The approval of Headquarters is not required. Rules and procedures concerning Purchasing Committees and their composition are set out below. In a country with more than one Field/Sub Office, the Representative may wish to establish Purchasing Committees at different duty stations. Depending on local costs and current exchange rates, Representatives may also lower the financial limit of procurement to be considered by the Purchasing Committee. The Committee will consider quotations subject to the same conditions as set out in paragraph 1.9 above. If appropriate, the Representative and/or the Committee may wish to request specialist advice from the Programme and Technical Support Section or the Supply and Transport Section at Headquarters.
1.11 For a value of US$ 100,000 or more:
A submission must be made to the Committee on Contracts at Headquarters except in cases where Headquarters has authorized the establishment of a Local Committee on Contracts as described in 3 below. For submissions to the Headquarters Committee on Contracts, a minimum of four formal quotations must be requested and considered by the Purchasing Committee which will make a proposal as to the most suitable supplier to the Committee on Contracts through the relevant Desk at Headquarters. In cases where Headquarters has authorized the establishment of a Local Committee on Contracts, the latter may evaluate and decide on all bids without recourse to the Purchasing Committee. Nevertheless, in all cases, the relevant specialists in the Programme and Technical Support Section and the Supply and Transport Section must be consulted before or during the tendering and evaluation stages so as to ensure compliance with technical requirements and that prices are compatible with international market rates for the goods or services under consideration. Submissions to the Committee on Contracts should include information as shown in Chart 3.G of the Supplies and Food Aid Field Handbook. After approval by the Committee on Contracts (or a Local Committee on Contracts), a Purchase Order may be issued.
2. Purchasing Committee
2.1
Procurement of goods or services by a UNHCR office in the field for a value of over US$ 50,000 and up to US$ 100,000 must be approved by a Purchasing Committee. This Committee will also prepare proposals to the Headquarters Committee on Contracts for procurement for a value of over US$ 100,000 in cases where Headquarters has not authorized the establishment of a Local Committee on Contracts. The Purchasing Committee will be established and chaired by the Representative and will consolidate the requirements, oversee the tendering process, select suitable local suppliers and record its recommendations in writing.
2.2
The Committee will be composed of Members and alternate members designated by the Representative and drawn from the professional or national officer categories. Staff members responsible for procurement should be excluded from membership. In cases where several implementing partners require similar supplies the Representative may consider including in the Purchasing Committee staff from implementing agencies. A quorum will consist of three Members.
2.3
The staff member in charge of procurement should present a written proposal to the Purchasing Committee which will include information on the goods or services to be procured as per Chart 3.G of the Supplies and Food Aid Field Handbook. The minutes of the meeting will be taken and issued (at least in draft) within two working days after the meeting. Alternatively, particularly in an emergency, Members of the Committee may approve purchase by signature of the proposal with appropriate comments. In general, the Committee should adopt procedures similar to those of the UNHCR Committee on Contracts as set out in Annex 8.5 of Chapter 4 of the UNHCR Manual, except for the provisions concerning emergency procedures.
