GePNIC - eProcurement product of National Informatics Centre bagged eWorld 2011 award at New Delhi. The award was conferred for outstanding implementation of eProcurement in Mahanadi Coal Fields Limited, Sambalpur, Odisha, which brought immense transparency and Good will in Government and in Public Procurement System.

eWorld is one of the  largest Information & Communication Technology (ICT) events of the country, organized by the Centre for Science, Development and Media Studies (CSDMS) and ELETS Tehno-media. The award was received in G2B category (Government to Business). eTendering is  such an area where it needed maximum transparency and other sensitive Governance issues.

MCL has reported that there has been a significant drop in the tender cycle time from 150 days to 70 days with a minimum cycle time of tendering with 21 days. With reduction of bid validity period and other ease of use of the system there have been increase of bidders’ base with increased participation leading to healthy competition and reduction in cost of procurement by the Public Sector. The trend is encouraging - commented a Government officer.

Shri Ashok Kumar Singh, Director- Technical (Project  & Planning), Shri Kulamani Samal, Director - Finance and  Shri S.K.Bhanja, Project Manager (eProcurement) received the award from Union Minister of State of Commerce & Industries Shri Jyotiraditya Sindhia on 2nd August2011. e-Procurement System of MCL developed and implemented by NIC with unique Technical Evaluation Module which eliminates the subjective analysis while selecting or rejecting a bidder and the concept has been widely accepted and eulogized. Recently MCL also introduced the ePayment of EMD and Tender cost which was an essential module keeping in view of Tender related malpractices like cartel formation, exorbitant bidding etc.

MCL while celebrating its second eProcurement Anniversary in mid August expressed its gratitude to NIC team of officers comprising from NIC, Chennai and NIC, Orissa. Shri M Manivannan and Shri K.S Raghavan, Shri Ashok Kumar Hota, Shri Tapan Prakash Ray and  Shri Nihar Ranjan Biswal   under the guidance of the State Informatics Officer, Mr. S.K Panda who have been working for this project since it’s inception.

MCL’s Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Shri A.N Sahay while appreciating NIC’s effort reiterated that -

“This project is of great importance to his company. He is extremely happy that NIC is their partner in this project. The three years journey with NIC since 2008 has been extreme cordial and reciprocal. Both in Domain and Technology NIC has proved it’s competence with par excellence. The project planning, execution and maintenance has been done in exceptionally professional way and would create its own precedence in this area.  This project has been able to receive public and international confidence with immense benefit to this public sector company and its stake holders.”

GePNIC which has got its root from Orissa has been recognized and implemented currently as a National Mission Mode Project in 10 states of India.

-e-Procurement Team, NIC, Odisha