In a move aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in public procurement, the government has lowered the threshold for adoption of e-procurement for tenders from Rs.25 lakh to Rs.5 lakh.
The government has issued an order approving the decision of the apex committee for e-governance to lower the e-procurement slab.
All government departments, boards, and public sector undertakings have been directed to follow the e-procurement system for tenders above Rs.5 lakh with immediate effect.
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The National Informatics Centre (NIC), the service provider for the project, has been asked to bring more banks into the e-payment system for e-procurement.
A mission mode project taken up under the National e-governance Plan, e-procurement was introduced in Kerala in December 2011 with the Kerala State IT Mission as the implementing agency.
A total of 35,072 tenders worth Rs.27,480.86 crore were routed through the system up to April 30, 2015.
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As many 167 government departments, PSUs, and autonomous bodies have switched over to the system for tenders above Rs.25 lakh. The system has an online payment facility and auto refund of EMD for unsuccessful bidders. About 2,200 departmental users and 9,057 bidders are currently registered under the system.
The KSITM has introduced an online tracking system to keep a tab on issues related to e-procurement.
The three regional support and training centres set up in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kannur have together trained 4,737 officials from government departments, 2,255 officials from PSUs and autonomous bodies, and 4,040 bidders.
According to K. Mohammed Y. Safirulla,
Director, KSITM, a fourth such centre is being set up in Malappuram.