International Public Procurement

Overview

The International Public Procurement (IPP) seminar covers policies and procedures that apply to the procurement of works, goods and services by public entities. The seminar provides participants with an understanding of the critical role of public procurement in governance, as well as discussing new avenues to achieve value-for-money principles and improve transparency, efficiency and accountability. The seminar also introduces the most recent initiatives to address institutional, legal, financial and operational issues involved in PP, and incorporate the recent development in the procurement policies of Multi-lateral Development Banks such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank and other similar institutions.

The seminar provides participants with insight in all key phases of the procurement cycle (from planning and packaging to the challenges of bidding, bid evaluation and complaints handling, and contract management). Various specific aspects of public procurement such as ESRP and emergency procurement will also be covered.

Certification

Upon successful completion of the seminar, each participant will be awarded a Certificate of Completion. Successful completion requires that a participant diligently attend all seminar sessions promptly and on time throughout the seminar, read all assignments, and participate in all group discussions and exercises. If a number of sessions are missed without proper reason, the ILI reserves the right to withhold certification.

Format

This seminar is currently offered in-person. Special requests to attend online must be submitted by email as early as possible. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the overall experience of each participant and the larger group. In-person seminars, even when being joined online, run from 9:30 am – 4:00 pm Washington, D.C., time.

Course Outline

Role of Public Procurement (PP) in governance and Public Sector/Financial Management (PSM/PFM)

• Public Procurement institutional and legal frameworks: new avenues and key aspects
• Approaches to enhance transparency, efficiency, integrity and accountability
• Leadership, Management and Decision-making
• Policies and procedures of international financial institutions such as the World Bank, AfDB, ADB, IDB

Project Cycle

• Procurement Planning and Packaging within the broader budgeting and monitoring mechanism and the Project Procurement Strategy approach of international financial institutions (IFIs)
• Selection of appropriate methods and procedures for various procurement processes depending on risks (evaluation and management of risks techniques will be presented), markets analysis (a public procurement-focused approach will be discussed), and the complexity of the procurement process at stake
• Standard bidding/solicitation documents, and main types of contracts (general and specific conditions, terms, and guarantees)
• Bidding: lessons of experience and errors to avoid; handling of bidders and third parties’ queries and complaints
• Bid evaluation procedures and evaluation criteria for different categories of procurement (works, goods, and non-consulting services and consulting services), including the constitution of evaluation committees and their operational procedures
• Contract Negotiations: how to (re)consider such as partnering and negotiation techniques (dispute avoidance and resolution)

Specific Aspects of Public Procurement

• Emergency Procurement
• Green Procurement or Environmentally Sustainable Responsible Procurement (ESRP) and special provisions in standard contracts (Social, Environmental, Preferences)
• Performance-Based Procurement and Contracting and other outcomes/results-focused procurement
• Procurement under Public Private Partnership (PPP)
• Versatile and Adaptive Procurement such as partnerships and innovative options such as parallel negotiations and competitive dialogue

Public Procurement Monitoring and Contract Management

• Reporting, Oversight and Monitoring (compliance and accountability), including risks management and overall public procurement audits
• Quality control reviews, focusing on bid evaluation and contract negotiations in addition to traditional contract execution
• Contract administration, focusing on practical Issues in international contracts and mechanics of payment and delivery-INCOTERMS
• Dispute Resolution / Arbitration

Course Advisor

Bernard Becq is an independent consultant with more than 35 years of experience. He is a senior adviser, course advisor and lecturer at the ILI. Dr. Becq was the World Bank´s Chief Procurement Officer from 2006 to 2013. Dr. Becq´s experience includes working with French development agencies, in particular, he was the Deputy Chief of the International Consulting Firm of ENPC, and Project Officer and Adviser to the President at Agence Coopération et Aménagement (ACA). Dr. Becq holds graduate degrees in Mathematics from Paris VI University and in civil engineering from ENTPE in Paris, France, and a Master degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Southern California (USC), in Los Angeles, USA, where he also completed post graduate work (PhD ABD).