Manual for Procurement of Non-Consultancy services (2025): Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Government of India
Manual for Procurement
of
Non-Consultancy services
(2025)
Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
FOREWORD
As part of initiatives to enhance transparency, fairness, competition, value for money, and good governance in public procurement, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance had released various Manuals for Procurement.
2. Since their publication, various developments – policy insights, stakeholder discussions, the Covid pandemic, the Methodology for Assessment of Procurement (MAPS-II) Report (2020), Model Tender Documents for Goods, Non-consultancy services and Consultancy Services, FTA dialogues, the new DFPR 2024, amended GFR 2017, and the new Mediation Act- have necessitated a comprehensive revision of the manuals.
3. The procurement of Non-consultancy Services (NC Services) has gained prominence with increased outsourcing by Government Departments. Earlier, only a Chapter on NC Services was included in the Manual for Procurement of Consultancy and Other Services.
4. Now, a standalone Manual for Procurement of Non-consultancy Services has been developed, integrating recent developments. It emphasizes ease of business for service providers and clarity for procurement officials.
5. I would like to acknowledge the outstanding work done by the team led by Shri Chinmay Pundlikrao Gotmare (Joint Secretary), Shri Sanjay Aggarwal (ex-Advisor, PPD) and the efforts of Shri Anil Kumar (Deputy Secretary, PPD), Shri Sher Bahadur (Under Secretary, PPD), Shri Girish Bhatnagar (Sr. Consultant), and Shn Vikram Rajvanshi (Procurement Specialist, PPD). I also extend my gratitude to the Ministries, Departments, and other Organizations that reviewed drafts and provided valuable input.
6. I hope that this new manual would help in streamlining the procurement of Non-consultancy services by Ministries/ Departments and their Organizations.
Date: 20.06.2025
(Vumlunmang Vualnam)
Secretary (Expenditure)
Preface
1. Compliance: This Manual adheres to the relevant laws, GFR, and clarifications/ OMs issued by the Procurement Policy Division, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance (‘the Ministry’) up to April 2025. In case of inconsistencies between this Manual and prevailing law or GFR, the extant law and GFR shall prevail. However, the provisions of this Manual shall prevail in case of discrepancies with the clarifications/ OMs issued till March April 2025 by the Ministry. Procuring entities are advised to stay informed about any further changes in the relevant law, GFR, and clarifications/ OMs from the Ministry.
2. Interpretation:
a) Any mention of writing or writing includes matter in digital communications (including email), manuscript, typewritten, lithographed, cyclostyled, photographed, or printed—under or over signature or seal or digitally acceptable authentication, as the case may be.
b) Words in the singular include the plural and vice-versa. Words importing the masculine gender shall be taken to include other genders. Words importing persons include any company or any association/ body of individuals/ companies and vice-versa.
c) Any reference to any legal Act, Government Policies or orders shall be deemed to include all amendments to such instruments, from time to time, till date.
d) Sentences containing ‘may’ are to be considered desirable or good practices that procuring entities are encouraged to implement.
e) Sentences containing ‘should’/ ‘shall’ are required to be followed.
f) Sentences containing “allowed” indicate an optional course of action to be decided upon on merits.
3. Manual for Procurement of Goods as a Comprehensive Reference: The ‘Manual for Procurement of Goods, 2024’ is written to be a comprehensive reference. Other Manuals (Works, Consultancy, and Non-consultancy Services) are self-sufficient from the point of carrying out a procurement; however, common topics relevant for a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of procurement are included only in brief in these manuals, giving reference to relevant details in the ‘Manual for Procurement of Goods, 2024’.
4. Manuals and Model Tender Documents: Model Tender Documents (MTD) for Procurement of Goods and Non-consultancy Services were issued in 2021, and those for Consultancy Services were issued in 2023. These complement the respective procurement manuals since the MTDs contain additional details on many topics that the Manuals can accommodate. Therefore, Procuring Officials are urged to read both Manuals and MTDs in tandem for better understanding.
5. Annexures: To maintain an uninterrupted flow of text on a topic, annexures contain voluminous details from various orders/websites. Since these orders/ websites undergo frequent revision, updating the annexures would be easier than updating the body of the Manual.
6. An attempt has been made in this edition of Manuals to illustrate some topics with relevant examples.
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