DoP announces exemption for startups and MSEs to participate in tender for long and short term studies

New Delhi, December 14, 2021:

The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has amended its Request for Proposal format released to invite the tended register for selection of reputed empanelled agencies for conducting long term and short term studies related to pharmaceutical and medical devices sector to allow startups and Micro and Small Enterprises to take part in the tender process with some exemptions.

The Department, in its RFP for both long term and short term studies, added one more paragraphs under the MSME classification, stating that in line with the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises’ policy circular in March, 2016, on relaxation of norms for start ups and MSEs in public procurement on prior experience and prior turnover criteria, these criteria are exempted for the start ups and MSEs for this tender, subject to meeting of quality and technical specifications.

The Startup enterprises shall submit Start Up India recognition certificates issued by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) of Ministry of Commerce and Industry in order to be considered for relaxation in prior experience and prior turnover, it said.

The MSEs with valid DIPP certificate and registered with the agencies or bodies including the district industries centres, Khadki and Village Industries Commission, Khadi and Village Industries Board, National Small Industries Corporation, Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom, MSEs having Udyog Aadhar memorandum, or any other body specified by Ministry of MSMEs, are exempted from payment of bid fees and earnest money deposit.

The MSEs who have applied for registration or renewal of registration with any of these agencies but have not obtained the valid certificate as on close date of the tender are not eligible for exemption or preference. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged, said the corrigendum issued by the DoP.

The Department has invited sealed bids from reputed experienced empanelled agencies with Government of India to conduct long term and short term studies related to pharmaceutical and medical devices sector, through tender notice on October 22, 2021.

These expert bodies are expected to help the government frame policies, monitoring and corrective measures in the pharmaceuticals and medical devices sector.

The first two topics in the short-term studies for which it has floated RFP include tracking of medicines across the supply chain and assessing skill requirements of the Indian pharma industry, both for a duration of three months.

For the long-term studies, it has proposed eight topics, including a four month study on the impact of DPCO 2013 on the prices of cardiac stents, knee implants and six medical devices - oxygen concentrators, pulse oximeter, glucometer, BP monitor, nebuliser and digital thermometer on the industry and consumers in terms of availability and affordability, to assess the impact of price control on medical devices and equipment on the industry and consumers in terms of availability and affordability.

The other long term studies include an assessment of procurement of medical devices in the public sector; surveys on medical devices and pharma clusters to evaluate their contribution to overall production and suggest improvements; study on the uniform code of pharmaceutical marketing practices, among others. PharmaBiz