Buying through GeM: what public-sector buyers should ask a supplier

The Government e-Marketplace has changed how ministries, PSUs and state departments buy technology. Orders that once took months can now be placed in weeks, and prices are visible to everyone. But GeM compares bids; it does not tell a buyer which supplier will actually deliver.

From our side of many GeM-route and tender contracts, these are the questions we think every public buyer should ask.

Can you deliver where we are?

A lowest price is only useful if the supplier can install and support equipment at every site in the order. Ask where their teams are based and how they will reach locations outside major cities.

Do the products carry the approvals we need?

Some sectors require specific certifications. Railway surveillance projects, for example, use RDSO and STQC-approved cameras. Confirm approvals before the order, not during installation.

What happens after installation?

Most of the value of a technology purchase comes over years of use. Ask what support is included, how faults are reported, and what response times the supplier commits to. For endpoint contracts such as Device-as-a-Service, ask how refreshes and replacements work.

What reports will we receive?

Public bodies answer to auditors. A supplier should provide regular reports on what has been delivered, installed and repaired, in a format the department can use.

Have you done this before, at this scale?

Ask for references from similar organisations. A supplier who has delivered to a ministry, a metro network or a state education department will understand the documentation and approvals involved.