- The following general principles should be observed while entering into contracts:(i)The terms of contract must be precise, definite and without any ambiguities. The terms should not involve an uncertain or indefinite liability, except in the case of a cost plus contract or where there is a price variation clause in the contract.(ii)Standard forms of contracts should be adopted wherever possible, with such modifications as are considered necessary in respect of individual contracts. The modifications should be carried out only after obtaining financial and legal advice.(iii)In cases where standard forms of contracts are not used, legal and financial advice should be taken in drafting the clauses in the contract.(iv)(a)A Ministry or Department may, at its discretion, make purchases of value upto Rupees one lakh by issuing purchase orders containing basic terms and conditions.(b)In respect of Works Contracts, or Contracts for purchases valued between Rupees one lakh to Rupees ten lakhs, where tender documents include the General Conditions of Contract (GCC), Special Conditions of Contract (SCC) and scope of work, the letter of acceptance will result in a binding contract.(c)In respect of contracts for works with estimated value of Rupees ten lakhs or above or for purchase above Rupees ten lakhs, a Contract document should be executed, with all necessary clauses to make it a self-contained contract. If however, these are preceded by Invitation to Tender, accompanied by GCC and SCC, with full details of scope and specifications, a simple one page contract can be entered into by attaching copies of the GCC and SCC, and details of scope and specifications, Offer of the Tenderer and Letter of Acceptance.(d)Contract document should be invariably executed in cases of turn-key works or agreements for maintenance of equipment, provision of services etc.(v)No work of any kind should be commenced without proper execution of an agreement as given in the foregoing provisions.(vi)Contract document, where necessary, should be executed within 21 days of the issue of letter of acceptance. Non fulfilment of this condition of executing a contract by the Contractor or Supplier would constitute sufficient ground for annulment of the award and forfeiture of Earnest Money Deposit.(vii)Cost plus contracts should ordinarily be avoided. Where such contracts become unavoidable, full justification should be recorded before entering into the contract. Where supplies or special work covered by such cost plus contracts have to continue over a long duration, efforts should be made to convert future contracts on a firm price basis after allowing a reasonable period to the suppliers/contractors to stabilize their production execution methods and processes.Explanation. - A cost plus contract means a contract in which the price payable for supplies or services under the contract is determined on the basis of actual cost of production of the supplies or services concerned plus profit either at a fixed rate per unit or at a fixed percentage on the actual cost of production.(viii)(a)Price Variation Clause can be provided only in long-term contracts, where the delivery period extends beyond 18 months. In short term contracts firm and fixed prices should be provided for. Where a price variation clause is provided, the price agreed upon should specify the base level viz, the month and year to which the price is linked, to enable variations being calculated with reference to the price levels prevailing in that month and year.(b)A formula for calculation of the price variations that have taken place between the Base level and the Scheduled Delivery Date should be included in this clause.The variations are calculated by using indices published by Governments or Chambers of Commerce periodically. An illustrative formula has been appended to these Rules at Appendix-1 A for guidance.(c)The Price variation clause should also specify cut off dates for material and labour, as these inputs taper off well before the Scheduled Delivery Dates.(d)The price variation clause should provide for a ceiling on price variations, particularly where escalations are involved. It could be a percentage per annum or an overall ceiling or both. The buyer should ensure a provision in the contract for benefit of any reduction in the price in terms of the price variation clause being passed on to him.(e)The clause should also stipulate a minimum percentage of variation of the contract price above which price variations will be admissible (e.g. where resultant increase is lower than two per cent, no price adjustment will be made in favour of the supplier).(f)Where advance or stage payments are made there should be a further stipulation that no price variations will be admissible on such portions of the price, after the dates of such payment.(g)Where deliveries are accepted beyond the Scheduled Delivery Date subject to levy of liquidated damages as provided in the Contract, the liquidated damages (if a percentage of the price) will be applicable on the price as varied by the operation of the Price variation clause.(h)No price variation will be admissible beyond the original Scheduled Delivery Date for defaults on the part of the supplier.