PAC - Proprietary Article Certificate ( Stores)
Proprietary (Adjective) - Of a product, marketed under and protected by a registered trade name.
PAC stands for Proprietary Article Certificate
Simple Definition of PAC: It is a certificate from the user department stating that the purchase must be made from a particular source/brand because the item is either unique or no acceptable alternative is available.
The PAC form
Description of Article:
Quantity:
Approximate cost, if known:
Maker’s name and address:
Name of Local Agents:
I approve the above purchase and I certify that: -
No other make / brand will be suitable.
This is the only firm who is manufacturing / stocking this item.
A similar article is not manufactured or sold by any other firm, which could be used in lieu.
Note: Delete (a) or (c) whichever is not necessary
Signature:
Date: Desg. of Officer:
Brand PAC or Qualified PAC - (a) is certified and deleting ( c )
Clear PAC - (c ) is certified and deleting (a)
Two Types of PAC: Brand/Qualified PAC and Clear PAC
1. Brand PAC / Qualified PAC - This is when the PAC certifies (a) and deletes (c).
Means: “No other make/brand is suitable, even if a similar article exists.”
📌 Implication: There might be other products in the market, but for this specific requirement only this brand is acceptable due to reasons like fit, performance, warranty, certification, compatibility, previous experience, safety etc.
➡ Sometimes called Qualified PAC because the justification is based on suitability, not non-existence of alternatives.
Practical Example : Wheel Sensor for Electronic Braking System (EBS)
Railway Workshop needs 150 EBS wheel sensors for a specific imported coach type.
Supplier A makes the original branded sensor (same as fitted originally).
Supplier B makes technically similar sensors.
But Railway Technical Dept. tests and certifies that Supplier B’s sensor does not comply with braking safety parameters (or warranty/spare fitting issues).
User Dept. issues PAC stating: “No other brand/make is suitable for these coaches because only Supplier A’s sensors meet the stringent performance and warranty requirements.”
🔹 Outcome: Other brands might exist, but Procurement must award to Supplier A.
This is Brand/Qualified PAC.
2. Clear PAC: This is when PAC certifies (c) and deletes (a).
Means: “No similar article is manufactured/sold by any other firm that can be used instead.”
📌 Implication: This is a stricter condition. There is simply no alternative item or brand available in the market that could serve the purpose.
Practical Example:
Railway Needs a specific proprietary filter element for a rare imported machine.
Only one manufacturer (say an overseas OEM) produces this exact filter.
No other manufacturer or substitute part exists anywhere in the market.
User Dept. issues PAC stating:
> “A similar article is not manufactured or sold by any other firm that could be used in lieu.”
🔹 Outcome: Purchase can only be made from that one manufacturer — there’s literally no competitor or substitute part.
This is Clear PAC.
Difference — Simplified Table
✔ Brand/Qualified PAC allows single-source procurement when only one brand is acceptable, even if other technically similar items exist, but cannot be used.
✔ Clear PAC is used when no competitor product exists at all that could serve the need.
Quick Memory Summary
✳️ Brand/Qualified PAC = “Suitable Brand Only”
✳️ Clear PAC = “No Similar Article Exists”
Powers of Signing PAC: By User Department
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