There are three key recommendations for U.S. companies considering the United Nations procurement market: 1) develop familiarity with key UN procuring agencies / programmes / funds, 2) register with United Nations Global Marketplace (www.ungm.org), and 3) check UNGM and local agency websites frequently to review posted expressions of interest and requests for proposals.

Develop Familiarity Key UN Procuring Agencies/Programmes/Funds:

The UN system is made up of 39 different agencies, programmes, and funds, each of which has a different mission and handles procurement in different ways. Thirty-three of these organizations had an increase in procurement from 2018, and 9 of these saw an increase by more than 20 percent. It is important to keep in mind that each organization’s procurement spending is driven by the organization’s key mission/ needs. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the missions of the top procuring agencies and take advantage of United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM) to review past tenders and contract awards for the products and/or services you provide in order to ensure that there is a match.

Below is a list of the top 10 (in dollars spent) procuring UN agencies in 2019, which accounted for almost 90% of total UN procurement spending. We have also included a link to each agency’s website so that you may learn more about their respective missions.

2019 United Nations Procurement by UN Organization

Source: 2019 Annual Statistical Report on United Nations Procurement

https://www.ungm.org/Shared/KnowledgeCenter/Pages/asr_report

Also keep in mind that even though the UNGM is the main supplier database of 29 UN organizations, some organizations have their own supplier database. The UN agencies that do not directly support the UNGM are not selectable during the UNGM registration process. Therefore, it is crucial for potential suppliers to the UN agencies that do not participate in UNGM to contact the agency directly.

Register with United Nations Global Marketplace

The United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM or www.ungm.org) is the common procurement portal of the UN system of organizations. UNGM enables vendors from around the world to register for procurement opportunities across the UN system. In turn, multiple UN agencies can tap into the UNGM database of registered vendors in order to identify those that meet their procurement needs. The 29 UN organizations utilizing UNGM as a vendor database account for over 99 percent of total UN procurement dollars spent. UNGM, therefore, provides an excellent springboard for U.S companies to introduce products and services to many UN organizations, countries, and regions by only completing one registration form.

Registering with UNGM is fairly straightforward. There are three levels of registration, and most UN organizations require vendors to only register at a “Basic” level. Registration is free, and “Basic” registration should take approximately 5-10 minutes. At this level, only minimal company information, such as contact name, address, phone number, and email address are required.

During the registration process, suppliers will also be required to identify the class of good/service they wish to provide, using the UN’s Standard Product and Services Code (UNSPSC). After selecting one or more UNSPSC code(s), the UNGM system will automatically match suppliers with the UN organizations that purchase that category of good and/or service.

Once a vendor’s “Basic” registration has been submitted and accepted by at least one UN organization, the vendor’s profile will be visible to all UN personnel. It might take up to 10 working days before the profile becomes visible. Please note that registration does not imply pre-qualification, and the UN organizations reserve the right to further assess and evaluate companies.

In addition to the “Basic” level of registration, there is also the possibility to apply for “Level 1” and/or “Level 2” registration. These higher levels require more documentation, such as a certificate of incorporation, references, and audited financial statements. “Level 1” and “Level 2” registrations are mandated by certain UN organizations in order to be eligible for contracts with larger dollar values. The United Nations Secretariat, for example, requires “Level 1” registration for contracts greater than $40,000 up to $500,000 and “Level 2” registration for contracts with value of more than $500,000.

Due to the high volume of registrations, requests for “Level 1” and “Level 2” registrations will most likely only be evaluated as part of a solicitation process. Companies may be approved for the “Basic” registration right away, but the status of “Level 1” and “Level 2 registrations will remain “Submitted” prior to that evaluation.

Check UNGM and Agency Websites to Review Expressions of Interest and Requests for Proposals

Simply registering on UNGM is not sufficient. In order to have success with UN Procurement, your company needs to be proactive, which includes regular visits to UNGM and local agency websites to review the latest tender opportunities. Assigning this task to a member of your business development team is a recommended best practice to ensure that you do not miss tenders to which you are able to respond.

UNGM also offers a paid program called the “Tender Alert System” which provides automated email notifications when tenders are posted in your specified category of interest. A $250 fee is required for this optional service, which is available to vendors during the UNGM registration process. For pricing and additional information, please visit www.ungm.org.