United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

To protect some of the world's most vulnerable people in so many different places and types of environment, UNHCR must purchase goods and services worldwide. This might range from buying fleets of heavy-duty vehicles needed in the most inaccessible parts of the African continent to purchasing needles and thread for a self-help project in Pakistan.

Building on the philosophy and achievements of the UN Global Compact, UNHCR envisions a world in which the private sector plays a constructive role in finding durable solutions for people forced to flee their homes. To achieve this, we proactively engage with corporations and foundations eager to help drive change and find innovative solutions to refugee issues. UNHCR also endeavours to undertake environmentally responsible sourcing of goods and services.

Procurement Principles

In line with UN Financial Regulations and Rules: UNHCR procurement is based on fairness, integrity and transparency through competition and best value for money, taking into consideration the best interest of the organization. Priority is given to source in areas of operation (when prices are competitive and other conditions allow) and UNHCR uses competitive bidding to obtain goods and services (Exceptions to this are limited to a few cases only). 

Sustainability provisions

UNHCR is working to improve the sustainability of our end-to-end supply chain for core relief items, reducing carbon emissions and using more recycled materials, where possible. Learn more about our goals and strategic actions. 

Vendor Registration

• Firm/Company/Factory registration certificate      
• Brochures on products/services
• Audit certificate/report
• Environmental policy
• Quality assurance certificate
• Registration with Tax/VAT
• Company’s annual financial report

Solicitation documents

There are three types of solicitation documents issued by the UNHCR to fulfil a procurement requirement, which will vary in accordance with the nature of the requirement and the estimated monetary value:

• Request for Quotation (RFQ): An informal invitation to submit a quotation for requirements of relatively low monetary value. Prices and other commercial terms and conditions are requested and an award is usually made to the lowest priced technically compliant offer.

• Request for Proposal (RFP): A formal request to submit a proposal against requirements that have a monetary value above the RFQ threshold but are not fully definable at the time of solicitation and where the innovation and specific expertise of the proposer is sought to better meet the procurement requirement. Price is only one of several factors comprising the evaluation criteria, which are determined before the RFP is released. The offer from a supplier is submitted in two sets of documents: a Technical offer and a Financial offer.

• Invitation to Bid (ITB): A formal invitation to submit a bid usually associated with requirements that are clearly or concisely defined, and have a monetary value above the RFQ threshold. Award recommendations are based on the lowest cost technically compliant offer.

Supplier Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct sets forth what is expected of all suppliers with whom UNHCR does business. The complete version of the “UN Supplier Code of Conduct” can be found online at: www.unhcr.org/supply

EXAMPLE OF ITEMS PROCURED BY UNHCR

TOP 5 ITEMS AND SERVICES IN 2022 BASED ON THEIR PROCUREMENT VALUE (m. US$)