Here’s a detailed guide (as of October 2025 ) on how to do the L1 (Lowest price) Purchase / L1 Comparison on the Government e‑Marketplace (GeM) portal — covering definitions, process, latest updates, and tips. If you meant some other “LI” instead of “L1”, please let me know and I’ll adjust. ✅ What is “L1 Purchase / L1 Comparison” on GeM “L1” means Lowest One (i.e., the bidder/seller offering the lowest price, while meeting all required specifications) and is a mode of procurement under GeM. Under GeM procurement there are generally three major routes: Direct Purchase L1 Purchase / L1 Comparison Bid / Reverse Auction (RA) For goods/products the relevant document “L1 Purchase – Product” shows process details. 🛠Process of L1 Purchase / Comparison on GeM (for Goods) Here is the step-by-step based on the published GeM guidance and training material. Determine eligibility / threshold For “L1 Purchase – Product” document: Orders valu...
Here’s a detailed guide (as of October 2025) on how to do the L1 (Lowest price) Purchase / L1 Comparison on the Government e‑Marketplace (GeM) portal — covering definitions, process, latest updates, and tips. If you meant some other “LI” instead of “L1”, please let me know and I’ll adjust.
✅ What is “L1 Purchase / L1 Comparison” on GeM
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“L1” means Lowest One (i.e., the bidder/seller offering the lowest price, while meeting all required specifications) and is a mode of procurement under GeM.
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Under GeM procurement there are generally three major routes:
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Direct Purchase
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L1 Purchase / L1 Comparison
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Bid / Reverse Auction (RA)
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For goods/products the relevant document “L1 Purchase – Product” shows process details.
🛠Process of L1 Purchase / Comparison on GeM (for Goods)
Here is the step-by-step based on the published GeM guidance and training material.
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Determine eligibility / threshold
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For “L1 Purchase – Product” document: Orders valued between ₹25,000 and ₹5,00,000 (for goods) can use the L1 purchase route. For services, a minimum of 3 service providers is required for comparison in L1 service purchase. Note: Exact amounts and thresholds might vary by category or updates, so always check the latest GeM manual.
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Buyer logs in and selects requirement
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Buyer logs into GeM portal, defines the requirement (category, quantity, delivery location etc.).Buyer navigates to Marketplace → selects the correct category.
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Comparison of at least three offers (for applicable range)
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The buyer has to compare at least three different qualified vendors / brands (for certain value ranges) to identify the lowest price compliant offer.
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Factors: make/model, delivery period, specification compliance (Golden/Silver parameters) etc.
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Selection of L1
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The system identifies the L1 offer (lowest price, meeting all criteria). In case of tie or multiple L1, there are provisions for “Re-Run L1” (especially for services) where the system randomly selects among them.
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Buyer proceeds to place the order with the identified L1 vendor.
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Order placement, contract generation, invoicing
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Once order placed, standard contract / order generation, invoicing and delivery follow as per GeM processes. GeM now supports online invoicing for service orders as well.
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🔄 Latest Updates / Important Features (up to Oct 2025)
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The GeM portal has published updated manuals and training content for L1 purchase (goods).
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For services, the FAQ states: “A minimum of 3 service providers are required for comparison for L1 Purchase.” On the portal’s “Latest” updates page (June 2025), there are many enhancements (though not all specific to L1) like new user roles, e-signature, contract amendment, etc.
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A more recent article (Sep 2025) mentions “L1 Comparison on GeM Portal – Process, Fee & Benefits” updated Sep 05 2025.
⚠️ Some Key Things to Watch / Common Mistakes
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Ensure all golden parameters (i.e., mandatory specification criteria) are correctly used in the filter. If the product doesn’t meet them, it cannot qualify even if lowest price.
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Ensure you compare truly eligible vendors/brands (qualified as per category, delivery location etc.).
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In services, if there are multiple L1 bids, the “Run L1” randomisation applies; the buyer cannot just pick any one manually. For goods the threshold matters (₹25,000 to ₹5 lakh is referenced in manual), but always verify in the latest guidelines for that category.
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Always check if any preference (like MSE, Make in India etc) applies — those can impact L1 choice.
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Maintain documentation of comparison sheet — who quoted what, delivery period etc — for transparency & audit.
📋 Summary Table for Quick Reference
| Step | Action | Notes |
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| 1 | Define requirement (category, quantity, delivery) | Buyer logs in, selects category. |
| 2 | Filter/compare 3+ offers (when required) | At least 3 for eligible value range. |
| 3 | Use appropriate filters – specs, golden parameters | Ensures quality compliance. |
| 4 | Identify & select the L1 vendor | Lowest compliant price prevails. |
| 5 | Place order / contract / invoice | Follow GeM order fulfilment process. |
If you like, I can walk you through with screenshots of the GeM portal (buyer side) showing how to execute L1 comparison now, or extract the latest threshold values/category-wise for L1 purchase as of Oct 2025. Would you like that?
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