WHAT IS A TENDER?

A tender is a process by which the best possible purchasing conditions are sought for a given project. It is a competition between suppliers for the acquisition of the good or service required by the organisation that creates it.

International Tender: An offer made by a company in response to an international call for tenders for major projects.

Why this initiative? 

This product is developed in order for our companies to position themselves in the processes prior to the publication of opportunities in order to set up consortiums and study the positioning of the company in the different programmes underway. 

What is the origin of the funds? 

Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) provide loans and/or grants to emerging or developing countries to finance the various development programmes and projects that these countries intend to undertake, supervise the awarding and implementation of projects and guarantee the security of payment. 

On the basis of what criteria do MDBs finance projects in these countries? 

Based on the Banks' own strategies defined for each country.

What are the advantages? 

The main advantage of international tenders is that they allow Spanish companies to access new markets and develop projects in developing countries, relying on the security offered by the MDBs, the procedures are assessed and there is assistance in the event of divergences between suppliers and clients. 

Can my company bid for any tender?

YES. Spanish companies can bid for all international public tenders that are financed by a Multilateral Development Bank to which Spain is a member, see: EuropeAid, African Development Bank, IDB Bank and World Bank. 

What is the procedure? 

For the implementation of these programmes and projects, the beneficiary countries must carry out public procurement procedures which, depending on the amount involved, result in direct award processes or international public tenders (also known as international calls for tender). These international tenders may be for the provision of services, for the execution of works, or for the purchase of goods or supplies.

50% of turnover is managed by the European Union through the European Commission in the following sectors:

1. Rural development and food security.
2. Transport and infrastructure.
3. Telecommunications and information technology.
4. Energy and nuclear safety.
5. Conferences.
6. Environment.
7. Culture, governance and home affairs.
8. Health.
9. Education, employment and social affairs.
10. Business support: industry, commerce and services.
11. Macroeconomics, public finance and market regulation.
12. Homogenisation and quality certifications.
13. Humanitarian aid, crisis management and post-crisis assistance.

The other 50% is driven by multilateral banks and other institutions such as the United Nations.

International Financial Institutions 

WORLD BANK (BM - WB) (+)

• The world's largest source of funding with approximately $20 billion annually. 
• It invests in aid projects in all areas: rural development, health, education, infrastructure and economic development. 
• It supports the development of the private sector; SMEs, financial sector and financing structures. 
• Invitation to tender Works, Goods and Services 

EUROPEAN COMMISSION (+)

• International Partnerships (EuropeAid).
• External aid institution of the European Commission. 

• • Divided into different programmes according to the regions of the world where it operates: 

• • • MEDA → Mediterranean Basin 
    • ALA → Asia and Latin America 
    • EDF → ACP countries (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) 
    • TACIS → Russia and former USSR countries. 
    • PHARE, ISPA, SAPARD → E.U. expansion countries

• It is intended to change in the near future.
• It is advisable to go with E.U. Partners. 
• Invites Tenders for Goods, Works and Services.

Types of Competitions

INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (BID - IADB) (+)

• Invites Tenders for Goods, Works and Services 
• They value going with a local partner 
• Fairly Active 
• Spain is one of the countries with the highest number of companies awarded contracts. 

UNITED NATIONS

• It mainly purchases goods and works for the various agencies that make it up. 
• Competitions Procedure: 

• • Amounts up to 30,000 US$: a direct selection of potential suppliers is made from among the various candidates who have submitted expressions of interest 
  • Amounts between 30,000 and 100,000 US$: a limited number of pre-selected suppliers, based on various criteria, are invited to submit sealed bids. 
  • Amounts over 100,000 US$: lrocurement is carried out on the basis of an international call for tenders. This is advertised through notices in the United Nations publication "Development Business (+) at IAPSO (+) through Business Opportunities

UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES

• IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency (has its own registry apart from UNGM). 
• ILO International Labour Organisation. 
• CCI International Trade Centre (UNCTAD/World Trade Organization). 
• UNDP United Nations Development Programme. 
• UN/FALD Department of Peacekeeping Operations. 
• UNFPA United Nations Population Fund. 
• UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. 
• UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund. 
• UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organisation. 
• UNOPS United Nations Office for Project Services. 
• UNRWA United Nations Relief and Works Agency. 
• LDC World Food Programme. 
• WIPO World Intellectual Property Organisation.

REGISTRATION IN THE SUPPLIER DATABASE

• The UN Global Marketplace: 

• • Main supplier database of 13 UN organisations 
  • Registration is completely free of charge and can be done through the page (+).

• The other agencies that have a register of suppliers through their website and completely free of charge are: 

• • FAO (+). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  • IFAD (+). International Fund for Agricultural Development.
  • IMF (+). International Monetary Fund.
  • UNESCO (+). United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.