In the 2026 procurement landscape, winning a government contract is a milestone, but Fulfillment is where your brand’s reputation is truly built. With the recent integration of the Unified Procurement System, GeM has automated its monitoring of delivery timelines. At Zohani Consulting Services, we act as your strategic partner to ensure your post-award operations are as flawless as your bid.

The Critical Fulfillment Timeline

Once an order is placed on the GeM portal, the clock starts ticking. In 2026, the system tracks every milestone with digital precision:

• 1. Order Acceptance: Sellers must accept the order within 48-72 hours. Delaying acceptance can lead to an automatic "Incident" being raised by the buyer.
• 2. Shipment & PRC: Upon delivery, the buyer must issue a Provisional Receipt Certificate (PRC) within 48 hours, confirming that the boxes have physically arrived.
• 3. CRAC Generation: The Consignee Receipt and Acceptance Certificate (CRAC) is the most vital document. It must be generated within 10 days of the PRC to initiate the payment cycle.

Avoiding the "LD" Trap: Liquidated Damages

A common "Complexity" for vendors in 2026 is the automatic calculation of Liquidated Damages (LD). If a delivery is delayed beyond the contract period, GeM automatically deducts a penalty (typically 0.5% per week, up to a maximum of 10%) from your final invoice.

Pro Tip: If you anticipate a delay due to reasons beyond your control, always request a "Delivery Period (DP) Extension" through the portal before the original deadline expires. A retroactive extension is much harder to secure in the 2026 system.

Payments in 2026: The Integrated Advantage

The 2026 GeM portal is now fully integrated with PFMS (Public Financial Management System). This means once the CRAC is generated, the system creates a digital bill. For MSMEs, payments are now legally mandated to be released within 15 days of CRAC generation, significantly improving cash flow for small businesses in Kerala.

How Zohani Simplifies Your Post-Award Operations

At Zohani, we don't just leave you after the bid is won. We provide Order Lifecycle Management to safeguard your "Verified Seller" rating:

• Automated Alerts: We track your delivery deadlines and notify you 72 hours before a potential breach.
• Incident Resolution: If a buyer unfairly delays a CRAC or raises a frivolous quality complaint, we handle the Incident Management on your behalf.
• Documentation Support: Ensuring that your e-Invoices and delivery challans are 100% GST-compliant for the GeM audit trail.

Conclusion

Effective order management is the bridge between a one-time win and a long-term government partnership. By mastering the CRAC process and being proactive with delivery extensions, your business can maintain a 5-star rating on GeM, making you the preferred choice for future 2026 tenders.