E Procurement
270 e-Governance: Case Studies
Chapter 22
Implementation of e-procurement in the Government of Andhra Pradesh: A Case Study
K Bikshapathi Project Manager, eProcurement and P Raghuveer IFS Addl. Secretary (e-gov) Information Technology & Communications Department Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad
AbstrAct
Procurement is generally regarded as a sensitive function in the public sector and is rarely transparent . It is for this reason that public procurement is one of the areas in governance that remains insulated against any process improvements. Governments the world-over are under constant pressure to meet the expectations of the citizens and to do more with the less resources that are available to them. There is a growing realisation in governments that usage of information and communication technology (ICT) can remove the existing administrative barriers and make the government’s procurements more efficient, accessible and transparent, besides being cost-effective. E-procurement implementation is an attractive quick-win solution for governments, since it results in cost cutting, introduces different sourcing practices, and delivers other quantifiable benefits. However, there is little history of extensive use of e-procurement in the public sector in India. The present case study highlights the successful implementation of a state-wide e-procurement platform across several government departments, public sector units, urban local bodies in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the quantifiable benefits it has delivered to the suppliers and the government directly, and to the society, indirectly. This path-breaking initiative has provided transparency, fairness and equal opportunity to private entrepreneurs who are now able to submit bids online on an anywhere and anytime basis for government contracts and sell products or expertise to government agencies through the e-procurement portal.
Introduction / Background
The traditional systems of
Chapter 22
Implementation of e-procurement in the Government of Andhra Pradesh: A Case Study
K Bikshapathi Project Manager, eProcurement and P Raghuveer IFS Addl. Secretary (e-gov) Information Technology & Communications Department Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad
AbstrAct
Procurement is generally regarded as a sensitive function in the public sector and is rarely transparent . It is for this reason that public procurement is one of the areas in governance that remains insulated against any process improvements. Governments the world-over are under constant pressure to meet the expectations of the citizens and to do more with the less resources that are available to them. There is a growing realisation in governments that usage of information and communication technology (ICT) can remove the existing administrative barriers and make the government’s procurements more efficient, accessible and transparent, besides being cost-effective. E-procurement implementation is an attractive quick-win solution for governments, since it results in cost cutting, introduces different sourcing practices, and delivers other quantifiable benefits. However, there is little history of extensive use of e-procurement in the public sector in India. The present case study highlights the successful implementation of a state-wide e-procurement platform across several government departments, public sector units, urban local bodies in the state of Andhra Pradesh and the quantifiable benefits it has delivered to the suppliers and the government directly, and to the society, indirectly. This path-breaking initiative has provided transparency, fairness and equal opportunity to private entrepreneurs who are now able to submit bids online on an anywhere and anytime basis for government contracts and sell products or expertise to government agencies through the e-procurement portal.
Introduction / Background
The traditional systems of