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UN Procurement

Plain-language definitions of every UN Procurement term that shows up in government tender work.


UN ProcurementBPA

Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), UN

A pre-competed standing arrangement used by certain UN entities that allows repeated purchases from an approved supplier at agreed prices without re-running a full competitive solicitation for each transaction.

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UN ProcurementBPA

Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), UN

A standing procurement arrangement used by UN agencies to pre-qualify suppliers for repeated purchases of specific goods or services over a defined period, avoiding a full solicitation each time.

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UN Procurement

eSourcing (UNOPS)

UNOPS's online procurement platform at esourcing.unops.org where registered vendors access UNOPS tenders, submit bids electronically, and track evaluations for infrastructure, construction, and procurement agent contracts globally.

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UN Procurement

eSourcing (UNOPS)

UNOPS's dedicated online sourcing platform at esourcing.unops.org that manages the full tendering cycle, including bid opening and evaluation, for UNOPS's $1.5 billion procurement programme spanning infrastructure, goods, and services worldwide.

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UN ProcurementEOI

Expression of Interest (EOI), UN

A pre-qualification step used by UN agencies to build a shortlist of qualified suppliers or consultants before issuing a formal RFP or ITB, based on capability and experience statements.

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UN Procurement

Formal Solicitation (UN)

The UN procurement process applied to contracts above $40,000, requiring a published notice, sealed bids or proposals, structured evaluation, and documented award justification in line with the UN Procurement Manual.

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UN Procurement

In-Tend (E-Tendering Platform)

The web-based e-tendering platform integrated with UNGM and used by UNICEF, WHO, and other UN agencies to publish solicitations, manage supplier responses, and conduct electronic bid openings at ungm.in-tend.co.uk.

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UN Procurement

In-Tend (E-Tendering Platform)

The web-based e-tendering platform used by UNICEF, WHO, and other UN agencies, accessible at ungm.in-tend.co.uk, where suppliers download solicitation documents, submit bids electronically, and receive award communications.

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UN Procurement

Informal Solicitation (UN)

The UN procurement process for contracts between $4,000 and $40,000 where a procurement officer obtains at least three written quotations from eligible suppliers without publishing a formal public notice.

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UN ProcurementITB

Invitation to Bid (ITB), UN

The formal UN solicitation document used for goods and works contracts above USD 40,000 where requirements are fully quantifiable, evaluated on price after bidders meet technical compliance.

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UN Procurement

iSupplier Portal (IAEA)

The International Atomic Energy Agency's unified supplier portal launched in September 2025, providing a single access point for vendor registration, tender participation, invoicing, and payment tracking for IAEA's specialised nuclear and laboratory procurement.

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UN Procurement

iSupplier Portal (IAEA)

The International Atomic Energy Agency's integrated supplier platform, launched in September 2025, providing a single access point for vendor registration, bidding, invoicing, and payment tracking on IAEA procurement contracts.

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UN Procurement

Micro-Purchasing (UN)

The UN procurement method for transactions below $4,000 where no formal competition is required, allowing a procurement officer to place an order directly with any eligible supplier at a reasonable price.

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UN ProcurementPPM

Pooled Procurement Mechanism (PPM)

The Global Fund's centralised purchasing arrangement under which health products are procured at volume-negotiated prices on behalf of recipient countries, making quality-assured medicines and diagnostics available at lower cost than individual country purchases.

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UN Procurement

Procurement Division (UN Secretariat)

The central purchasing authority of the United Nations Secretariat, responsible for procuring goods, works, and services for UN headquarters and field missions worldwide under the UN Financial Regulations.

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UN Procurement

Procurement Division (UN Secretariat)

The central procurement authority of the United Nations Secretariat, based in New York, responsible for all Secretariat purchases above delegated thresholds and for maintaining the UN Procurement Manual and vendor registration standards.

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UN ProcurementPO

Purchase Order (PO), UN

The formal procurement instrument issued by a UN agency to a supplier confirming the agreed goods or services, price, quantity, delivery terms, and payment conditions for a specific transaction.

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UN ProcurementPO

Purchase Order (PO), UN

The legally binding procurement instrument a UN agency issues to a supplier confirming the goods or services ordered, price, delivery terms, and the general conditions of contract governing the transaction.

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UN Procurement

Quantum (UNDP/UNFPA ERP)

The Oracle-based enterprise resource planning system used by UNDP and UNFPA to manage internal procurement, finance, and project operations, and which integrates with UNGM for external tender publication.

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UN Procurement

Quantum (UNDP/UNFPA ERP)

The Oracle-based enterprise resource planning system used by UNDP and UNFPA to manage their internal finances, procurement workflows, and supplier transactions, replacing the legacy Atlas system from 2023 onwards.

