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Importance of ISO certification for sellers on Government e-Marketplace
We all know that in order to empower the small traders and manufacturers, the Indian Government has launched transparent e-Marketplace prominently known as GeM.
Any small scale businessman or a manufacturer can get an easy GeM registration in its business name. A business would then be able to access the wide interface to sell its items and services to distinguished buyers from the Government sector or PSUs, where there is a huge requirement for such supplies. However, there are certain technical parameters specified by the GeM department for the sellers’ products to be uploaded for sale on the GeM portal. Government buyers require first-class goods that fulfill the global benchmarks of quality. Accordingly, the sellers are required to obtain global accreditations such as ISO certification so that they can easily sell their products on Government e-Marketplace.
Here we will understand the role of ISO certification for the sellers on Government e-Marketplace. But first, we must quickly go through the concept of Government e-Marketplace.
1. An overview of Government e-Marketplace
The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is an e-commerce portal operated by the Government of India. It is an online interactive interface where the sellers and government buyers meet to facilitate the procurement of Goods and Services required by different Government Departments, Organizations and the Public Sector Undertakings. Now, the Government Departments require only the first-rate goods that are free of defects or faults.
Here comes the role of the ISO certification for the sellers on the Government e-Marketplace. The GeM department has necessitated the ISO certification for the manufacturers, as a basic criterion for their products to be uploaded for sale on the GeM interface.
2. The role of ISO certification on the Government e-Marketplace
It is beyond any uncertainty that the benchmarks like the ISO 9001:2015 certification are the universal standards for impeccable Quality Management Systems (QMS). It emphasizes a well-defined structure for quality management in all organizations for all their products, processes and systems. The key objective of this standard is that all products of an organization meet the specifications and conditions for all customer satisfaction, in the most attainable way.
Since the Government Departments emphasize on the quality of the products they procure from the private sellers, the manufacturers having GeM registration as OEM are supposed to have ISO certification for their products.
3. When are the GeM sellers asked for the ISO certification?
It is important to note that only the manufacturers having GeM registration as OEM on the Government e-Marketplace are supposed to get the ISO certification. There are certain stages when the GeM OEM sellers are asked for the ISO certification.
These are discussed below:
- Vendor registration:
Once a manufacturer gets a GeM registration and is given an OEM panel, then the seller has to complete the Vendor registration process.
The vendor registration process is subject to quality audit by the Quality Council of India [QCI]. During this stage, the manufacturer’s products have to go through with quality assessment conducted by the Quality Council of India (QCI). The manufacturer may be asked to obtain further certification such as ISO certification, specifically the three key ISO standards-
- ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management Systems
- ISO 14001:2016 for environment management
- ISO 45001:2018 for occupational health & safety
- ISO 27001:2013 for Information Security Management
On successful assessment, payment of government fees of INR 11,200/- + 18% GST (which is non-refundable) has to be made.
- Tender application:
Another important stage where the ISO certification is essentially required is while applying for a government tender.
The government departments broadcast their requirement on the GeM portal as well as the Central Public Procurement Portal (CPPP) for the procurement of goods or services. They invite the GeM sellers to apply for the government tenders. Generally in the tender notice, the government departments clearly specify that the sellers must have ISO certification. Besides, the ISO certification will not be considered if it’s obtained after the date of tender publication.
- Product listing:
In order to make his products available for sale on the GeM portal, the seller has to upload the products that he wishes to sell on the GeM portal. This process is known as the Product listing. During this procedure, the seller is required to give the technical specifications of his product. In certain cases such as electronic goods, additional parameters are required, including ISO certification.
Know how to list products on the GeM portal.
So we can see that the ISO certification is an unavoidable necessity for the manufacturers to sell their products on Government e-Marketplace.
If you need any kind of assistance on GeM registration or ISO certification, please feel free to contact our business advisors at 8881-069-069.
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