Procurement Process: Depending on the nature and size of the project and its procurement elements, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) may use any of the following competitive methods to procure goods or services. Commonly used competitive methods include: Open International Competition, Limited International, and  Local and/or National Competition.

United Nations Development Programme regards open international competition (OIC) as the preferred method of procurement with its overall ability to achieve all principal objectives of the intended programme. However, in many circumstances where it is determined that open international competition (OIC) is not feasible, staff may employ use of an alternative method. In such, United Nations Development Programme requires its staff to ensure that the selected method is both economic and efficient (i.e., obtains the best value for money). All methods of procurement irrespectively must be open and fair to all interested offerers to the extent possible.

Open International Competition: Open international competition intends to provide all eligible and qualified offerors adequate and timely notification of United Nations Development Programme’s requirements and to provide them equal access and fair opportunity to compete for contracts of required goods, civil works or services valued at USD 100,000 or more. Initiated by an advertisement, open international competition (OIC) invites interested offerors to request the solicitation documents from the procurement unit.

Business Unit:  For contracts valued over USD 100,000 advertisements should be posted on  UNGM and/or as a Procurement Notice on United Nations Development Programme’s website for ten to thirty days depending on the complexity and nature of the goods, civil works or services to be obtained.

For contracts valued greater than USD 500,000, advertisements should in addition be made in Development Business and/or a relevant publication of wide international circulation. United Nations Development Business (UNDB) is a publication providing comprehensive information on opportunities to supply goods, civil works and services for projects financed by the United Nations, governments and International Financial Institutions. United Nations Development Business is published both online and in paper form. The paper version is printed twice monthly and the online version (e.g., UNDB Online) is updated several times a week.

Limited International Competition: Limited international competition (LIC) narrows competition amongst an ongoing shortlist of qualified suppliers selected in a non-discriminate manner by the Business Unit either from rosters, prequalification, expressions of interest, etc. Limited international competition (LIC) is appropriate where open international competition (OIC) is unsuitable, exigent circumstances persist or the global market retains a limited availability of the required goods, civil works or services.

Local Competition:

• Local competition, unlike the aforementioned international competitive methods, is generally exercised for procurement in the country where the programme is to be deployed. Business Units may use local competition where; Civil works are scattered geographically or spread over time and the country has a sufficient base of Suppliers (i.e., minimum of three)
• Professional services are valued at USD 30,000 or less;
• Goods are available locally at prices below the global market price; or
• Programmes require knowledge of the local/national system (e.g. Human Development Report)

Where applicable, advertisements shall be published in the national gazette or national or local newspaper or local publications to ensure thorough competition.

Advisory

• UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training, visa or other fee).
• UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its procurement process (supplier registration, bids submission or other fee).
• UNDP does not request or issue personal bank checks, Money Grams, Western Union or any other type of money transfer at any stage of its procurement / recruitment process.
• UNDP does not request any information related to bank accounts or other private information prior to formal registration as a vendor.
• UNDP does not offer prizes, awards, funds, certificates, scholarships or conduct lotteries through e-mail, mail or fax.
• We strongly recommend that recipients of solicitations to apply for positions or engage in procurement exercises exercise caution regarding such solicitations.
• Financial loss and identity theft can result from the transfer of money or personal information to those issuing such fraudulent correspondence. UNDP is not responsible for any such loss or theft.
• Victims of scams can report such scams to scamalert@undp.org. They may also wish to report scams to their local law enforcement authorities for appropriate action.

For additional information, please contact: Procurement Unit, Mr. Ghirmai Woldemicael.