(i)Price variation may be allowed beyond the original Scheduled Delivery Date, by specific alteration of that date through an amendment to the contract in cases of Force Majeure or defaults by Government.(j)Where contracts are for supply of equipment, goods etc, imported (subject to customs duty and foreign exchange fluctuations) and/ or locally manufactured (subject to excise duty and other duties and taxes), the percentage and element of duties and taxes included in the price should be specifically stated, along with the selling rate of foreign exchange element taken into account in the calculation of the price of the imported item.The mode of calculation of variations in duties and taxes and Foreign exchange rates and the documents to be produced in support of claims for such variations, should also be stipulated in the Contract.(k)The clause should also contain the mode and terms of payment of the price variation admissible.(ix)Contracts should include provision for payment of all applicable taxes by the contractor or supplier.(x)"Lumpsum" contracts should not be entered into, except in cases of absolute necessity. Where lumpsum contracts become unavoidable, full justification should be recorded. The contracting Authority should ensure that conditions in the lump sum contract adequately safeguard and protect the interests of the Government.(xi)Departmental issue of materials should be avoided as far as possible. Where it is decided to supply materials departmentally, a schedule of quantities with the issue rates of such material as are required to execute the contract work, should form an essential part of the contract.(xii)(a)In contracts where government property is entrusted to a contractor either for use on payment of hire charges or for doing further work on such property, specific provision for safeguarding government property (including insurance cover) and for recovery of hire charges regularly, should be included in the contracts.(b)Provision should be made in the contract for periodical physical verification of the number and the physical condition of the items at the contractors premises. Results of such verification should be recorded and appropriate penal action taken where necessary.(xiii)Copies of all contracts and agreements for purchases of the value of Rupees Twenty-five Lakhs and above, and of all rate and running contracts entered into by civil departments of the Government other than the for which a special audit procedure exists, should be sent to the Audit Officer and/or the Accounts officer as the case may be.(xiv)(a)The terms of a contract, including the scope and specification once entered into, should not be materially varied.(b)Wherever material variation in any of the terms or conditions in a contract becomes unavoidable, the financial and other effects involved should be examined and recorded and specific approval of the authority competent to approve the revised financial and other commitments obtained, before varying the conditions.(c)All such changes should be in the form of an amendment to the contract duly signed by all parties to the contract.(xv)Normally no extensions of the Scheduled Delivery or completion dates should be granted except where events constituting Force Majeure as provided in the contract, have occurred or the terms and conditions include such a provision for other reasons. Extensions as provided in the contract may be allowed through formal amendments to the contract duly signed by parties to the contract.(xvi)All contracts shall contain a provision for recovery of liquidated damages for defaults on the parts of the contractor.(xvii)A warranty clause should be incorporated in every contract, requiring the supplier to, without charge, repair or rectify defective goods or to replace such goods with similar goods free from defect. Any goods repaired or replaced by the supplier shall be delivered at the buyers premises without costs to the buyer.(xviii)All contracts for supply of goods should reserve the right of Government to reject goods which do not conform to the specifications.(xix)[ In Externally Aided Projects, namely World Bank, ADB,DFID etc, where compliance of Financial Agreement/Procurement Guidelines is compulsory/mandatory, the rules, contained in Bihar Financial (Amendment) Rules, 2005 will not Applicable.] [Added by Bihar Notification No. M-4-12/2015(Part) 8478/F, dated 28.10.2016.](xx)[ Goods upto Rs. 50,000/- may be bought through any of the available supplies on the GeM, meeting the requisite quality, specification and supply period thereof. Goods above Rs. 50,000/- may be bought through the supplier having lowest price amongst the available supplies on the GeM, meeting the requisite quality, specification and supply period thereof using online bidding and online reverse auction made available on GeM.] [Added by Bihar Notification No. M-4-48/2012(Part-I) 3457/F, dated 19.5.2017.](xxi)[ The Womens/Women Self Help Groups, fullfilling prescribed qualifications, conditions and specifications of the tender, will be given priority in case of their bid equivalent to the other lowest bidder.] [Added by Bihar Notification No. M-4-12/2015(Part)-8327/F, dated 20.10.2017.]
