A Vendor Assessment is performed to determine the quality of a product or service. Pre-assessed Vendors are tagged as VA in front of their names at GeM Marketplace and hence the confidence of prospective buyers grows manifold when they are aware they are transacting with Sellers whose credentials are already verified and authenticated.

At present, Vendor Assessment is done by the Quality Council of India (QCI). The QCI Vendor Assessment is done online, and the fee has to be paid directly to QCI. It is an important step for evaluating the credentials and quality standards of the seller. After Video Assessment, the seller gets the OEM Panel or OEM certificate in GeM.

It is important to note that manufacturers outside India can also become OEM on the GeM portal. However, they have to be a registered foreign subsidiary company in India.

Non-manufacturing OEMs, who are brand owners but do not manufacture the products, can still claim OEM status if they have contract manufacturing arrangements with some other manufacturers. However, during Vendor Assessment, such OEM has to provide the contract/agreement between the OEM and the Contract Manufacturer to the assessing agency (QCI).

The new vendor validation policy invalidates the exemption given to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on the GeM platform for vendor assessment based on the NSIC and UCC certificate. As a result, such vendors are now required to undergo a GeM Vendor assessment by QCI within a period of 30 days

Such as:-

QCI carries out Vendor Assessment for GeM in two stages:

Desktop Assessment

The vendor will submit information and documents in the Desktop Assessment stage, and if any discrepancy is found, then non-compliance will be raised.

Video Assessment

Video Assessment will be conducted by an expert using the mobile-based application through video calling. It will validate the entire process submitted by the vendor through documents in Desktop Assessment.

The primary stage of the Vendor Assessment process is Desktop Assessment, in which QCI validates the data and documents of the entity. The objective is to understand the process, policy, procedure, and performance of an entity. The Vendor Assessment for OEMs is based on three broad parameters:

1. Physical location (vendor profile)
2. Financial capacity
3. Production capability

The manufacturer has to declare some basic information first along with documents as proof:

1. Does the production of the product take place at one site?
2. How many sites are there?
3. Complete address of the manufacturing site(s)
4. GSTIN of the manufacturing site (GSTIN certificate)

After Desktop Assessment, the information is validated through a Video Assessment. It is conducted by a QCI auditor using the mobile-based application through video calling. In this process, QCI validates the entire process submitted by the vendor through documents in Desktop Assessment.

The details and documents of the Video Assessment must match with those provided in Desktop Assessment. The vendor has to pass the Video Assessment to get OEM approval from the Quality Council of India (QCI). Read to know more about the video assessment process and best practices to avoid rejection.

Pre-requisites of Video Assessment

The Video Assessment is carried out via video calling. Therefore, it is recommended to keep the following facilities ready before the Video Assessment:

• An android phone, preferably Samsung, One plus, Redmi (Mi), Motorola, etc., and supported android version 5 and above.
• A piece of headphones/earphones with a microphone.
• Install GeM Video Assessment App from Google Play store.
• High-speed internet connection, which works well inside the manufacturing site.
• The manufacturing site should be in working condition to show the manufacturing process of the products with all the machines at the site along with manpower.
• The quality manager should be available to explain and depict the process of quality assurance of the product.
• Documents and certificates for R&D, patent, and prototype (if available).

Video Assessment Process

The Video Assessment process consists of five major parts:

• Introduction
• Question & Answer
• Examination of Raw Material Stores
• Manufacturing or Assembling Process Examination
• Evidence / Photography Session

• Area demarcation should be done for each department.
• There should be proper tagging of all the sections, stores, racks and departments.
• Fire Safety and COVID-19 precautionary measures have to be ensured.
• Staff must retain an Employee ID card or Business Card of the entity with Govt ID.
• Mobile phones should be properly charged to ensure 3 – 4 hours of backup because the assessment may take a couple of hours to conclude.
• Earphone should be used for conversation (Bluetooth ear phone recommended)
• Manufacturing areas should have good Network coverage & Internet connectivity.