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The Economic and
Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is one of five
regional commissions of the United Nations and comprises the following thirteen
member countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait,
Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Syrian Arab
republic, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The commission
aims to assist and promote economic and social development and
to strengthen economic relations of the member countries in
Middle East region, both among themselves and with other
countries of the world, thus serving as the main
socio-economic development arm of the United Nations in
Western Asia. It formulates and promotes development
assistance activities and projects commensurate with the needs
and priorities of the region and acts as an executing agency for
relevant operational projects. The Commission coordinates its
activities with a number of specialized agencies of the United
Nations and other international organizations, as well as with
regional agencies and intergovernmental organizations, with a
view to avoiding duplication and ensuring complementarities,
synergy and the exchange of information.
In meeting its procurement needs, ESCWA seeks to establish
beneficial long-term relationships with its suppliers in order
to ensure a reliable and competitive source of supply. For those
who do business with ESCWA, the relationship provides a unique
and
cost effective way to learn about investment opportunities in
developing countries and in emerging markets. In addition, the
relationship facilitates entry into these markets, with the
support of ESCWA, and contributes to the
development and sustainable growth of developing countries and
to integration into the global economy.
For those wishing to do business with ESCWA, it
is important to understand the dynamics of the
United Nations system and how the Organization's activities
are linked to each other.
The Procurement and Travel Unit (PTU) is tasked with all
procurement activities relating to the ESCWA. PTU procures
requisite commodities through competitive solicitation from
qualified vendors that are registered in PTU database of
suppliers.
Solicitation is issued as a
Request for Proposal (RFP) or an
Invitation to Bid (ITB)
or as a
Request for Quotation
(RFQ). Specifically;
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RFPs are issued
when the requirements are not specific.
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ITBs are issued when the requirements
are specific.
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RFQs are issued for low value procurement normally where
the requirement is specific.
As a general
practice, most requirements above US$20,000 are procured
through either an RFP and ITB. Offers are evaluated on
the basis of price and other procurement considerations, such
as delivery schedules and correctness of specifications.
ESCWA continues to enhance the transparency and accountability
of its Procurement procedures through adherence to global
standards and modernization of its information technologies,
including the Internet, so as to permit the maximum possible
number of suppliers to compete in a transparent and fair
process.
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