Explosive Threat Mitigation (ETM) Services Global Pre-Qualification Process for the Peace and Security Cluster (PSC)

New amendment added #4: Dear Applicants, please note that the case ref. PQ/2026/62435 is amended in order:1. To amend the ANNEX I Guidance Notes for Prequalification ETM Provider_PQ/2026/62435.2. To amend the annex III - evaluation criteria by removing the duplication of SALW, and creating PSSM category to be consistent with other returnable documents. 3. To amend the annex IV returnable forms, page one in particular. 4. Extend the deadline for clarification until 06 July 20265. Extend the deadline for applications submission until 13 July 2026

New clarification added: Question (12): Annex I Guidance Notes and Annex III PQ Evaluation Criteria both list "Small Arms Light Weapons (SALW) Disposal": once under Standard Mine Action &Clearance Services and also under Risk Education, Community Support & Management Services. Can UNOPS please confirm if the reference in the second category is purely for evidence of SALW risk education capability and past performance?Answer: Please refer to our previous answer above and please note relevant amendments.Question (13): Good afternoon, in the Returnable Forms Annex IV, Form C, part III we noticed a line which calls for certified true copies of all qualifications and certifications. However this element is not specified in Annex III where key specs are listed (E3.) Is it sufficient to state that certified copies of qualifications are all available on request. If not, and certified copies are required to be submitted, please clarify if this only applies to the qualifications relevant to that application category.Answer: It is not mandatory to submit certified true copies of qualifications and certifications at this stage. A statement confirming that certified copies are available upon request is acceptable for the purposes of this pre-qualification. UNOPS reserves the right to request certified copies of qualifications at a later stage, including at the time of tender or before contract award. Question (14): Please elaborate on the expectations to meet the criteria under D.3. It is not realistic to upload accreditations for every country in which we have mine action programming, would it be acceptable to provide a sample of accreditations accompanied by a full list, for example?Answer: As stipulated in the PQ evaluation criteria annex III, it says “ Applicants to submit copies of previously obtained accreditation (desk and field accreditations, for example, and preferably relevant to each of the categories applied for). When organisations do not hold previous accreditation, they shall, in their submission, expand on the experience of their key personnel and how that experience will enable them to successfully pass future accreditation. NB: UNOPS PQ certificate will not be considered”."UNOPS doesn't request to "upload accreditations for every country", but to demonstrate their capabilities to obtain accreditation 

