Procurement Framework and Regulations for Projects After July 1, 2016

On this page:
- Overview
- The Procurement Framework - Policy, Regulations, Guidance
- Standard Procurement Documents (SPD) 
- Previous versions of SPDs
- UN Agencies
- Alternative Procurement Arrangements (APA)
- Training 

OVERVIEW 

The World Bank has a new, modern and business-friendly Procurement Framework. This modernized approach means greater focus on value for money, more ways for bidders to differentiate bids, and more opportunities for dialogue and discussion.

World Bank procurement staff are based in 72 countries to support borrowers throughout the procurement process. Staff work with governments to achieve the highest bidding and contract management standards to get the best development result.

Under the new procurement framework, there are four key innovations to help businesses and country clients:

1. Needs and risks of a project are analyzed through a Project Procurement Strategy for Development (PPSD). This analysis enables the borrower to have a strategy on how best to engage with bidder. The analysis will ensure that procurement processes are fit for purpose, allow choice, and are appropriate to the size, value, and risk of the project.
2. Value for Money has been introduced as a core procurement principle in all procurements financed by the World Bank. This means a shift in focus from the lowest evaluated compliant bid to bids that provide the best overall value for money, taking into account quality, cost, and other factors as needed.
3. The approach to resolving procurement-related complaints has been significantly improved with capacity to promptly respond to any concerns during the procurement process. A standstill period has been introduced - a pause between identifying who should win the contract and actually awarding them the contract so that other bidders can voice any concerns before a contract is actually legally formed and awarded.
4. The World Bank will be more involved in contract management of procurements with high value and high risk to ensure the best possible outcomes and that problems are resolved quickly. 

The Procurement Framework
(Other languages are added as they become available.)

The Regulations provide many choices for Borrowers to design the right approach to market, and specify the rules that must be followed. Complementing the Regulations are a series of Guidance Notes, the Standard Procurement Documents (SPDs), templates and other resources, all linked below. 

• Procurement Policy in Investment Project Financing (IPF) and Other Operational Procurement Matters: July 2016 English, Chinese
• Procurement Regulations for Investment Project Financing (IPF) Borrowers: November 2020 English
  Previous version: August 2018, Chinese, French, Spanish
      Note: Summary of Revisions. Translations in progress.
• Previous version: November 2017, English, French, Spanish
• Previous version: July 2016, English
    Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese
      Disclaimer: If any discrepancies, the English version will prevail.
• Procurement Directive
• Procurement Procedure

Guidance:

• A Beginner’s Guide for Borrowers - Procurement under World Bank IPF, English, Chinese
• Conflict of Interest (see Template section below for declaration template)
• Contract Management, General Principles
• Contract Management, Practice
• Contract Price Adjustment Computation Workbook (Excel)
• Competitive Dialogue: How to undertake a Competitive Dialogue Procurement Process
• Environmental, Social, Health & Safety in Procurement
• Evaluation Criteria, English, Chinese
• Finding Business Opportunities and Winning Contracts Financed by the World Bank, English, Chinese
• Guidance on Framework Agreements
• Health – Medical Diagnostic Equipment – A Buyer’s Guide
• Health – Medical Diagnostic Equipment – Engaging an Expert Consultant
• Identification and Treatment of Abnormally Low Bids and Proposals, English, Chinese
• Operations Procurement Review Committee
• Procurement Hands-on Expanded Implementation Support
• Procurement Noncompliance in IPF Operations
• Procurement Post Review, Independent Procurement Review, and Integrated Fiduciary Reviews
• Procurement-Related Complaints, English, Chinese, Spanish
• Procurement in Situations of Urgent Need of Assistance or Capacity Constraints
• Project Procurement Strategy for Development (PPSD) - Long Form Detailed Guide, July 2016
• Project Procurement Strategy for Development (PPSD) - Short Form, February 2017, English, Chinese, Spanish
• Public Private Partnerships (PPP)
• Standard Procurement Documents - An Overview
• Sustainable Procurement
• Thresholds for Procurement Approaches and Methods by Country
• Use of Negotiations and Best and Final Offer (BAFO) in Procurement of Goods, Works, and Non-consulting Services
• Value for Money, English, Chinese
   

Templates:

• Project Procurement Strategy for Development (PPSD) Long Form Template
• PPSD Short Form Template
• General Procurement Notice (GPN) Template for Projects using the Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers
• Textual Part of Procurement Plan for Projects using the Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, English, French
• Letter of Acceptance of the World Bank’s Anti-Corruption Guidelines and Sanctions Framework (Bidders, Proposers or Consultants), English, French, Spanish
• Letter of Acceptance of the World Bank’s Anti-Corruption Guidelines and Sanctions Framework (Contractors, Suppliers or Consultants), English, French, Portuguese, Spanish
• Sample format of Request for Expression of Interest (REoI)
• Conflict of Interest Declaration Template

Other:

• Key Stages in Procurement (diagram)
• An example of decision logic when designing fit for purpose procurement processes

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UN AGENCIES – Please see below for some Standard Forms of Agreements

*For further guidance, please contact unagencies@worldbank.org

FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization [May 2017]
- Memorandum of Agreement
- Technical Assistance - English, French, Spanish
- Outputs - English, French

ILO - International Labour Organization [November 2016]
- Memorandum of Agreement 
- Technical Assistance
- Outputs

