The buyer's focal point
For a given tender, the only contact is the one named in the documents, usually the procurement unit, in writing and on time. During the procedure, do not contact technical staff or members of the evaluation committee: most buyers can reject a bid for this reason.
Outside procedures, organisations' procurement pages and past notices show who buys what and where. Humanitarian Tenders organisation pages group their open notices and portals.
Coordination focal points
In each crisis, clusters (logistics, shelter, water and sanitation…) and NGO forums publish their contacts and meetings. They help you understand needs and meet the actors, but they do not award contracts.
Key experts
Many terms of reference require experts with a set number of years, sometimes a national expert. Only propose an expert with their written agreement, signed CV and availability for the contract dates: an expert who is unavailable after the award can cost you the contract. The Humanitarian Tenders expert list shows Humanitaires Jobs members who agreed to be contacted for assignments.
Suppliers and subcontractors
Look at who has already won similar contracts in the country: the Humanitarian Tenders directory of winning companies lists them by country and sector. Chambers of commerce, logistics clusters and local partners are other sources. For a joint bid, see also "Find a partner or consortium".
Check before you team up
Check legal registration, references, and that the company is not on sanctions lists (UN Security Council consolidated list, EU and donor lists). Tender documents often state that these checks also apply to subcontractors.
Today, Humanitarian Tenders lists 1,102 open tenders, including 401 invitations to bid (ITB), 313 expressions of interest (EOI), 49 requests for quotation (RFQ) and 43 requests for proposals (RFP).
Frequently asked questions
Can I call the buyer to learn more about a tender?
Send your questions in writing to the address in the documents, before the clarification deadline. Direct contact with technical staff or the evaluation team is usually forbidden during the procedure.
How do I find a national expert?
Search the expert list by country of residence or nationality, then send your proposal through the site. The expert replies to you directly if interested.
How do I find a reliable local supplier?
Start with companies that have already delivered similar contracts in the country, ask for references and check sanctions lists before signing.
These guides describe the most common practices. Each buyer has its own rules: the rules in the tender documents always prevail.