The procurement process


The ESA procurement process is designed to achieve the best possible trade-off between the objectives of technical excellence, economy and industrial policy as defined in the Convention and in the Contracts Regulations.

It is also implemented so as to give tenderers the guarantee, that the competitive procedure will be conducted in complete fairness, and that their offers will be evaluated with the greatest care and total impartiality.
 
The implementation of the procurement procedure is a joint task of technical initiating services and the Contracts Department. A major task of representatives of the Contracts Department is to ensure that the rules and procedures, established in order to achieve the objectives stated above, are strictly observed.

The procurement process consists of the following sequential phases:

(1) The Planning and Preparatory Phase
(2) The Initiation Phase
(3) Preparation of the Invitation to Tender / Request for Quotation (ITT/RFQ)
(4) Distribution of ITT/RFQ
(5) The Tendering Phase: Preparation and Submission of an Offer
(6) Admission and Evaluation of Offers
(7) Award and Placing of Contracts
(8) Debriefing of unsuccessful Tenderers
  
 
 The phase (1), (2) and (3) describe internal ESA activities in the procurement procedure, and although some of its features are of no direct concern to potential tenderers or contractors, understanding these procedures may be useful.

The phases are covered in detail in the documents “The procurement process” provided as pdf-file in Related Links.
  
 
  
Last update: 26 September 2007


To do business with ESA

 •  Topic 1 - ESA Procurement Department (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/industry_how_to_do_business/SEMQEN6H07F_0.html)
 •  Topic 2 - Basic principles of ESA procurement approach (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/industry_how_to_do_business/SEM3NN6H07F_0.html)
 •  Topic 3 - How to participate in ESA procurements (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/industry_how_to_do_business/SEMBQN6H07F_0.html)
 •  Topic 4 - Ensuring fainess of competition in ESA procurements (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/industry_how_to_do_business/SEMPRN6H07F_0.html)
 •  Topic 6 - How to make good offer to ESA (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/industry_how_to_do_business/SEM7VN6H07F_0.html)
 •  Topic 7 - Industrial policy geographical return (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/industry_how_to_do_business/SEMDWN6H07F_0.html)
 •  Topic 8 - Other aspects and related questions (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/industry_how_to_do_business/SEMAYN6H07F_0.html)

More information

 •  The procurement process (pdf-46k) (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/industry/How to do Business with ESA - THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.pdf)
 •  ESA Conference Bureau: 'Developing trends in Public Procurement and Auditing' (http://www.congrex.nl/07a01/)