Procurement Plan (18-Month Rolling)

The Procurement Plan (18-Month Rolling) is the mandatory planning document that every borrower implementing a World Bank Investment Project Financing operation must prepare and maintain. It lists every contract the implementing agency expects to procure over the coming 18 months, along with the procurement method, estimated contract value, applicable review level, and expected timeline for each package. The plan is uploaded to and managed through step, the World Bank's e-procurement system.

What is the Procurement Plan (18-Month Rolling)?

The 18-month horizon is deliberate: it is long enough to allow suppliers and consultants to plan ahead, but short enough that the plan remains realistic and actionable. Borrowers update the plan at least once a year and whenever significant changes occur, such as project restructuring or scope changes, which is why it is described as rolling rather than fixed. Each row in the plan corresponds to one procurement package and records the selection method (ICB, NCB, QCBS, and so on), the estimated value, and whether the World Bank will exercise prior-review-threshold review or post review.

The World Bank task team reviews and agrees the procurement plan before it becomes effective, and any significant deviation from it, such as switching from ICB to direct contracting or materially increasing contract value, requires Bank agreement through the no-objection process. Procurement notices published in STEP and on the Bank's public portal flow from the plan.

Why the Procurement Plan (18-Month Rolling) matters for bidders

The procurement plan is the earliest public signal of upcoming tender opportunities on a World Bank project. Because it is published in STEP-linked notices and increasingly on the public procurement portal, suppliers who monitor it can identify contracts 6 to 12 months before the formal notice, giving them time to assess fit, build relationships with the implementing agency, and prepare qualification documentation. Checking the plan for a project you are tracking tells you not just what is coming but which procurement method will be used, helping you decide whether to invest in preparation.

FAQ

Where can I find procurement plans for World Bank projects?

Procurement plans are accessible through the World Bank's public procurement portal and, for those with borrower or Bank access, through the STEP system. Many borrower project implementation units also publish them on their own websites.

How often is the plan updated?

Borrowers must update the plan at least annually, but good practice and Bank expectations call for updates whenever significant changes occur, which in active projects may mean quarterly revisions.

Is the 18-month plan the same as the General Procurement Notice?

No. The gpn is a public notice announcing that a project will have procurement, summarising the types of contracts expected. The procurement plan is the detailed package-by-package schedule maintained throughout project implementation.