The "Consortia and Tender Marketing Scheme" is a pivotal initiative implemented by the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Its primary objective is to significantly enhance market access for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) across India. The scheme is designed to empower MSEs by enabling their participation in high-value government and Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) tenders, either as individual entities or as part of a collaborative consortium of similar manufacturing units.
Eligibility for this scheme is specifically restricted to MSEs that are already registered under NSIC's Single Point Registration Scheme (SPRS), or those that apply for SPRS registration concurrently. Crucially, the scheme explicitly excludes units whose business operations are purely trading-based without any value addition, ensuring that support is directed towards manufacturing and service-providing MSEs. It provides a structured framework for MSEs to bid on a wide range of tenders, including open, limited, and even nomination-based opportunities.
NSIC plays a proactive role by facilitating the formation of consortia among manufacturers of similar products. This strategic aggregation allows smaller units to combine their production capacities, making them competitive for larger bulk orders that would otherwise be inaccessible. Furthermore, NSIC meticulously manages the distribution of secured orders among consortium members, ensuring fairness and proportionality based on each member's production capacity.
A key financial support mechanism under the scheme involves NSIC arranging Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) and security deposits on a back-to-back basis, significantly reducing the financial burden and risk for participating MSEs. The scheme also extends support in accessing crucial credit and raw materials, vital for efficient order execution. The participation limit for tenders is dynamically determined, typically based on the higher of 300% of the SPRS monetary limit or the MSE's last year's turnover, with provisions for annual review and revision to accommodate growth. This scheme is fully aligned with the broader Public Procurement Policy for MSEs, which aims to promote and ensure the inclusion of Micro and Small Enterprises in government procurement processes, including valuable subcontracting opportunities.
