Best value for money
10 The overall guiding objective for all WHO procurement is to obtain the best value for money for the Organization. "Best value for money" is defined as the responsive offer that is the best combination of technical specifications, quality and price.
20 A "responsive offer" means an offer that meets all the procurement requirements specified in the request for proposals or invitation to bid. To ensure that best value for money is obtained, the process of soliciting offers and selecting a contractor should:
- encourage competition;
- ensure impartial and comprehensive evaluation of proposals;
- ensure selection of the offer that is the most practical and expected to best meet WHO’s requirements stated in the request for proposals or invitation to bid at the lowest price.
Fairness, integrity transparency and equal treatment
30 The WHO procurement process must allow for transparent competition among prospective providers. All prospective providers must be treated equally.
40 All individuals and entities directly or indirectly associated with the procurement function are responsible for protecting the integrity of the process and maintaining fairness, transparency and equal treatment of all prospective providers. This standard of conduct includes:
- Information concerning a particular acquisition shall be given to all prospective providers on an equal basis and, to the extent possible, simultaneously to avoid the appearance of partiality.
- Discussions with prospective providers shall be conducted in accordance with the principle of fairness and equal treatment of all prospective providers.
- Proprietary and source selection information shall not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any person not authorized to receive such information.
- Generic specifications should be used, rather than descriptions that are unnecessarily restrictive or statements of work that may discourage competition.
- Staff members have a duty not to solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, any gratuity, gift, favour, entertainment or any promise of future employment from any individual or entity who has sought, or is seeking, to obtain WHO contracts.
- A staff member having a financial interest in, or personal connection to, any providers responding to a WHO solicitation should not have any involvement in the related procurement process or contract management and oversight.
50 In order to promote transparency of the procurement process and accountability, WHO expects its providers to adhere to the principles, and meet the standards, set forth in the UN Supplier Code of Conduct.
Effective competition
60 The objective of WHO’s competitive process is to provide all eligible prospective providers with timely and adequate notification of WHO’s requirements and an equal opportunity to tender for the required goods and services. The WHO competitive process will, as necessary, include:
Acquisition planning with a view to developing an overall procurement strategy and procurement methodologies;
Market research to identify potential providers;
Competition on as wide a geographical basis as practical and suited to market circumstances;
Consideration of prudent commercial practices, including appropriate due diligence with respect to prospective suppliers;
Formal methods of solicitation.
Interest of WHO
70 All procurement conduct and acquisitions must always be in the best interest, and consistent with the objectives and expected results, of WHO.
Sustainable Procurement
80 Sustainable Procurement is defined as “requirements, specifications and criteria that are compatible and in favour
of the protection of the environment, of social progress and in support of
economic development, namely by seeking resource efficiency, improving the
quality of products and services and ultimately optimizing costs”. WHO shall consider sustainable procurement to
the extent possible within the context of the goods or services being purchased
as well as any specific country, industry or supply market conditions.
90 WHO
procurement processes may thus include requirements or criteria related to the following:
Environmental factors: climate change mitigation
and adaptation; prevention of pollution; sustainable resources; protection of
the environment and the biodiversity.
Social factors: human rights; labour rights; gender equality; supplier
diversity; disability inclusiveness and accessibility; sustainable consumption;
social health and well-being. Where relevant, WHO will encourage diverse
suppliers to participate in its tender opportunities, including women owned businesses (WOB),
disability-inclusive suppliers and other diverse suppliers e.g. youth owned
businesses (YOB), or those belonging to indigenous or LGBTQI+ groups.
Economic factors: whole life-cycle costing; local
communities and micro, small and medium enterprises; supply chain sustainability.
100 Through
the progressive adoption of sustainable procurement practices, WHO aims to:
Support in the achievement of the four other
procurement principles (see paragraphs 10 to 70 above) because when adequately
implemented, sustainable procurement should underpin best value for money;
fairness, integrity transparency and equal treatment; effective competition;
and the interest of WHO.
Leverage the WHO purchasing power, in
collaboration with the supplier community, to drive market changes in favour of
sustainable impacts.
Mitigate possible risks to WHO and its beneficiaries
from the purchase of harmful or otherwise unsustainable goods or services, or
from unsustainable suppliers.
Support in the alignment with relevant WHO and UN
commitments, strategies and frameworks, such as the global SDG Agenda 2030, the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy at WHO, the UN Strategy for Sustainability Management
(2020–2030), the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human
Rights, the WHO Policy on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Misconduct and the UN Supplier Code of Conduct.
110 When
implementing sustainable procurement, procurement actors should be guided by
relevant WHO guidance (as included in the Procurement Handbook and other
resources) as well as relevant guidance issued by the HLCM Procurement Network,
including but not limited to: UN Disability Strategy
Guidance on Indicator 8; Guidance on Addressing Forced
Labor and Human Trafficking in UN Supply Chains; Guidance on Gender-Responsive
Procurement.
