GAIL launches e-tendering

Mumbai, Feb 14 (UNI) The state owned Gail India has launched 'e-tendering' as its e-Governance initiatives in the Company.

Informing the BSE, a company's release said the e-tendering was launched on February 13, 2007, by the Company's CMD, Dr U D Choubey in the presence of all functional Directors and senior officials of the Company.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr U D Choubey said ''Today GAIL is in very competitive environment and the need of the hour is to enhance our operational efficiency and to complete our projects in time without any cost and time overrun.'' He emphasised that e-Tendering tool meets the objective of public procurement process to be transparent, fair and equitable.

''I am sure with e-tendering tool our efficiency would increase, as it aids faster decision making and reduces the cost of transaction,'' he added.

Ministry of Finance, Government of India, had directed that all Government departments should switch over to e-tendering from July one, 2007. The Company had already launched e-Procurement of non stock items in October 2005 and stock items in November 2006. With the launch of e-tendering, the Company has taken yet another step in this direction.

The platform provides for digitally signed tender and bid documents for user authentication and has facility for vendors to upload queries. The E-Procurement implementation through SAP-SRM is being carried out with IBM as the Implementation Partner and SAP giving Program Expert Consulting. The system for e-Tendering has been designed and developed on the SAP-SRM platform and is suitable to handle Single, two envelope system for Limited, open Tendering.

The tendering process is fully secured, transparent and ensures confidentiality. The process also confirms to Contacts and Procurement (C&P) procedures and Government guidelines. The system has the facility for Time and Date digital locking/opening of electronic tender. The system enables on-line submission of Technical bids and Price bids in standard format / Templates.

UNI