UNOG procurement is carried out in accordance with the United Nations Financial Rules and Regulations through UNOG Purchase and Transportation Section. Contracts/purchases for US$ 40,000 or more are awarded on the basis of international competitive bidding through Invitations to Bid (ITBs) or Requests for Proposals (RFPs), unless there are exceptional factors which preclude bidding, such as extreme urgency. Tendering is made amongst pre-qualified vendors from the UNOG Vendor Roster; very large prospective contracts, however, will be advertised by Requests for Expression of Interest or through newspapers, or through specialized publications such as Procurement Update or Development Business.

Normally, tenders are to be submitted in a sealed envelope. In urgent situations, bids may also be requested to be submitted to a secure fax facility.

In light of budgetary constrainsts and consequent restructuring of internal mail delivery services, a period of 24 hours will be observed between the bid submission deadline and the public bid opening. For example: Bid submission deadline: 7 November 2012 at 10:00 am -> Public Bid opening: 8 November 2012 at 10:00 am.

Formal bids/proposals are opened and recorded in a public session; bidders will be given, upon request, the bid abstract, as recorded at the public opening.

The main considerations for contract award are compliance with specifications, price, technical quality and acceptability, and compliance with delivery schedules. Depending on the value of the proposed contract, the final award must be recommended by the UNOG Committee on Contracts and approved by the Director-General of UNOG.