A Reverse Auction (RA) on GeM is an online phase where qualified sellers compete in real-time to offer the lowest price. Understanding the mechanics of RA is crucial to secure high-value contracts.
Important Compliance Disclaimer
Before starting, please note that SahayakAI is an independent, private technology platform. We are not affiliated with, authorized, or officially connected with the Government e-Marketplace (GeM Portal) or the Government of India. The official portal is hosted at https://gem.gov.in. Use this manual for educational guidance, and always verify current criteria on the official site.
Reverse Auction Workflow
- Technical Qualification: Only sellers who pass the initial technical evaluation can participate in the RA.
- Auction Start: The system opens the RA dashboard, displaying the current lowest bid (without revealing seller identities).
- Active Bidding: Sellers input lower prices. Each bid must be less than the current lowest price by at least the specified minimum decrement.
- Auto-Extension: The auction continues until no new bids are received within the final 10-minute window.
Rules and Parameters
- RA Duration: Typically 2 hours, but auto-extensions can keep the auction active for several hours.
- H1 Seller Elimination: In some bids, the highest bidder (H1) at the start of the evaluation phase is eliminated from participating in the RA to accelerate competitive price matching.
Winning Bidding Strategies
- Calculate Your Floor Price: Never bid below your cost threshold. Factor in GeM transaction charges and logistics before bidding.
- Patience is Key: Monitor the bidding patterns in the initial hour, and place your optimized bids closer to the deadline to avoid driving prices down too quickly.