United Nations

Procurement

​

​

Agenda

• UN PROCUREMENT INTRODUCTION

​

• HOW DO I ACCESS IT?

​

• OVERVIEW OF PROCUREMENT CENTRES

​

• CONTACT POINTS AND SUPPORT

Global

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

The United Nations is made up of different organizational entities (Funds & Programmes, Specialized Agencies, Secretariat)

What you need to know to work with the UN

Specialised

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Each organization has a distinct and separate mandate. Own requirements and procedures.

Best Match

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Depending on the goods/services you offer, you need to identify UN organizations that will procure your goods & services

What’s it worth?

US$ 13,493 billion

US$ 16,094 billion

Largest UN Organisations by Procurement Volume 2022

Top Ten Procurement Categories in 2022

Total Procurement Sector Overview 2022

UN Top 10 Supplier countries: 2022

UN Procurement & UK Supply 2022 – $1.305 Billion

Why sell to the UN?

UN Global Marketplace (UNGM)

UNGM Registration Levels

UN Procurement Selection Criteria

• Appropriate quality: �Consider destination environment, skill level and availability of spare parts

​

• Value for Money

​

• Good after-sales service

​

• Reliable delivery

Methods of Solicitation - Examples

• Sourcing
• Expressions of Interest (EOI) or Request for Information (RFI)
• Request for Quotation (RFQ)
• Informal method. Standard, Off the shelf. Requirements below $150,000).
• Invitation to Bid (ITB)
• Requirements are defined. Technically compliant, lowest cost.
• Request for Proposal (RFP)
• Submit a proposal for Complex requirements. Exceed technical requirements, keeping a low cost
• Open Competition & Short Listing.

​

Frame Agreements (LTAs)

• shorter lead-time
• improved quality control and supply security
• no minimum or maximum quantities guaranteed
• not exclusive to a single supplier
• binds suppliers to ex-stock deliveries
• competitive prices
• available to other members of UN Family

​

Typical UN Procurement Workflow

Top Tips to Winning Business with the UN

• Monitor Expressions of Interest (EOI) on the UNGM

​

• Know the strategy for each solicitation Instrument. 
• Invitation to Bid (ITB's)
• Request for Proposal (RFP’s)

​

• Identify the evaluation criteria
• Study the terms
• Respect the form and deadlines
• Ask for a debrief
• Persevere! – not a quick win – requires time and effort

​

​

Next Steps:

For those interested in UN Procurement Opportunities:

• Register on UNGM and sign up for alerts
• Check the Annual Statistical Report to see if the UN have previously purchased your goods or services, how much they paid and which agency procured those goods or services
• Reach out to the DBT Team

United Nations

Procurement

​

Geneva

​

UN Family in Geneva

UN Family in Geneva – 2022 Stats

The UN in Geneva: what do they buy?

Services:

• Management and admin services
• Transportation, storage
• Building and maintenance services
• Consultancy services
• Financial and Insurance services
• Engineering and research services
• Education & training
• Editorial, graphic, design services

​

​

​

​

Products:

• Medical equipment and supplies
• Pharmaceuticals, contraceptives, vaccines
• Hospital and teaching equipment
• Laboratory supplies
• Sports & recreational equipment
• Cleaning equipment
• Domestic appliances and electronics
• Vehicles and parts
• Water and sanitation supplies, water testing equipment
• Shelter
• IT and Telecoms equipment
• Power generators

Also based in Geneva

Check: https://itemscatalogue.redcross.int/

​

UN Agencies in Rome

World Food Programme

​

Total spend: $6 billion

UK spend: $57.5 m

Food & Agriculture Organisation

​

Total spend: $720m

UK spend: $7.5m

International Fund for Agricultural Development

​

Total spend: $55.8m

UK spend: $4.4m

UN Agencies in Rome

World Food Programme

​

• Food and beverage products
• Transportation, storage
• Building and maintenance
• Engineering and research services
• Motor vehicles and parts
• Industrial manufacturing services
• IT and Telecom equipment

​

Food & Agriculture Organisation

​

• Live plant and animal material
• Transportation, storage
• Building and maintenance
• Farming, fishing, forestry goods and services
• Vehicles, tools
• IT and Telecom
• Vaccines, medical equipment

International Fund for Agricultural Development

​

• Engineering and research services
• Politics and civic affairs services
• Travel, food, lodging
• Financial and insurance services
• Building and maintenance
• IT and Telecom equipment

​

UN Procurement in Copenhagen

UNDP

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

• UNDP HQ in New York
• Specialised Procurement Unit in Copenhagen:�Health�CREE – Crisis Response, Energy, Environment.�Elections
• 165+ decentralised offices – every office a potential customer
• Total Spend 2022: $2.83 billion
• UK spend: $50.60 millon

​

​

​

​

​

​

UNICEF

​

Protection of children’s rights - healthcare, education and safe water

• 190 countries
• 2022 spend : $7.38 bn 
• UK spend: $842.30 million
• Tender Calendar & Product Catalogues

​

UNICEF

Top commodities 2022

UNFPA

OVERVIEW

​

• United Nations Population Fund

​

• Sexual & Reproduction Health Agency
• 2022 spend : $456.12 million
• UK wins: $17.4 million

​

UNFPA

UNOPS

​

​

OVERVIEW

​

• UN Nations Office for Project services

​

• Operational arm of the UN – implementing projects for the UN, international financial institutions, governments and other partners.

​

• Independent, self-financing organisation since 1995

​

• 2022 spend : $1.75 bn. UK spend: $62.5 million

​

​

​

​

​

​

UNOPS

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

The UN in New York

New York – UN Procurement Division (UNPD)

• UN Secretariat procured about $3.13 billion in good and services in 2022

​

​

• UNPD procures goods and services on behalf of UN Headquarters Departments such as:
• The Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT)
• Facilities Management Service (FMS)
• Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) HQs and peacekeeping missions

Procurement Division Organizational Chart 

UN Procurement Division Spending by Category

New York – UN Department of Safety & Security (UNDSS)

• UNDSS provides safety and security services to the various UN agencies, which includes writing technical specifications for security related UN tenders across the various UN agencies.

​

• UNDSS is currently undertaking a project to update the security infrastructure at the Secretariat and regional HQ offices, offering numerous opportunities to UK companies, notably in physical security and cybersecurity.

Warm introductions to UN procurement officers

How We Support UK Companies with UN Opportunities

Attending bid openings on behalf of companies

UN Procurement Trade Missions and Seminars

Bringing UN delegates to events/ exhibitions in the UK

Sector-specific webinars

Get listed in our annual Directory of UK suppliers to the UN

Events

Dihad, Dubai

23-25 April 2024

Aidex, Geneva

23-24 October 2024

DBT UN Procurement Trade Mission to New York

​

Spring 2024, please reach out to Peter.Newman@businessandtrade.gov.uk

if interested in attending.

UN Liaison Officers

GENEVA & ROME

Marie Gow�marie.gow@fcdo.gov.uk

​

​

COPENHAGEN

Joanne Ganthier

joanne.ganthier@fcdo.gov.uk

NEW YORK

Ashley Halloran�ashley.halloran@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Q&A