Request for Quotation for the Procurement of Carbon Credits

New clarification added: Q36) As part of our offer, we operate a dedicated risk-management process for evaluating carbon projects, which is itself verified by an independent third party. We intend to document this process in supporting slides and submit it together with the verification reports for the credits offered. Could UNOPS please confirm whether such a third-party-verified project risk-assessment process is taken into consideration in the technical evaluation, and if so, under which evaluation criterion, or whether the evaluation is limited strictly to the minimum technical requirements set out in Section III, Form C?A36) We only consider the requirements that have been published in the tender documents for our evaluation. A third-party-verified project risk-assessment is not one of them, but if you have it available, you can include it in your bid.

New clarification added: Q35) Following the two extensions of the proposal submission deadline (most recently to Monday, 3 August 2026), could UNOPS please confirm how these extensions affect (a) the 60-day quotation validity period referenced in Form A of the Returnable Bidding Forms, and (b) the anticipated contract award date? Specifically, does the 60-day binding period now run from the revised submission deadline, and has the expected award timeline been adjusted accordingly?A35) a) As per the quotation submission form, bid validity is counted from the day of the tender actually closes.b) We expect to award the contract within 1 month of the tender actually closing. 

New clarification added: Q34) Given that the credits are retired and cancelled within two weeks of Purchase Order signature, please confirm whether UNOPS agrees that the supplier's obligations under the contract expire upon retirement of the credits and delivery of the associated registry evidence, save for any provisions expressly stated to survive expiry.A34) While physical delivery and proof of cancellation/retirement must occur within two (2) weeks from Contract/Purchase Order signing, the supplier’s legal obligations do not fully expire upon registry evidence submission.Certain core legal provisions survive the completion of delivery or contract termination, including but not limited to:Warranty Obligations: Guarantees regarding the validity, authenticity, and non-encumbrance of the VERs.Indemnification (Article 6): Protections against third-party claims or intellectual/property right disputes.Audits and Investigations: UNOPS/UN anti-fraud and audit rights.Confidentiality and Use of Name/Emblem (Article 8).

New clarification added: Q33) Please confirm that UNOPS's responses to bidders' clarification questions in this procurement will be incorporated into, or treated as forming part of, the resulting contract, such that they govern the interpretation of the corresponding provisions of the General Conditions of Contract in the event of any inconsistency.A33) Clarification responses issued by UNOPS during the solicitation process form an integral part of the tender documents.However, in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the documents forming the final Contract, the order of precedence is strictly governed by UNOPS procurement rules:The UNOPS Purchase Order / Contract Face SheetThe UNOPS General Conditions of Contract (GCC) for Goods (takes precedence over custom supplier terms or clarification interpretations)The Schedule of Requirements / Terms of ReferenceClarification Responses & Tender AmendmentsThe Supplier’s OfferClarification responses serve to interpret technical specifications and procedural guidelines; they cannot alter, override, or diminish the standard legal obligations set forth in the UNOPS GCCs. 

New clarification added: Q32) Where a bidder has concerns about specific provisions of the General Conditions of Contract - for example, the absence of a liability cap or the scope of the indemnity - please confirm whether UNOPS would accept those provisions being addressed through terms recorded in the Purchase Order for this transaction, which would take precedence over the General Conditions to the extent of any conflict, without the bid being deemed non-compliant.A32) UNOPS in general does not negotiate its GCCs and contract forms, and bidding documents require bidders to acknowledge their acceptance of them. That being said, UNOPS acknowledges the requests received regarding the limitation of liability and indemnity provisions with reference to this RFQ. Contractual terms relating to the limitation of liability and indemnity may be discussed with the successful bidder(s) during contract finalization, where appropriate and taking into account the nature, value and risk profile of the contract.

New clarification added: Q31) Please confirm that the supplier's indemnity under Article 6 will be limited to third-party claims that result directly from the supplier's breach of the contract, and that it will not extend to indirect or consequential losses, or to claims arising from UNOPS's own acts or omissions.A31) UNOPS acknowledges the requests received regarding the limitation of indemnity provisions with reference to this RFQ. Contractual terms relating to the limitation of indemnity may be discussed with the successful bidder(s) during contract finalization, where appropriate and taking into account the nature, value and risk profile of the contract.The indemnity clause covers all claims, demands, suits, and liability of any nature or kind arising out of the supplier's acts or omissions in the performance of the Contract. UNOPS does not seek indemnification for losses resulting solely from UNOPS's own gross negligence or willful misconduct. 

