Quiz 14 — GFR 2017 & GeM: Procurement, Sanctions & Accounts

A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3. Rule 163: "For purchasing high value plant, machinery etc. of a complex and technical nature", technical and financial bids are sealed in separate covers inside one bigger cover; financial bids of only the technically acceptable offers are opened. Rule 164: two-stage bidding where detailed specifications cannot be formulated "without receiving inputs regarding its technical aspects from bidders", where the subject is "subject to rapid technological advances or market fluctuations", for research contracts, or where the bidder must do a detailed survey; price bids come only at the second stage. Rule 166: single source where only one firm manufactures the goods, in an emergency, or for standardisation. Rule 167: reverse auction where a detailed description is feasible, a competitive market exists and the criteria "are quantifiable and can be expressed in monetary terms". (a) swaps two-bid and two-stage — the near-identical names are the trap. (c) swaps two-stage bidding and reverse auction. (d) swaps both pairs.

A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1. Rule 187: proposals "should ordinarily be asked for from consultants in 'Two bid' system with technical and financial bids sealed separately", the technical proposals being opened first. Rule 193: the Least Cost System suits "assignments of a standard or routine nature (such as audits and engineering design of non-complex works)"; there is no weight for the technical score, and the lowest-cost technically qualified proposal wins. Rule 194: single-source selection only in exceptional cases such as "natural continuation of previous work", an emergency, or where "only one consultant has requisite expertise". Rule 204: a non-consulting service may be procured from a specifically chosen contractor by "the Competent Authority in the Ministry or Department … in consultation with the Financial Adviser", with detailed justification. (a) swaps the Least Cost System and single-source selection. (b) swaps the two-bid system and nomination. (d) scrambles all four.

Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct. Rule 238(1): a certificate of actual utilisation "in Form GFR 12-A" is insisted upon for non-recurring grants; it "should contain an output-based performance assessment instead of input-based performance assessment"; and where it is not received in time, the Ministry "will be at liberty to blacklist such Institution or Organisation from any future grant, subsidy or other type of financial support". Rule 238(3): certificates "need not be furnished in cases where the Grants-in-aid / CFA are being made as reimbursement of expenditure already incurred on the basis of duly audited accounts", the sanction letter saying so. Statement 4 is wrong: the certificate is due "within twelve months of the closure of the financial year"; six months is the deadline for the performance-cum-achievement report under Rule 242. (a) leaves out the reimbursement exemption. (b) and (d) accept the six-month deadline, which mixes up Rules 238 and 242.