 2020
5. Allow Delivery Period Extension 30 days beyond expiry of original Delivery Period. Will be live by 28 March 2020.
6. New business rule to stock out sellers who do not update stock within 48 hours of notification for specific categories. This is already live.
7. New page for tracking COVID-19 categories and the number of sellers. Will be live by 28 March 2020.

7. The World Bank increased procurement threshold at GeM for COVID 19 Response Project, from $ 1 Lakh to $ 1 Million.

8. Seller Onboarding:
   1. OEMs & Sellers have been identified for eight new COVID categories
   2. Relevant medical categories were searched on GeM and outside GeM.  Targeted mailers were sent to appx. 10,000 sellers including OEMs.  Mail content detailed new Covid-19 categories and prioritization introduced by GeM  in brand & product approval process for faster onboarding.
   3. OEMs & sellers have also been contacted telephonically.  200+ such sellers have been engaged.  They have been informed about the new Covid-19 categories created by GeM and have been asked to onboard.  OEMs have been asked to ask their resellers to onboard and hold sufficient inventory levels.
   4. OEMs & Sellers have been exhorted to view the current situation as an opportunity and contribute in whatever way they can to the requirements of a national health emergency.
   5. OEMs/Sellers outside GeM have also been guided on how to get in contact with regional business facilitators.
   6. OEMs are being sensitised about the orders issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, exempted businesses and various SOPs.  Online link: https://www.ndma.gov.in/en/ has also been shared.
   7. Brand approval & product approval requests from OEMs/Sellers have been accorded topmost priority and have been cleared on the same day.

Annexure - 1

List of categories for medical supplies 

S. No.	Item
1	Ventilators
2	Alcohol based hand-rub
3	Face shield (eye, nose & mouth protection)
4	N95 Masks
5	Latex single use gloves (clinical)
6	Reusable vinyl / rubber gloves (cleaning)
7	Eye protection (visor / goggles)
8	Protective Gowns / Aprons
9	Disposable thermometers
10	UV tube light for sterilization
11	Medical masks (surgical / procedure)
12	Detergent / Disinfectant
13	Detergent / Disinfectant
14	Detergent / Disinfectant
15	Single use towels
16	Biohazard bags
17	Wheel Chair
18	Glucometer with strips
19	Hard-frozen Gel Packs
20	Sample Collection Kit
21	Thermocool box / Ice-box
22	Stretcher
23	Stretcher
24	Thermal scanners
25	Batteries for thermal scanners
26	BP apparatus
27	IV Sets
28	IV Cannula
29	IV Stand
30	Ambulance
31	First aid
32	Medical Waste Incinerator
33	ICU Beds
34	Cardiac monitors
35	Syringe pumps
36	Syringe pumps
37	Portable x ray machines
38	Endotracheal tube
39	Suction tube
40	Suction tube
41	Oxygen cylinders

Annexure - 2

List of categories for auxiliary supplies

S. No.	Item
1	Soap
2	Rubb Hall Tents
3	Chairs/Benches
4	Tables/Desks
5	Printer
6	Computer
7	Extension Boards
8	Matches
9	Candles
10	ID for Patients
11	ID for  volunteers
12	Flyer - information booklet
13	White board + markers
14	Garbage bags, bins
15	Drinking Water+ Dispenser (4)
16	Cleaning items (Brooms)
17	Cleaning items (Mop)
18	Fire extinguisher
19	E Toilet
20	Genset / Back up
21	Whistle
22	Tool set – basic
23	Registration details - sticker/printer
24	Mattresses
25	Foldable Cots / Beds
26	Bed sheets
27	Pillows
28	Pillow Covers
29	Towels
30	Rubber Sheets
31	Blankets
32	Emergency Lamp
33	Laundry (Detergents)
34	Refrigerator – smallest
35	Tokens with number
36	Mosquito Repellent
37	Sanitary Pads
38	Diapers – kids
39	Steel Plates
40	Steel Glasses
41	Spoons
42	Jugs
43	Stove – Big
44	Large vessels
45	Buckets
46	Mugs
47	Tissue paper
48	Smaller bins
49	Paper
50	Pen
51	Stapler
52	Stapler Pins
53	Box file
54	Letterhead

 

Emergency procurement procedures prioritized rapid onboarding and shortened bid and delivery timelines for COVID 19 supplies. GeM implemented expedited procurement measures for COVID 19: created a dedicated portal page and new medical and auxiliary categories, prioritized and fast tracked brand and product approvals with same day clearance, shortened bid cycles and delivery periods, introduced delivery lead time filters, a price control rule, delivery extension and stock update rules, added a tracking page for categories and sellers, and conducted targeted OEM and seller onboarding to ensure rapid, transparent procurement of pandemic supplies.