IMF Procurement Guide for Suppliers

This statement is intended to describe the foundation on which the IMF conducts its procurement activities as well as the expectations it has of its current and potential suppliers.

The IMF and its procurement activities are centered in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Although we do make occasional purchases outside this area, including outside the United States, such purchases represent a small portion of the goods and services required by the IMF.

We apply the basic principles of fair competition and equal treatment rigorously. This helps to ensure that the IMF obtains the best value by encouraging active participation by qualified suppliers, while avoiding preferential or discriminatory activities. IMF procurement activities adhere to the highest ethical standards, and our suppliers are expected to conduct business in a similar fashion.

Standards of Conduct

Fund personnel engaged in procurement are expected to avoid any actions in relationships which actually or potentially may be detrimental to the best interest of the Fund or which may create the appearance of impropriety. Therefore, Fund personnel with procurement authority may not accept gifts, entertainment, outings, trips or other items of value from suppliers, either current or prospective, unless such gifts are of a nominal value and bear the suppliers' name (e.g. mugs, pens/pencils). The Fund recognizes and ensures that transactions relating to procurement and the Fund's suppliers are of a confidential nature. The Fund does not allow proprietary or confidential information to pass from any supplier to another either intentionally or inadvertently.
 

Procurement Integrity

All Fund personnel with procurement authority maintain an unimpeachable standard of integrity in their business relationships. They must maintain the highest possible standards of business ethics, professional courtesy and competence at all times. Such standards, among others, may include:

1. According fair and equal treatment to all suppliers and their representatives

2. Guaranteeing the confidentiality of all specifications and quotations

3. Explaining clearly the reason for rejection of any suppliers' goods or services

4. Declining to provide any document or other support which may be construed to be a Fund endorsement of any supplier, product or service

When awarding contracts competitively, the IMF tries to select the supplier most likely to provide the best overall value. Elements typically evaluated in the selection process include, but are not limited to, base bid price, payment terms, and ability to meet special requirements, as well as the supplier's financial stability, management capability, prior experience, past performance, and demonstrated ability to deliver on schedule. For general transactions, the Fund will issue purchase orders with General Purchasing Conditions printed on the reverse side. Dependig on the complexitiy of the contract, the Fund reserves the right to add appropriate terms and conditions as required by the transaction.

When appropriate, the IMF establishes strategic supply management relationships with manufacturers and suppliers to provide benefits, such as assistance in identifying and developing products and services that respond to its special requirements.

To be considered as a potential supplier to the IMF, your firm must currently be registered as a company, or incorporated and be able to demonstrate that it offers goods and services under the business name. The Guidelines for Supplier Registration and Eligibility provides information and the criteria to be a registered supplier to the IMF.

To correctly identify the commodity or services categories you wish to register, please refer to the Procurement Category List for the proper codes.

If your firm meets the eligibility requirements, please either complete, save and send the PDF version of the Supplier Registration Form as an attachment by e-mail to the Procuement Section, or complete and submit online the Supplier Registration Form using the "Submit Application" option at the end of the form. In addtion, a signed completed hard copy of the Supplier Registration Form together with any additional documentation must be sent to the Procurement Section's address as noted on the form. A prompt responses from the Procurement Section will be provided upon receipt of the completed registration form.