Public Procurement
This is the process by which government departments or agencies purchase goods and services from the private sector. It takes place at both a national and regional level. The procurement process will usually be subject to specific policies.
Open Procedure
All interested suppliers, contractors or service providers may submit tenders.
Restricted Procedure
Only those suppliers, contractors or service providers invited by the contracting authority may submit tenders.
Negotiated Procedure
The contracting authority consults suppliers, contractors or service providers of its choice and negotiates the terms of the contract with one or more of them.
Funding Agencies
This is issued at least once a year by the tendering authority. This will help companies to know the supply and works contracts that the tendering authority has planned for the coming year.
General Procurement Forecast
Tendering authorities will issue this information prior to tenders. This will help companies to know the upcoming tender. A minimum 30 days gap should be maintained between the publication of Procurement forecast and the tender.
Procurement Plan
The Procurement Plan is an annual document which defines the products and services that a Public Body will obtain from external suppliers. A sound procurement plan helps a Procuring Entity to define their procurement requirements and to decide where and when to procure.
Invitation to Bid (ITB)
An ITB is a formal invitation to submit a bid, usually associated with requirements for goods/works of higher value.
Request for Proposal (RFP)
A RFP is a formal request to submit a proposal, usually associated with requirements for services that cannot be clearly defined. This document is issued when the government isn't sure about what it wants and is looking to you to develop a plan.
Request for Quotations (RFQ)
A RFQ is an informal invitation to submit a quotation, usually for goods/services/civil works of lower value. The buyer specifies products/services and asks vendors for price quotes.
Pre-qualification
This is the pre-selection stage and the companies selected at this stage will be invited to bid for the tender when it is published.
Expression of Interest (EOI)
This is issued by the tendering authority to know which companies are interested in submitting the bid for a tender that will be issued later. It is a type of Pre-qualification.
Corrigendum
Corrigendum implies corrections to tender.
Contract Award Notice
This notice tells us who has won the tender and at what price. In certain cases, the name of the company and the value of the contract are omitted due to confidentiality reasons.