New clarification added: Question (10): While reviewing Annex III – PQ Evaluation Criteria (Stage 2), we noticed that the technical category title "Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Disposal" appears twice in the evaluation matrix:Under "Standard Mine Action & Clearance Services"; andUnder "Risk Education, Community Support & Management Services".Could you kindly confirm whether both entries refer to the same technical category, or whether one of the category titles may have been unintentionally duplicated?We would also appreciate confirmation that the placement of "Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM)" under "Risk Education, Community Support & Management Services" is correct as presented in the evaluation matrix. We would be grateful for your clarification to ensure that supporting documentation is prepared and submitted under the correct technical categories.Answer: Standard Arms and Light Weapons Disposal (SALW) should only be under the category of (Standard Mine Action & Clearance Services). Therefore, kindly note and refer to the amendment (2) to the Annex III - Evaluation Criteria once advertised. Please also note that amendment (1) to ANNEX I Guidance Notes for Prequalification ETM Provider_PQ/2026/62435.  As for "Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM)" is removed from "Risk Education, Community Support & Management Services". Please refer to the amendment 2 of  annex III - Evaluation Criteria. Question (11): Please can you provide clarification on the following questions:  Annex III - PQQ Evaluation Criteria, Stage 2 - Please can UNOPS confirm the difference between "Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Disposal" in Column M, compared to "Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Disposal" in Column U? Is this a duplication of the same ETM service?It is noted that the ETM Services have been grouped into three Sections: Standard Mine Action & Clearance Services, Urban Clearance & Rubble Removal Operations, Risk Education, Community Support & Management Services. Please can UNOPS confirm if pre-qualification will be given for the grouped services as a whole or for each individual service? I.e. if a bidder does not wish to apply for one of services within the "Standard Mine Action & Clearance Services" group is the Bidder still able to apply for the other services within this group, or do we need to apply for all services within this group?It is noted that Form B "Past Contracts Form" requests for contract examples from within the last 2 years. Please can UNOPS confirm if there is a minimum number of contract examples required for this table?It is noted that Form B "Past Contracts Form" requests client reference letters to be provided. Please can you confirm if evidence can be provided for UNOPS/UNMAS projects, or only projects conducted for other clients? Please can UNOPS confirm if there is a minimum number of evidence of satisfactory performance required?Annex III Section D.1 - in the instance that the Bidder has not completed enough projects for a particular ETM service within the last 2 years, please can UNOPS confirm that experience from earlier years can be evidenced along with experience of the Bidder's personnel to meet this requirement?Annex III Section C.2.1 (cell F30) - Please can UNOPS advise on the definition of "field staff", and confirm this relates to personnel directly employed by the Bidder and part of the in-country team?Annex III "Guidelines Scoring Methodology" cell B20 - It is noted that to score 7 points for F.2.3 that Bidders should "Provide all of PSEAH training records for all proposed/current personnel within 12 months". Please can UNOPS confirm if bidders need to provide proof that the proposed personnel from Section E.3 have completed PSEAH training within the last 12 months, OR, bidders need to provide evidence of a project within the last 12 months where all staff completed PSEAH training? Please can you confirm so that bidders can ensure they are providing the appropriate evidence for review.Answer: Above 7 points are answered below: Annex III - evaluation criteria will be amended to remove the duplication.If a bidder does not wish to apply for one of services within the “standard Mine Action & Clearance Services” or any specific group, they are still able to apply for other services within this or that group.There is no minimum number of contracts. Here, UNOPS is keen to review the applicant's previous experience. Regarding the client reference letters to be provided, they shall be from clients outside UNOPS/UNMAS. However, projects implemented for UNOPS at any field office can be considered for inclusion. As answered previously, there is no minimum number of contracts. With regards to the evaluation criteria (Annex III) and the returnable forms (Annex IV), UNOPS wishes to clarify the following: Form B (Past Contracts Form) — which applicants are required to complete - specifies that organisational experience should be demonstrated within the last two (2) years. However, UNOPS confirms that where a Bidder has limited project activity within the last 2 years for a specific ETM category, the evaluation panel will also take into account the following, in line with the D.1 guidelines in Annex III:Broader organisational experience -D.1 guidelines reference achievements and accidents within the last 5 years, meaning supporting documents (e.g. client evaluations, project completion reports, references) from beyond the 2-year window but within 5 years may be submitted .Key personnel/senior management experience - D.1 explicitly states that the experience of key personnel will be considered, particularly where organisational project volume is limited. CVs must demonstrate a minimum of 5 years of relevant ETM experience.In summary, Form B must include the last 2 years. However, you may include supplementary evidence from the broader 5-year window and/or personnel CVs may be submitted alongside it and will be considered by the evaluation panel when scoring D.1." 6. The evaluation panel will look for explicit language in the submitted policy confirming that DEI commitments extend to all categories of personnel, regardless of contract type or duty stationPlease be mindful that this is a Pass and Fail criteria 7. The requirement is for evidence that the proposed personnel named in Section E.3 have completed PSEAH training within the last 12 months. This means individual-level evidence tied to the specific individuals in the bidder's organization who are being proposed for this bid, not a general project example where staff received training.Acceptable evidence would include training completion records, attendance registers, or certificates that show the names of proposed personnel and the dates on which training was completed. The training must have taken place within the 12 months prior to submission.

New amendment added #3: Dear Applicants, please note that the case ref. PQ/2026/62435 is amended in order:1. To amend the annex III - evaluation criteria in order to correct a minor typo of the Form D, not [F].2. To amend the annex IV returnable forms, Form D in particular.

New clarification added: Question (8): There is a difference between the formulation of B.3.1 and B.3.2 in Annex III and in Form D. Could you please confirm whether completing Form D and attaching audited financial statements is sufficient to answer Part B. Financial Information? Answer: Thanks, please note that Annex IV returnable forms is amended especially for B.3.2, in the returnable form.  Also, please note that Annex III - evaluation criteria is also amended to correct the typo for form D. As mentioned in our documents, please note  "To be considered compliant NGOs must be compliant with either B.3.1 or B.3.2" Question (9): Form A: Application Form requires a bid validity period to be inserted. Please would you confirm how many days this should be.Answer: There is no bid validity required. This process is for establishment of prequalified suppliers, and not submitting an offer.  

New amendment added #2: Dear Applicants, please note that the case ref. PQ/2026/62435 is amended in order:1. To upload the pre-bid conference minutes on eSourcing.  

New clarification added: Question (7): Hello, to clarify, for Stage 2, do we have to upload evidence (max 6 documents) for each technical area that we want to apply to? So for example if we want to pre-qualify for 6 areas, we have to evidence across the 6?Answer: During your application submission; if for example, the evidence is applied to a different category, then please title your document that the evidence is applied to those categories. No need to submit the same document, but it is important to inform us that the document is applicable to category 1,2,3 for instance.

