Quick answer: GeMAR&PTS records whether a required item or service is available on GeM and summarises related past transactions. It supports the buyer’s justification when procurement outside GeM is contemplated; it is not a shortcut to bypass suitable listings.
Buyers sometimes need a product, service or configuration that GeM does not adequately provide. The compliance question is not simply “Can we buy elsewhere?” It is whether the need was searched properly, whether available alternatives were assessed and whether the non-GeM route is justified and approved.
For suppliers, GeMAR&PTS matters because poor catalogue coverage can push genuine demand outside the marketplace, while a buyer’s overly narrow search can incorrectly suggest non-availability.
What GeMAR&PTS does
The GeM Availability Report and Past Transaction Summary is generated from the marketplace using the buyer’s search inputs. It creates a record of availability and related transaction history for the requirement. Government procurement rules use this record as part of the decision process when an item is proposed to be procured outside GeM.
It does not replace administrative approval, competition, reasonableness analysis or the applicable procurement method. Nor does it prove that every superficially similar listing meets the need. The buyer must connect functional requirements to the search and document why available results are suitable or unsuitable.
Legitimate reasons a requirement may not fit GeM
A genuine gap may arise where no category exists, the required performance or interface is materially different, the purchase is part of an integrated works package, compatibility with an installed system is essential, or specialised scientific or security conditions apply. Quantity, location and lifecycle services can also make a catalogue item unsuitable.
The justification should be functional and evidence-based. “Preferred brand not found” is rarely a sufficient reason when equivalent products are available. Likewise, adding unnecessary parameters to force a zero-result search creates audit risk and can reduce competition.
A defensible buyer workflow
Define the outcome and essential parameters before searching. Use synonyms, relevant categories and reasonable parameter ranges. Save the report, inspect matching listings and record the gap for each alternative. Where market knowledge is weak, use industry consultation or a request for information without tailoring the need to one vendor.
If the requirement remains unavailable, select the outside-GeM procurement method under the applicable delegation and manual. Retain the search record, technical note, approvals, estimates and competition documents. Recheck availability if a long period passes before tendering, because the marketplace changes continuously.
What suppliers should do
Suppliers should audit whether their catalogue accurately covers the functional demand buyers search for. Use correct categories, complete parameters and searchable generic language. Where no category exists, engage through formal GeM category or market-assessment channels rather than asking buyers to create artificial non-availability.
In an outside-GeM tender, do not attack the buyer’s route unless there is a material legal issue. Focus on a compliant offer and preserve questions for the pre-bid stage. Intelligence from repeated GeMAR&PTS gaps can guide new listings, service packages or category-development efforts.
Practical checklist
- Define essential functional requirements before searching.
- Use categories, synonyms and reasonable parameter ranges.
- Assess matching listings rather than relying on a zero-result screen.
- Document each material suitability gap.
- Obtain approvals for the applicable outside-GeM method.
- Recheck availability if procurement is delayed.
- For sellers, improve catalogue coverage without manipulating specifications.
Frequently asked questions
Does a GeMAR&PTS report authorise direct purchase from one vendor?
No. It supports availability analysis. The buyer must still follow the applicable approval, competition and procurement method.
Can a buyer specify a brand to generate non-availability?
Brand-specific requirements need a defensible compatibility or proprietary basis. Artificially restrictive searches can create competition and audit concerns.
Why should sellers care about GeMAR&PTS?
It reveals where buyers cannot find a suitable marketplace offer. Those gaps can signal catalogue, category or product-development opportunities.
Final takeaway
GeMAR&PTS is an evidence step, not an exemption certificate. Buyers should search honestly and document functional gaps; sellers should make legitimate capability discoverable. Both sides benefit when availability decisions can withstand review.
Related reading
- GeM Service Bids: How Service Providers Should Build a Compliant Offer
- GeM Reverse Auction Strategy: Set Your Walk-Away Price Before Bidding
- GeM Bid Health, AI Checks and Anomaly Detection: Seller Implications
Official references
- General Financial Rules, 2017 — updated to 31 January 2026
- Manual for Procurement of Goods, Second Edition 2024
- Government e-Marketplace
Editorial note: This article is educational, not legal or bid-specific advice. Tender conditions, portal workflows, thresholds and government instructions can change. Always read the latest tender document, corrigenda, applicable office memoranda and portal guidance before acting.