Powerful Relationships
At the OPCW, our suppliers are critical partners, and play a vital role in our mission for a world free of chemical weapons.
The OPCW issues over 500 purchase orders and awards contracts with a value over €20 million for the supply of goods and services every year. These orders range from computers, office equipment and supplies to specialised scientific and technical equipment for the Organisation’s operations in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Winning a contract with the OPCW is easier when you know how we make our buying decisions. Some of our procurement principles and policies include:
Value for Money
Goods and services must be acquired in an effective, efficient, economical and ethical manner. Our goal is to achieve the best value for the money we spend.
Sustainable
We hold ourselves and our suppliers to the highest standard when it comes to human rights, labour rights, environmental protections, and responsible business practices in our procurement of goods and services.
Supplier Access
Access for all qualified suppliers competing for OPCW business must be open.
Integrity and Fairness
The procurement process must be conducted in a fair and transparent manner, providing equal treatment to all vendors. Conflict of interest, both real and perceived, must be avoided.
Doing business with the OPCW
Watch for our procurement opportunities
The OPCW advertises through the UN Global Marketplace to solicit bids for procurement contracts valued at €50,000 or more for goods and services.
Respond to a Solicitation
The OPCW issues Solicitations — Requests for Quotation (RFQ), Requests for Proposal (RFP) or Invitations to Bid (ITB) — in order to procure the goods and services it needs. The evaluation criteria used in the selection of a contractor, a supplier or a consultant are based either on price alone or price and other factors.
Understand the Instructions
When the OPCW wants to obtain goods or services it must follow certain procurement procedures and requests bidders to follow specific instructions. The General Instructions to Bidders can be reviewed here.
Focus on how the bids will be evaluated
The Specifications clearly state which requirements are mandatory and which are desirable. The evaluation criteria that the OPCW will use to choose the winner (such as past experience, product performance, proposed implementation plan, etc.) and the relative weighting are set out in the solicitation package.
General Terms and Conditions
The OPCW has General Terms and Conditions both for contracts for the provision of goods and contracts for the provision of services.
Contract Awards
The OPCW publishes its contracts awards on the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM).
Ex-post publication of information on Contractors financed from EU funds – 2021 onwards.
Our commitment to your privacy
The OPCW’s Procurement Privacy Policy describes how the OPCW collects and uses personal data to work with your company.
Procurement Ethics and Code of Conduct
The OPCW has a strict policy against fraud, corruption or related forms of misconduct with respect to its officials. In carrying out its activities, OPCW officials shall adhere to the highest standards of efficiency, competence, integrity, fairness and transparency required from international civil servants. The solicitation or acceptance of any gratuity, gift, favour, entertainment, loan, remuneration, economic benefit or anything of value from anyone who conducts business with the OPCW is strictly prohibited. OPCW officials are expected to separate strictly the performance of official duties from private affairs in order to avoid any real, potential or apparent conflict of interest. Additionally, any official who deals in his or her official capacity with any matter involving a business concern in which he or she holds a financial interest shall at once disclose the nature and extent of that interest to the Director-General. The OPCW acts in compliance with general principles of sound financial and risk management.
Tips on writing effective proposals
Ask questions
Every solicitation is unique, so read the entire document very carefully. Ensure that you understand the scope, deliverables, eligibility requirements and the evaluation criteria as well as how the responses will be scored to determine the successful bidder.
If you have a question or require clarification, you may only contact the designated person noted in the procurement document. Questions must be asked within a specified number of days before the closing date, so be sure to ask them with plenty of time.
Address mandatory requirements
Mandatory eligibility requirements are evaluated objectively on a simple pass/fail basis. You need to have met all mandatory eligibility requirements for a bid to be considered compliant, and only compliant bids are evaluated further. Address every mandatory requirement directly by providing the evidence to show that you meet the requirement. Non-compliant responses are typically the result of failure to meet the mandatory eligibility requirements.
Describe how you would do the work
Provide a detailed response to the specific evaluation requirements. It is your chance to show that you understand the scope and how your solution differentiates from the competition. It is also where you would describe what and how you would do the work if you were awarded the contract.
Address each and every point
Read the procurement document and respond in the exact terms requested. The OPCW might know what you intended to say, and may know that you have the capability in question, but it will be forced to reject your response if you have not provided the details that were asked for in the procurement document. The OPCW cannot make assumptions about your proposal. It can only evaluate the information you provide.
Current Opportunities
Invitation to Bid (ITB) LAB-311006 Maintenance Services of the GC/MS Systems for the OPCW, The Hague
Interested bidders should contact Procurement to receive the bidding documents and instructions. Bidders must include the bid reference number LAB-311006 in all inquiries.
Submission deadline: 14 January 2025 at 16:00 CET
Bids received by the OPCW after the submission due date and time shall not be considered.
Invitation to Bid (ITB) FMS-210688 Procurement of Ergonomic Chairs, 24/7 Chairs, Desks, Modesty Board, Separation Panels for the OPCW Headquarters
The OPCW is interested in purchasing Ergonomic Chairs, 24/7 Chairs, Desks, Modesty Boards, and Separation panels for its headquarters (OPCW HQ) in The Hague.
Interested companies should contact Procurement to receive the instruction documents. When requesting, please include the ITB reference number FMS-210688 in all inquiries.
Submission deadline: 17 December 2024 at 16:00 CET
Bids received by the OPCW after the submission due date and time will not be considered.
Invitation to Bid (ITB) OCS-310984 Baggage X-Ray Machines and Walk-Through Metal Detectors for the OPCW, The Hague
Interested bidders should contact Procurement to receive the bidding documents and instructions on how to submit a bid. Bidders must include the bid reference number OCS–310984 in all inquiries.
Submission deadline: 18 December 2024 at 16:00 CET
Bids received by the OPCW after the submission due date and time shall not be considered.
Invitation to Bid (ITB) OCS-210707 Procurement of RC3 Doors and Windows for the OPCW Headquarters
The OPCW is interested in purchasing the RC3 Doors and Windows for the OPCW Headquarters (OPCW HQ) in The Hague.
Interested companies should contact Procurement to receive the instruction documents. When requesting, please include the ITB reference number OCS-210707 in all inquiries.
Submission deadline: 19 December 2024 at 16:00 CET
Bids received by the OPCW after the submission due date and time will not be considered.