Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) has initiated a vendor empanelment process for hiring offshore vessels, including platform supply vessels (PSV), offshore supply vessels (OSV), and anchor handling tug cum supply (AHTS) vessels. This first-of-its-kind initiative aims to expedite procurement by streamlining tender processes. India’s largest oil and gas explorer has invited applications for empanelment, allowing pre-qualified vendors to participate in limited tenders for vessel chartering. ONGC emphasised the importance of early empanelment to minimise documentation during future tenders, thus reducing processing times. The first phase focuses on PSVs with 3,000 DWT, OSVs with 1,500 DWT, and AHTS vessels with Bollard Pull capacities of 80, 120, and 150 tons. Vendors can apply for one or more categories. Even those without vessels can qualify by meeting the technical Bid Evaluation Criteria (BEC) and offering vessels at the tender stage. During a pre-bid meeting on January 6, ONGC encouraged bidders to pre-qualify all their vessels, even those currently engaged in contracts, to ensure a faster bidding process. Applications must be submitted by January 23, though the empanelment process will remain open year-round. ONGC typically requires 79 offshore vessels for its operations—71 on the west coast and 8 on the east coast. The empanelment process is expected to be completed within 90 days. Eleven entities, including Shipping Corporation of India Ltd, Alphard Logistics Pvt Ltd, Greatship (India) Ltd, and international players like Zakher Marine International (Abu Dhabi) and Wintermar Offshore Marine Group (Indonesia), have shown preliminary interest. The empanelment period will align with the validity of BEC-related documents. ONGC will notify empanelled vendors of any post-empanelment tender condition changes, requiring their acceptance during subsequent limited tenders. Vendors must participate in at least one tender or provide justification for non-participation, subject to ONGC’s approval. This initiative, aimed at expediting vessel chartering, is the first step in ONGC’s broader strategy to apply similar processes for other goods and services in the future. (ET)