Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate the legal and procedural requirements of public vs. private sector procurement globally.
• Understand and apply the procurement guidelines of major international organizations (e.g., World Bank, UN).
• Master the processes for managing international tenders, including the two-stage bidding system.
• Implement robust measures for ensuring transparency, accountability, and preventing corruption (anti-fraud).
• Navigate the complexities of cross-border trade, customs, and **Incoterms** in public contracts.
• Apply methods for evaluating bids based on **Most Advantageous Tender (MAT)**, not just lowest price.
• Understand social and environmental criteria (Sustainable Public Procurement) in global tenders.
• Manage international contract protests, disputes, and recourse mechanisms specific to the public sector.

• Public Sector Procurement Officials (National, State, Local)
• Officials working for International Financial Institutions (IFIs) or NGOs
• Private Sector Managers selling goods/services to governments globally
• Compliance and Legal Officers for Public Tenders
• Contract Administrators managing IFI-funded projects
• Internal Audit and Anti-Corruption Specialists

• Case study analysis of a major public sector corruption scandal and the resulting process changes.
• Group activity: designing a bid evaluation matrix for a high-value, complex public tender using MAT criteria.
• Role-playing a bid opening and the process of reviewing tender submission compliance.
• Individual exercise: drafting a supplier Code of Conduct section specific to anti-bribery and corruption (ABC) in public contracts.
• Discussions on the inherent conflict between speed and transparency in public procurement.

Unit 1: The Public Procurement Framework

• Core principles: transparency, fairness, accountability, non-discrimination, value for money
• Overview of international public procurement law (e.g., WTO Agreement on Government Procurement)
• Identifying the ethical challenges and inherent risks in public sector transactions

• Detailed review of procurement guidelines for major International Financial Institutions (IFIs)
• Understanding the different modalities of procurement used by the UN and its agencies

Unit 2: Tendering and Contract Award

• When to use International Competitive Bidding (ICB) vs. National Competitive Bidding (NCB)
• Mastering the **two-stage bidding** process for complex contracts (e.g., PPP)
• Preparing solicitation documents that comply with strict international requirements

• Defining and applying the **Most Advantageous Tender (MAT)** principle
• The separation of technical and financial bid evaluation and scoring methodologies

Unit 3: Compliance, Ethics, and Risk

• Implementing robust controls for preventing collusion, bid rigging, and bribery
• Mandatory mechanisms for supplier debarment and exclusion from tenders
• The role of independent observers and auditability in public tenders

• Integrating social and environmental criteria (e.g., green procurement) into tender specifications
• Ensuring fair labor standards and human rights compliance in public contracts

Unit 4: Contract Management and Dispute Resolution

• Managing the performance of public contracts against strict service level agreements (SLAs)
• Procedures for contract modifications, variations, and amendments in public law

• Mechanisms for bidder protest and administrative review in public procurement
• Understanding international arbitration and dispute boards for IFI-funded projects

Unit 5: Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Overview

• Introduction to Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and their procurement lifecycle
• The legal and financial complexities unique to procuring long-term PPP agreements
• The role of risk allocation between the public and private sector in PPP contracts