UNDP in Jordan|Procurement

- Contract Awards during the period 2005-2007 over USD 100,000

Procurement Process

The Jordan Country Office renders procurement services to it projects (although it operates in a NEX environment). A variety of procurement methods for the solicitation and tendering of goods, civil works and/or services is used. The method selected depends upon factors such as the type of good or service being procured as well as its value.

The overall objective of the solicitation and tendering processes is to procure high quality goods, civil works or services as economically as possible in a transparent manner. The most commonly used methods of solicitation include:

A Request for Quotation (RFQ) is commonly used for the procurement of goods, services and/or civil works where the contract value is between USD 2,500 and USD 100,000

An Invitation to Bid (ITB) is generally used for the procurement of goods valued at USD 100,000 or more. To ensure economy and efficiency, we evaluate bids amongst a minimum of three responsive [where the offer complies with the requirements (i.e., specifications, delivery terms, UNDP terms and conditions)], AND qualified [where the Supplier satisfies basic eligibility criteria] offers, and the award is made to the lowest priced acceptable offer.

A Request for Proposal (RFP) is done for all contracts exceeding USD 100,000 where the desired inputs and/or outputs cannot quantitatively and qualitatively be expressed in sufficient details at the time the invitation is made

Direct Contracting is used where UNDP engages IAPSO or another UN Agencies’ services; or employs an IAPSO or HQ executed global long-term agreement (LTA) eg: DELL; or alternatively, a local LTA (eg: with the travel agent) All local LTAs should have been approved/cleared by the ACP (The Advisory Committee on Procurement which meets weekly in New York)

Local Shopping is used for amounts less than $2500 and this is based on "best value for money"

The United Nations Development Programme may use any of the following competitive methods to procure goods, civil works or services. Commonly used competitive methods include:
- Open International Competition
- Limited International Competition
- 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 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.

PROCEDURES

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 Business Unit.
For contracts valued between USD 100,000 and USD 500,000, advertisements should be posted on Inter-Agency Procurement Services Office’s (IAPSO) website and/or as a Procurement Notice on United Nations Development Programme’s website and UNDP Jordan website for a minimum of two weeks depending on the complexity and nature of the goods, civil works or services to be obtained.

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 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 local newspaper or on the website to ensure thorough competition