Procurement is the overall process of acquiring goods, civil works and services which includes all functions from the identification of needs, selection and solicitation of sources, preparation and award of contract, and all phases of contract administration through the end of a services’ contract or the useful life of an asset.

As a public organization entrusted with donor funds and committed to supporting developing economies, UNDP abides by the following principles:

Best Value for Money means the selection of the offer that presents the optimum combination of life-cycle costs and benefits, which meet the end-users’ needs. Best Value for Money is the result of several factors, including quality, experience, the vendor’s reputation, and parameters that measure how well the good or service allows the organization to meet its social, environmental or other strategic objectives.

Fairness, Integrity and Transparency ensure that competitive processes are fair, open, and rules-based. All potential vendors should be treated equally, and the process should feature clear evaluation criteria, unambiguous solicitation instructions, realistic requirements, and rules and procedures that are easy to understand.

Effective International Competition, understood as giving all potential vendors timely and adequate information on UNDP requirements, as well as equal opportunity to participate in procurement actions, and restricting them only when it is absolutely necessary to achieve UNDP development goals.

In the best interest of UNDP, which means that any business transactions must conform to the mandates and principles of UNDP and the United Nations.

UNDP Procurement is based on competitive bidding. Depending on the type, complexity, size and value of the project and its procurement elements, commonly used methods of solicitation include:

Micro-Purchasing

Micro-Purchasing is a simplified and informal procurement method intended for the purchase of readily available goods, standardized services and small works, and where the contract amounts involved are not expected to exceed $10,000. Micro-Purchasing may be undertaken through canvassing of at least two vendors and award is made to the lowest price available.

Request for Quotation (RFQ)

An RFQ is an informal invitation to submit a quotation, usually for goods/services/civil works at a value between US$10,000 and $200,000. Prices, and other commercial terms and conditions are requested and award is made to the lowest priced technically acceptable offer.

Invitation to Bid (ITB)

An ITB is a formal invitation to submit a bid, usually associated with requirements that are clearly and concisely defined, with an estimated procurement value of US$200,000 or more. Normally price is the sole determinant in making an award. Where all technical criteria are met, award is made to the lowest bidder.

Request for Proposal (RFP)

An RFP is a formal request to submit a proposal, usually associated with requirements for services, which cannot be clearly or concisely defined, with an estimated procurement value of more than US$10,000. Price is only one of several factors comprising the evaluation criteria. Award is made to the qualified bidder whose bid substantially conforms to the requirement set forth on the solicitation documents and is evaluated to be the lowest cost to UNDP.

In some cases, exceptions to competition are being made and direct contracting is used. This usually happens when a Long-Term Agreement (LTA) is in place, either globally (HQ) or locally (at country office level).

Evaluation Process

Evaluation is the process of assessing offers and submitted proposals in accordance with established evaluation methodology and criteria, with the goal of obtaining the best value for money. The process is conducted in a fair and transparent manner to ensure equal treatment of all bidders.

The Evaluation Committee consists of three to five members depending on the nature, complexity and value of the procurement activity. Furthermore, the Evaluation Committee is chaired by an experienced individual, usually a member of the UNDP Programme Section. The membership of the Evaluation Committee is approved by Senior Management of UNDP in the country.

In selecting the members of the evaluation team, the type of procurement being carried out is considered. Representatives from the funding source, the client organization, or national representatives may participate in the evaluation process only as observers. All observers and participants in the evaluation team sign a Declaration of Impartiality.

Vendor Protest

UNDP’s vendor protest procedure provides an opportunity for appeal to those persons or firms not awarded a purchase order or contract through a competitive procurement process. In the event that a Proposer believes that it was not treated fairly, the following link provides further details regarding UNDP vendor protest procedures. Please consult UNDP Policy against Fraud and other Corrupt Practices.

Related resources: 

• UN Supplier Code of Conduct (PDF)
• Procurement Protest and Vendor Sanctions
• Qualification and Eligibility of Vendors
• General Terms and Conditions for Contracts (Goods and Services)
• General Terms and Conditions for de minimis contracts (Services only)
• General Terms and Conditions for Civil Works
• Contract Face Sheet (Goods and/or Services) for goods/services for/to UNDP