New clarification added: Q30) Please confirm that UNOPS will agree to cap the supplier's aggregate liability under the contract at the total value of the Purchase Order, and to exclude indirect and consequential damages, on the basis that liability exceeding the value of the transaction is disproportionate for a procurement of this nature.A30) UNOPS acknowledges the requests received regarding the limitation of liability provisions with reference to this RFQ. Contractual terms relating to the limitation of liability may be discussed with the successful bidder(s) during contract finalization, where appropriate and taking into account the nature, value and risk profile of the contract. That being said, UNOPS would not agree to cap the supplier's aggregate liability at the Purchase Order value in cases of fraud, wilful misconduct, and knowingly supplying invalid credits.Liability for fundamental breach of contract, breach of warranty, gross negligence, willful misconduct, or third-party indemnifications cannot be capped or restricted through supplier-requested amendments. 

New clarification added: Q28) Where VERs meet all tender requirements and pass registry checks at the point of delivery and retirement, but are subsequently invalidated by the registry or standard body on the basis of information that comes to light after delivery, does UNOPS agree the supplier has met its warranty obligation in full?Q29) Where VERs comply with all tender requirements and pass registry and standard-body checks at the point of delivery and retirement, but are subsequently invalidated by the registry or standard body on the basis of information coming to light after delivery, please confirm whether UNOPS looks to the supplier for any remedy (including refund, replacement or compensation), or whether UNOPS accepts that the risk of such subsequent invalidation rests with UNOPS once the credits have been validly delivered and retired.A28 & A29) UNOPS does not accept that the risk of post-delivery invalidation rests solely with UNOPS, nor that the supplier’s warranty obligations automatically cease upon retirement if invalidation subsequently occurs due to underlying issues with the credits.Pursuant to the UNOPS General Conditions of Contract (GCC) for Goods (Article 5: Warranties):The supplier warrants that the goods/deliverables supplied under the Contract are free from defects and conform strictly to the specifications and requirements set forth in the RFQ.If VERs are subsequently invalidated or cancelled by a registry/standard body due to fundamental non-compliance, fraud, double-counting, or invalidity existing at or prior to the time of issuance/delivery, the supplier remains liable for breach of warranty.In such an event, UNOPS reserves the right to seek remedies under the Contract, including but not limited to requiring the supplier to replace the invalidated credits with equivalent compliant Gold Standard VERs at no additional cost, or refunding the full purchase price paid for the affected credits. 

New amendment added #2: Extension of the tender deadline to Monday August 3rd 2026

New clarification added: Q25) Please confirm whether the one-year warranty applicable to goods is limited to the validity, authenticity and conformity of the VERs at the time of delivery and retirement, or whether it extends to subsequent changes in the status of the underlying project or registry after delivery.A25) Since the VERs are certificates that attest to an event that happened in the past, and as long as they comply with the tender requirements (including validity, authenticity and conformity), warranty is not a consideration in this case.Q26) Please clarify whether the requirement that the goods be "free from third-party claims" refers to legal claims relating to ownership or title to the VERs at the time of delivery, or whether it extends to subsequent claims relating to project implementation, community engagement or other matters arising after delivery.A26) The word “claim” in our requirements relates to the legal ownership of the credits, and to avoid another entity to claim the same carbon reductions.Q27) Please confirm that "fit for purpose" means that the VERs comply with the specifications set out in the RFQ and are valid Gold Standard VERs at the time of delivery.A27) "fit for purpose" means that the VERs comply with all the tender requirements.

New clarification added: Q24) Please confirm whether naming UNOPS as an additional insured on the supplier's insurance policies is required, or whether provision of a certificate evidencing the supplier's existing insurance coverage is sufficient.A24) A certificate evidencing your existing insurance coverage (including any limits if applicable) is sufficient. The certificate must also mention the validity dates, policy numbers, type of coverage/insurance, ...etc 

New clarification added: Q23) What is your definition of a CDM transition project? Are projects, which are dual-egistered under the CDM and the GS considered transition projects? A23) We consider all projects as transition projects that were originally registered under the CDM and have since been transitioned and registered under the Paris Agreement.

New clarification added: Q22) Could you please confirm your expected decision timeline?A22) We expect to award the contract within 1 month of tender closure. 

New clarification added: Q21) While accessing the vendor submission section in the portal, the Financial Offer tab is not showing any dropdown or text box to fill the offer and neither it is showing any file upload provision. It is showing 0/0 documents. Can you please check and confirm on this once? Thanking you in anticipation. A21) The set up for the financial form submission is correct on our end. From your comment, I think you are in the bidder submission part of the eSourcing portal and it shows 0 documents because you have not yet uploaded your financial offer. Please refer to the eSourcing vendor guide attached to this tender documents on how to navigate the eSourcing portal and submit your offer. 

