The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) classifies sellers into two main categories: Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Resellers. OEMs are companies that produce goods directly, while Resellers purchase these products from OEMs and sell them at a markup.
This distinction helps buyers on the platform easily identify the source of the products and ensures greater transparency in pricing. By separating OEMs and Resellers, GeM simplifies the purchasing process, especially when it comes to selecting the lowest bidder for government procurement.
An OEM refers to the company that manufactures the product. At the same time, a Reseller is a dealer or distributor who purchases products from an OEM and resells them, usually at a higher price.
This classification helps differentiate between OEMs and Resellers on GeM, promoting price transparency. Naturally, the prices quoted by OEMs tend to be lower than those quoted by Resellers for the same products.
Since government procurement is focused on selecting the lowest bidder (L1), this distinction simplifies the decision-making process for buyers.
How to register as an OEM or Reseller on GeM:
- If you\’re a Reseller, the registration process on GeM is fairly straightforward and quick.
- The process is a bit more detailed for OEMs, requiring documentation such as proof of brand ownership and manufacturing.
The key advantage of being registered as an OEM on GeM is access to an OEM Panel in the categories where you’ve been granted OEM status. This OEM Panel is a crucial part of our strategy for the clients we assist on GeM — more details in a future post.
In short, being registered as an OEM on GeM is a significant achievement and something to be proud of.
Eligibility for OEM Panel
If you\’re a manufacturer of original equipment and wondering whether you\’re eligible for the OEM panel, don\’t worry! At Bidz Professional, we’re here to answer all your questions. Call us today, and let us help you with Brand registration on GeM and secure OEM panel access with ease.
To obtain Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) status on GeM, vendors must meet the following criteria:
Exemption from Rites Vendor Assessment: Certain MSMEs, such as those holding BIS certificates, are exempt from the GeM vendor assessment process. Exemptions are granted to vendors based on various qualifying factors.
- Sellers having an annual turnover of Rs. 500 Crore or more, at least in one of the last three years as captured during registration.
- OEMs holding BIS License (CML) for the particular product category which are validated through BIS database. Normal validity for this exemption will be three years. The seller is mandated to notify GeM in case cancellation of BIS license following which the exemption will be withdrawn.
- Drugs/Medicine manufacturer with “Notarized Undertaking” &”Valid certified copy of Drug Licenses from the issuing/concerned Drug Authority.
Rites Vendor Assessment: For those required to undergo the assessment, the goal is to ensure product quality. The Rail India Technical and Economic Service conducts the vendor assessment in two phases, and vendors must pay an assessment fees.
OEM Panel and Its Functions
The OEM panel on GeM offers various functionalities depending on the product category:
- For Q2 category products, OEMs can upload authorization codes that resellers can use on their reseller panel to get authorized. Additionally, OEMs can process price change requests submitted by resellers.
- For Q3 category products, OEMs can approve or reject catalogues uploaded by resellers. They also have the option to support or remove resellers and authorization codes associated with them.
- For Q4 category products, OEMs are responsible for approving or rejecting catalogues submitted by resellers for that quadrant.
Note: Resellers are not permitted to participate in the Q1 category, so this category is exempt from the rules.
Reseller Pairing Requests by OEMs
OEMs can match resellers’ requests to the appropriate product quadrants on the panel. Typically, OEM approval and authorization are required for products in the Q3 and Q4 categories.
- For Q3 category:
- When a reseller pairs for the first time in an existing catalogue, their credentials (such as name and authorization code) will be sent to the OEM for approval.
- The listing will only be published after receiving authorization from the OEM.
- If a reseller pairs with a different catalogue under the same category using the same credentials and code, the listing will be auto-approved.
- For Q4 category:
- Resellers can pair with existing catalogues without requiring OEM approval.
Catalogue Approval Process for Resellers
Resellers of Q3 and Q4 products can submit catalogue approval requests to their respective OEMs. OEMs have 72 hours to approve or reject these requests, with reasons recorded in the system. If an OEM doesn’t respond within 72 hours, the OEM’s product upload process will be paused until all pending requests are resolved within another 72 hours. Resellers can appeal a rejection directly to the OEM.
Managing Resellers on the GeM Portal
To manage resellers, follow these steps:
- Log in to the GeM portal with your credentials.
- Navigate to the dashboard section in your profile.
- Under My Actions, click on the OEM panel tab.
- If you are exempt from QCI vendor assessment or have completed it, you will see the Manage Reseller button. Click on it.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to manage resellers.
Managing Reseller Approvals
OEMs can approve or reject resellers for their products through the Manage Approval option. The OEM panel allows OEMs to:
- 1. OEMs can approve or reject resellers for their products through the Manage Approval option. The OEM panel allows OEMs to:
- 2. Approve catalogue listings, pricing, and authorization requests from resellers.
- 3. Authorize or deauthorise resellers by marking them as valid or invalid.
- 4. Using the Manage Approval feature, OEMs can accept or reject resellers for their products.
Only authorized OEMs have access to these functions through the OEM panel to manage their products and reseller activities effectively.
OEMs can approve or reject resellers for their products through the Manage Approval option.