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UN ProcurementRFP

Request for Proposal (RFP), UN

The formal UN solicitation used for complex or qualitative requirements above USD 40,000, evaluated through scored technical and financial proposals rather than price-only compliance.

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UN ProcurementRFQ

Request for Quotation (RFQ), UN

An informal UN solicitation for straightforward goods or services between USD 4,000 and USD 40,000, requiring at least three written quotations and awarding to the lowest compliant price.

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UN Procurement

SmartSourcing (WFP Coupa Platform)

WFP's end-to-end procurement platform launched in November 2025 and built on Coupa Software, replacing all previous WFP sourcing systems for supplier registration, tendering, bid submission, and contract management.

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UN Procurement

SmartSourcing (WFP Coupa Platform)

The World Food Programme's end-to-end e-procurement platform built on Coupa Software, launched in November 2025 to manage all WFP supplier registration, tendering, evaluation, and contract management in a single system.

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UN Procurement

UN Common System

The collective framework of shared administrative, staffing, and operational standards that govern all UN system organisations, enabling coordinated procurement and supply-chain collaboration across more than 40 agencies.

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UN Procurement

UN Ineligibility List

The confidential UN register of vendors barred from competing for UN procurement contracts, maintained by the UN Secretariat and accessible to agency procurement officers to screen suppliers before award.

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UN Procurement

UN Procurement Manual

The authoritative rulebook governing procurement by the UN Secretariat, setting out principles, methods, thresholds, approval authorities, and documentation requirements for all purchases from external suppliers.

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UN Procurement

UN Vendor Sanctions

Measures imposed by UN agencies on suppliers found to have committed fraud, corruption, misrepresentation, or serious contract violations, ranging from formal warnings to placement on the UN Ineligibility List.

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UN Procurement

UNGM Basic Registration

The entry-level vendor registration tier on the UN Global Marketplace, granting access to tender opportunities valued up to $40,000 and requiring only a company profile and UNSPSC category selections.

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UN Procurement

UNGM Level 1 Registration

The second tier of UN Global Marketplace vendor registration, covering tender opportunities from $40,000 to $500,000 and requiring legal, financial, and reference documentation reviewed within two to four weeks.

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UN Procurement

UNGM Level 2 Registration

The highest tier of UN Global Marketplace vendor registration, required for contracts above $500,000, open only to companies established for at least three years with completed Level 1 documentation on file.

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UN Procurement

UNGM Tender Alert Service

The email notification service on the UN Global Marketplace that sends suppliers automatic alerts when new tender opportunities matching their registered UNSPSC categories are published by any connected UN agency.

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UN Procurement

UNICEF Supply Catalogue

The publicly available UNICEF product database listing more than 5,000 essential goods with indicative procurement prices, used by governments, NGOs, and UN agencies worldwide as a global benchmark for supply cost planning.

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UN Procurement

UNICEF Supply Division

The Copenhagen-based procurement arm of UNICEF, the single largest UN procuring entity at $5.6 billion annually, responsible for sourcing vaccines, medicines, nutrition supplies, education materials, and humanitarian goods for children in 190-plus countries.

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UN Procurement

Wambo.org (Global Fund Marketplace)

The Global Fund's online health product marketplace where recipient countries can purchase quality-assured medicines, diagnostics, and supplies at pre-negotiated Pooled Procurement Mechanism prices without running individual competitive tenders.

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UN Procurement

Wambo.org (Global Fund Marketplace)

The Global Fund's online health product marketplace where recipient countries can purchase quality-assured medicines, diagnostics, and supplies at pre-negotiated Pooled Procurement Mechanism prices without running individual competitive tenders.

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UN Procurement

WAVE Supplier Portal (IOM)

The International Organization for Migration's dedicated supplier portal for browsing open tenders, registering vendor profiles, and submitting bids for IOM's migration-related procurement across camp management, transport, and services.

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UN Procurement

WAVE Supplier Portal (IOM)

The International Organization for Migration's dedicated e-procurement portal where suppliers register, browse IOM tender opportunities, and submit bids for migration-related goods and services contracts globally.

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UN ProcurementPQP

WHO Prequalification Programme (PQP)

The WHO assessment programme that certifies medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and medical devices meet international quality, safety, and efficacy standards, making prequalification a prerequisite for supply to UN agencies and donor-funded health procurement globally.

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UN Procurement

WHO Prequalified Medicines List

The publicly searchable WHO database of medicines that have passed the WHO Prequalification Programme assessment, certifying their quality, safety, and efficacy and making them eligible for procurement by UN agencies and donor-funded programmes.

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UN Procurement

WHO Prequalified Vaccines List

The WHO database of vaccines assessed and approved for quality, safety, and efficacy by the WHO Prequalification Programme, required for supply to UNICEF, PAHO revolving fund, GAVI-funded programmes, and other international immunisation initiatives.

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