New clarification added: Q20) From a legal standpoint, please clarify whether the VERs will be classified as "goods" or if we will be providing "retirement services." We consider it to be instrument management and retirement services but wanted to clarify.  A20) UNOPS considers it a procurement of goods (the credits are tradable certificates).

New clarification added: Q19) We would like to kindly request an extension to the deadline for submission of the RfQ. This is to account for the recent clarifications provided by UNOPS today (16th July) and integrate these into our RfQ, in addition to the difficult schedule given the summer holidays. A19) Tender has been extended.

New amendment added #1: 7 days extension of the tender and clarifications deadlines

New clarification added: Q18) Could you please confirm whether Vintage 2021 or 2022 credits would be acceptable, or if you require Vintage 2023 credits or after?A18) Please see our response to Q12

New clarification added: Q13) Partial bids and evaluation/combination mechanism:The RFQ states that UNOPS “will accept partial bids” (Section II, Part D, item 7, and Price Schedule Form). However, if a bidder does not offer the full quantity requested under a given lot, how will UNOPS evaluate and combine offers from different bidders to meet its total volume requirement? In particular, what is the exact methodology for selecting and aggregating partial offers (e.g., will UNOPS take the lowest priced technically acceptable offer first, then the next, as mentioned in the Price Schedule Form)?A13) UNOPS will accept partial bids, if a bidder does not offer the whole quantity of credits.If the lowest priced most technically acceptable does not fulfil UNOPS volume requirements, UNOPS will procure additional credits needed from the second lowest priced most technically acceptable offer, and so proceed until its needs are fulfilled. Q14) Definition of “delivery” / “receipt” for payment trigger:The RFQ provides that UNOPS will make payment “within 30 days after receipt of the goods/services” (Section I, Article 8). For intangible goods like carbon credits, it is unclear what constitutes “receipt” / “delivery” – does the 30-day payment start upon signing of the contract, upon submission of the third-party verification report, upon completion of cancellation and retirement of the credits in the registry (with proof provided), or at another specific milestone? Please clarify the exact event that triggers the payment period.A14) We require a certificate confirming that the credits have been retired on our behalf, along with proof of this retirement. A screenshot from the registry is sufficient as proof. Once we have received that and the invoice from the supplier, payment will be processed within 30 days.Q15) Criteria and evidence requirements for Lot 2 (co-benefits for women and girls):The RFQ requires projects offered under Lot 2 to provide evidence of sustainable development co-benefits directly improving the lives of women and girls (Section II, Part B, item g). Please clarify:a) Is a standalone certification required (e.g., Gold Standard's Gender Equality Certification), or is a description in the project documentation sufficient?b) If a project does not hold a specific certification, what evidence would be acceptable?A15) We do not require a specific certification over the co-benefits. We evaluate co-benefits based on the project documentation describing those benefits, together with any additional supporting evidence you can provide. If you have certifications available, you are welcome to share them as part of the project supporting documentation.Q16) Criteria and evidence requirements for Lot 3 (co-benefits for biodiversity):The RFQ requires projects offered under Lot 3 to demonstrate biodiversity-related co-benefits directly resulting from project activities (Section II, Part C, items i, j, k). Please clarify:a) Is a standalone certification required (e.g., Gold Standard's Biodiversity Impact Certification), or is a description in the project documentation sufficient?b) If a project does not hold a specific certification, what evidence would be acceptable? Are quantified metrics (e.g., species count increase, habitat area restored) required,or are qualitative descriptions acceptable?A16) We do not require a specific certification over the co-benefits. We evaluate co-benefits based on the project documentation describing those benefits, together with any additional supporting (quantitative or qualitative) evidence you can provide. If you have certifications available, you are welcome to share them as part of the project supporting documentation.Q17) Cross-application of projects between Lot 1 and Lot 2:If a project offered under Lot 1 also describes positive impacts on women and girls in its project documentation, can the same project also be used for Lot 2? Please clarify:a) Can the same project be offered under both Lot 1 and Lot 2 (i.e., using different vintages/volumes for each lot)?A17-a) Yes, it is possible to offer the same project using different volumes and/or vintages across different lots, provided that the projects meet the additional co-benefit requirements requested under Lot 2 or Lot 3 (depending on the lot under which you wish to offer them), in addition to fulfilling the requirements for Lot 1.  The co-benefits need to be outlined in the project description.Q17-b) If offered under Lot 2, would additional dedicated certification/evidence be required beyond what is already provided for Lot 1?A17-b) You need to provide project documentation, along with any supporting evidence you can provide, that demonstrates and describes the project's co-benefits (for lot 2 co-benefits for women and girls). An additional dedicated standalone certificate over the co-benefits is not required, but if available, you are welcome to upload it with the project supporting documentation.Q17-c) If a project meets both Lot 1 and Lot 2 requirements, can the unit price of this project for Lot 2 be priced higher than it for Lot 1?A17-c)  It is possible to offer the same project at different prices across different lots. However, please ensure that the pricing for each project is very clearly specified for each lot in the financial information you submit. 

