Section 84(9) in Punjab Panchayat Samitis and Zila Parishads Finance, Budget and Accounts Rules, 2014
(9)(a)whenever practicable and advantageous, contract should be entered into only after lenders have been openly invited;(b)the Panchayat Samiti or the Zila Parishad, as the case may be, shall determine up to what limit, not exceeding rupees five lacs, tenders may be dispensed with, In such cases the purchase shall be made at the lowest market rates by inviting quotations or at rate contracts, which shall be kept on record for audit purposes;(c)when tenders are invited, they shall he tabulated and scrutinized by the Executive Officer or the Chief Executive Officer, as the case may be, and then placed before the Panchayat Samiti or the Zila Parishad with his recommendation for orders;(d)the lowest tender shall ordinarily be accepted. Where for valid reasons, it is not considered desirable to accept the lowest tender, the reasons therefor, shall be clearly recorded and made available for purposes of audit;Note. - Where the lowest tender is in respect of more than one article, the comparative prices tendered may be considered either individually for each article or conjointly for all the articles or for specified groups of articles;Provided that the intention of the Panchayat Samiti or the Zila Parishad to accept the lowest tender in any of these ways is made clear in the tender notice. If the tender is considered conjointly for all the articles in each group the cost of all the articles in each group, shall be worked out with reference to the rates given in each tender and the lowest tender shall be that according to which the total cost of the probable requirements of all the articles proposed to be taken together works out to be the lowest.(e)the Panchayat Samiti or the Zila Parishad reserve the right to accept the tender item wise group wise or as a whole, which fact shall be made clear in the tender notice and the tenderer shall be bound to supply the goods accordingly. In case he fails to supply the goods, the earnest money deposited by him shall be forfeited;(f)where the capacity to supply or the integrity' of a tenderer, not otherwise blacklisted, is not known or where they are doubtful, his tender need not necessarily be rejected but such additional security as the Panchayat Samiti or the Zila Parishad considers necessary shall, however, be taken from the tenderer;(g)where the lowest tender is rejected, the next higher tender shall he accepted subject to the approval of Panchayat Samiti or the Zila Parishad. as the case may be, through resolution. Adequate reasons shall also he recorded for rejecting that lowest tender;(h)in no case shall a tender be accepted at rates other than those specified in that tender;(i)there shall be no avoidable delay in the disposal of the tenders after they are opened;(j)tenders shall be invited by the Executive Officer or the Chief Executive Officer, as the case may be, in scaled covers in the most open and public manner possible, and invariably,(k)by a notice in the regional language of the State, pasted at the office of the Panchayat Samiti or the Zila Parishad, and at such other places as the Executive Officer or the Chief Executive Officer, may deem fit; and
