Single portal to streamline procurement on cards

A committee formed for looking into issues involving public procurement policy,standards and procedures,is likely to propose that a single procurement portal should be developed on the lines of e-governance programme MCA 21,and all the procurement-related details should be posted on the portal for all the suppliers to see.

On the policy front,the committee thinks that while there should be legislation based on the worlds best practices of procurement,the government should issue a public statement of intention in respect of such procurements,sources said.

We are discussing if there should be something called a procurement portal,a single procurement platform,so that if the supplier wants to see who has won the bid,on what grounds etc,he should be able to. This will maximise the competition, the sources said.

The source added that the portal will also display the reasons for procurement along with the rates quoted. It will also help people in getting guidance on the Competition Act.

When contacted,Vinod Dhall,chairman of the committee said,We are still discussing the nuances of public procurement. We have discussed various options but nothing has been finalised as yet.

Dhall said the committee is focussing on capacity building and will suggest ways to train people in public procurement while ensuring that maximum number of people know about it. Laws serve only a broad purpose…it is the knowledge about the procurement procedures which will help, he said.