New clarification added: Q12) Credits shall be generated no earlier than 2023, issued at the time of receipt of the purchase order at the latest, and not be CDM transition projects. Could you please confirm whether you require Vintage 2023 credits, or if you are looking for credits issued after 2023?A12) Credits can be generated in 2023 or after, just not before.  

New clarification added: Q11) Please provide a link to the document which we are legally agreeing to by submitting to this bid. A11) Please refer to our reply to question 10. As per the tender criteria and UNOPS bidding forms, bidders are required to accept UNOPS GCCs (these are not negotiable).

New clarification added: Q9) Contracting process: In the event of a full or partial award, could you outline the steps and documentation involved between award and retirement?A9) Following the award, UNOPS will issue a PO for each lot and the winning bidders will be invited to sign the corresponding PO. Once the PO is signed, the provider will have 2 weeks to provide the carbon credits as per the Schedule of Requirements. 

New clarification added: Q7) What is the purpose of the credit or compensation?A7) If the question refers to the purpose of purchasing compensation credits: The credits are purchased for the purpose of compensating the unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions from the organisation’s business activities in 2025, including business travel, refrigerant use, official vehicle use and energy use and consumption.Q8) There is only two weeks window to purchase the credit, have it cancelled and retired. A8) The time required for the evaluation and procurement process itself is not included in the two-week period. The supplier/trader must ensure that the credits purchased by UNOPS or on behalf of its clients are available and will be cancelled and retired from circulation within 2 weeks from the date of signing the contract. 

New clarification added: Q1) Could you please share the anticipated evaluation timeline when UNOPS will award the contract?A1) Please look at the tab Tender Information / Particulars in eSourcing, there is a field called “Expected Award Date”. Please note this date is only an estimate. More importantly, in the same tab, you have the minimum quote validity required for this tender (60 days).Q2) Could you please explain how the proposals will be evaluated? E.g., based on pricing, quality, or other criteras?A2) As indicated under the Particulars tab under the section Evaluation method details, the quotes will be evaluated against the Evaluation Criteria of the tender (you can find them under Tender Information / Criteria tab in eSourcing). Q3) Can multiple projects be proposed per Lot? Or one project per Lot?A3) Suppliers are welcome to propose multiple projects per lot. In such cases, it must be ensured that all required information and documentation are provided for each individual project and are clearly identifiable. Q4) For Lot 3, the UNOPS has preferences for projects located in Africa. For Lo1 & Lot 2, does UNOPS have any preferences in terms of the geography for these projects?A4) For Lot 3 we ask for proposals for VERs with co-benefits for biological diversity OR generated by projects located in the Africa region. UNOPS doesn’t have specific geographical preferences for Lot 1 and Lot 2. Please refer to the Schedule of Requirements for more clarity on the requirements for Lot 1 and Lot 2.Q5) Could you please confirm whether UNOPS only intends to purchase reduction/avoidance projects? Or also open for removal projects (none of the project technologies that are excluded)?A5) Please note that we specifically exclude credits from the following removal projects:a) Generated from projects based on avoided deforestation, afforestation and reforestation activitiesb) Credits generated from projects involving carbon capture and storage, geoengineering Please refer to the technical requirements we have provided for further information. They clearly define which requirements projects need to fulfil and which activities are excluded. As long as the project you propose fulfils our requirements, we can consider it.Q6) Are vendors allowed to support additional material beyond the forms under "Returnable Bidding Forms"Thank you so much in advance for your guidance. A6) We understand from your question, that you are asking whether you are allowed to submit additional documentation beyond the returnable bidding forms. If this is indeed the question, then the answer is yes. You are actually required to submit additional evidenciary documentation to support the information you will provide in the Returnable Bidding Forms. Please refer to the tender documentation where all the required documentation is clearly specified.