Understanding PRC and CRAC on GeM
On Government e Marketplace (GeM), post-order fulfillment is governed strictly by two crucial certificates issued by the buyer/consignee:
- Provisional Receipt Certificate (PRC): Issued by the consignee within 48 hours of physical delivery to confirm receipt of consignment packages without final quality inspection.
- Consignee Receipt and Acceptance Certificate (CRAC): Issued after detailed verification of goods or services (mandatorily within 10 days of delivery). CRAC creation triggers the final bill generation and mandates the buyer's DDO (Drawing and Disbursing Officer) to disburse payment within 10 calendar days.
Why Timely PRC & CRAC are Essential
Delays in securing PRC or CRAC can stall working capital and impact vendor reliability on the platform:
Legal Payment Enforcement
CRAC generation legally binds the buyer paying authority to process payment within the stipulated 10-day period.
Protection Against Penalties
Timely uploaded delivery proofs prevent buyers from imposing unverified liquidated damages (LD) for late delivery.
Auto-CRAC Triggering
If consignees fail to act within 10 days post-PRC without formal rejection, system-driven Auto-CRAC mechanisms can be activated.
Vendor Rating Improvement
Successfully closed orders with prompt CRACs significantly boost your overall GeM Seller Rating and credibility.
Step-by-Step PRC & CRAC Fulfillment Workflow
Our experts assist sellers through the complete post-order lifecycle to guarantee seamless closure:
- Dispatch & Invoice Upload: Generating compliant tax invoices and uploading consignment tracking/Proof of Delivery (POD).
- PRC Monitoring: Coordinating with consignee for mandatory 48-hour PRC issuance upon shipment arrival.
- Inspection Alignment: Verifying technical compliance reports or Joint Inspection Reports (JIR) where required.
- CRAC Follow-Up & Auto-CRAC Tracking: Tracking the 10-day timeline to trigger Auto-CRAC if consignee delays approval.
- DDO Bill Processing Support: Guiding invoice submission to the Paying Authority for prompt bank disbursement.
Documents Required for PRC / CRAC Resolution
For Delivery & Invoice Proofs
- GeM Generated Purchase Order (PO) Copy
- Tax Invoice & E-Way Bill (if applicable)
- Proof of Delivery (POD) signed by consignee or courier tracking record
For Inspection & Dispute Escalations
- Consignment Receipt / Gate Entry Slip from buyer premises
- Quality Inspection Report / Test Certificate (if specified in PO)
- Written communication record with Consignee / DDO
PRC & CRAC Consultancy Fee Structure
| Service Package | Scope of Consultancy | Consultancy Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Single Order PRC/CRAC Tracking | POD validation, consignee follow-up, and CRAC generation tracking for 1 Purchase Order | ₹1,499 + GST |
| Complete Payment Release & Dispute Escalation | End-to-end handling of delayed CRACs, Auto-CRAC escalation, and DDO ticket resolution for stalled payments | ₹2,999 + GST |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What happens if the buyer does not issue a CRAC within 10 days?
If the PRC was generated and no rejection was recorded, the GeM portal initiates an Auto-CRAC mechanism, allowing the invoice to move forward for payment processing automatically.
2. What is the deadline for payment after CRAC generation?
Under GeM Service Level Agreements (SLA), the Paying Authority / DDO must disburse 100% payment to the seller within 10 calendar days of CRAC generation.
3. Can a buyer issue a partial CRAC?
Yes. If a portion of the consignment is damaged or non-compliant, the buyer can issue a partial CRAC for accepted items and reject the remaining quantity.
4. How can sellers resolve non-issuance of PRC by buyers?
Sellers can upload official courier PODs and log an Incident on GeM against the buyer for non-compliance with platform timelines.
*Note: Document requirements and Service Fee may vary by tender, category and registration type. Tendershala's consultants confirm the exact checklist and service fee that applies to your specific requirement.