New amendment added #1: Dear Applicatns, please note that the case ref. PQ/2026/62435 is amended in order:1. To extend the deadline for applications submission. 2. To extend the deadline for clarification. 3. Under particular tab, the link to attend the pre-bid conference is added into the case ref. PQ/2026/62435, and as planned on 08 June. 

New clarification added: Dear bidders, please note the below raised questions and our official responses in connection to the reference case: PQ/2026/62435Question (1): Our organisation has a current pre-qualification with UNOPS valid until 3 August 2028 (and granted on 20 August 2025 within PQ Ref: PQ/2024/52035). Our understanding is that we do not need to apply to this present PQ and that subsequent pre-qualification processes will be launched later in 2027 for registration as from the 2nd semester of 2028. Do you please confirm this interpretation?Answer:  If your company is prequalified in the PQ/2024/52035, you do not need to apply, considering the duration of this PQ will be aligned to the validity of other PQ vendors as per the mentioned PQ/2024/52035. However, please review the ETM categories, you may choose to apply for any category you did not qualify in PQ/2024/52035, and any new category, if your company is interested and has relevant capacity. Question (2): Please clarify which CVs are required in the case of an iNGO with mine action programming in several countries. Should we provide a sample of technical staff in different countries? Please also clarify whether CVs for HQ leadership need to be provided.Answer:  As per the evaluation criterion E.3 which says “ 4 x CVs of current (preferably) and/or previous employees that have worked in a capacity for the technical categories that the organization is applying for. CVs  should demonstrate at least 5 years of relevant experience. Note: Start-up organizations may submit CVs of their Key Personnel ( 2 x Management and 2 x Operations minimum). The CVs should demonstrate at least 10 years of  relevant experience Key personnel such as Project Manager, Ops Manager, Technical Advisor, QA/QC Officers, or equivalent positions; CVs shall follow the format provided  (Form C); Unofficial English translation is required if relevant”Question (3): ​Please confirm how to indicate 'Yes' or 'No' for requirements under A in Annex III? Do separate supporting documents needs to be uploaded for each confirmation?Answer: Please indicate (Yes/No) in one sheet as for requirements under A in Annex III, and please make sure you submit/list the relevant documents/information requested.Question (4): Please confirm whether all documents listed in Annex III need to be updated if the organisation already has PQ status.Answer: 1) For all suppliers whose PQ status ends on 31 July, they are required to submit all documents as per the PQ instructions. 2) For suppliers whose PQ status is valid under the process (PQ/2024/52035), they are required to submit all documents, except where it is mentioned (x), in column (F), if they are willing to get prequalified to other categoriesQuestion (5): We would like to thank UNOPS for the significant effort invested in updating and strengthening the ETM Global Pre-Qualification process.Having reviewed the new PQ/2026/62435 documentation, we note that the current process includes several important changes compared to previous ETM pre-qualification exercises, including:The introduction of new technical categories and capabilities;The restructuring and consolidation of existing technical categories;New organizational, policy and governance requirements;Additional supporting documentation requirements across several evaluation sections;The introduction of new requirements under Section F which were not included in previous ETM pre-qualification processes.These changes require organizations to review, update and in some cases develop entirely new documentation, policies, procedures and supporting evidence to ensure compliance with the revised requirements. Given the scope of these changes and in the interest of enabling applicants to submit complete, accurate and high-quality applications, we would respectfully request that UNOPS consider extending the submission deadline by one month. We believe such an extension would benefit both applicants and UNOPS by ensuring that submissions fully reflect the capabilities, governance frameworks and technical expertise of participating organizations.Thank you for your consideration and for your continued support to the humanitarian mine action and explosive threat mitigation sector.Answer: Please note an amendment to the case ref. PQ/2026/62435 will be made in order to extend the closing date for applications submission. We appreciate your interest in working with us.Question (6): Dear UNOPS Procurement Team, we would appreciate clarification regarding the Financial Information requirements under section B.1 of PQ/2026/62435. Both section B.1 and Form D (Financial Information) refer to the requirement to complete “Form F” in addition to providing audited financial statements. However, in Annex IV (Returnable Forms), we could only identify Forms A, B, C, D and E, and we were unable to locate a Form F. We assume this may be a typographical reference (F=D), but would appreciate your confirmation to ensure full compliance with the submission requirements. Thank you in advance for your guidance.Answer: Please note that it is a typo and there is no Form F. It is Form D.