IOM - International Organization for Migration [May 2018]
- Memorandum of Agreement
- Technical Assistance
- Outputs

UNDP - United Nations Development Programme [April 2019]
- Approval of Agreement
- Technical Assistance – English, Fre​nch, Spanish
- Outputs - English, Spanish

UNESCO – United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization [December 2013]
- Technical Assistance – English, French, Spanish

UNFPA – United Nations Population Fund
- Health Supplies [January 2020] – English, French
- Technical Assistance [October 2014] – English, French

UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund [April 2019] 
- Approval of Agreement
- Outputs - English, French
- Supplies - English, Spanish

UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization 
- Memorandum of Agreement – June 2016, December 2016
- Outputs [December 2016] – English, French
- Technical Assistance [June 2016] – English, French

UNOPS – United Nations Office for Project Services [August 2016]
- Memorandum of Agreement 
- Technical Assistance - English, French, Spanish
- Delivery of Outputs - English, French, Spanish
- Procurement of Vehicles - English, French, Spanish
- Procurement of Supplies - English, French, Spanish

WFP - World Food Programme [June 2017]
- Memorandum of Agreement
- Technical Assistance
- Supplies - English, French
- Delivery of Outputs [September 2020]

WHO - World Health Organization [November 2016]
- Memorandum of Agreement
- Technical Assistance - English, French, Spanish
- Outputs - English, French, Spanish

WMO - World Meteorological Organization [October 2018]
- Approval of Agreement
- Technical Assistance 

ALTERNATIVE PROCUREMENT ARRANGEMENTS (APAs)

The use of Alternative Procurement Arrangements (APAs) was approved by the Board of the World Bank in July 2015 as part of the New Procurement Framework.

An assessment methodology has been developed and is being tested to assess the legal and regulatory framework, and the capacity and capability of a borrower implementing agency.  It uses as its base the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Developments (OECD) Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems (MAPS).  The assessment methodology has been designed to include an additional Pillar, covering procurement operations and the use of minimum standards.  It also uses an evidence based approach, analyzing procurement data and, gathering the views of the Private Sector and Civil Society Organizations (CSO).

See the Draft Guide to the Assessment, English, Chinese.

The principles governing APAs consider whether agency procurement arrangements, including procurement performance and governance, provide assurance that the Bank’s financing will be used for the intended purpose(s), and in accordance with the Bank’s Core Procurement Principles:

·       Value for money
·       Economy
·       Efficiency
·       Integrity
·       Fit for purpose
·       Transparency
·       Fairness

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Training

Access our E-Learning

Presentation: The new Procurement Framework and the new Standard Procurement Documents (SPDs) (April 7, 2017)   Related Questions and Answers

This presentation introduces the new suite of SPDs launched in July 2016. It introduces the new SPD features resulting from the Procurement Regulations and the circumstances in which they are applied. It provides information on:

1.  How the SPDs were developed
2.  Details of the new Request for Proposal SPDs for goods, works and non-consulting services
3.  Key regulatory changes, and how these are reflected in the SPDs, including:

- Eligibility
- Performance Based Specifications
- Value for Money and Rated Criteria
- New Request for Proposal SPDs and Initial Selection
- Best and Final Offer (BAFO) and Negotiations
- Sustainable Procurement
- Abnormally Low Tenders
- Most Advantageous Bid/Proposal
- Notification of Intention to Award
- Standstill Period, Debriefs and Complaints
- Value Engineering

Webinar: Enhancement of ESHS Outcomes Through Procurement (related questions and answers)
The webinar discusses the key ESHS enhancements and how they work in practice (from planning through to contract implementation). These enhancements have been made in order to improve contract performance and outcomes, and achieve better value for money. Enhancements have been made to the following documents:

• Standard Procurement Documents  (SPDs) applicable for Projects with Concept Notes after July 1, 2016;
• Standard Bidding Documents (SBDs) applicable for Projects with Concept Notes before July 1, 2016; and
• Standard Request for Proposal (RFP) document in regards to the selection of the supervising engineer of works contracts.

Private Sector Webinar: How to Complain (related Questions and Answers)
The webinar provides an overview on the types of complaints covered by the Procurement Regulations for Borrowers and the process for review and resolution of these complaints, covering among other topics: how these complaints shall be submitted and handled; general requirements and timelines for filing and resolving the complaints; the application of standstill period; debriefing by the Borrower; and the roles and responsibilities of the private sector, Borrowers and the World Bank in relation to the covered complaints.

New Procurement Framework Deep-Dive for IFI Liaisons (April 3, 2018) (related questions and answers)
The seminar provides in-depth knowledge and understanding of the following topics of the New Procurement Framework:

• Approved Selection Methods for Goods, Works and Non-Consulting Services covering among others Competitive Dialogue, BAFO and Negotiations
• Project Procurement Strategy for Development
• Overview of Standard Procurement Documents including standstill period, evaluation criteria; abnormally low bids/ proposals; sustainable procurement;  environmental, social, health and social (ESHS) including gender based violence (GBV)/sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) requirements; and consultant services key changes
• Procurement-related complaints - ensuring the new complaint mechanism is responsive and effective
• Direct Payment and Beneficial Ownership
• Contract Management

The seminar also includes a presentation on Corporate Procurement.

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