WORKING WITH DG ECHO AS AN NGO PARTNER | 2021 - 2027
PROCUREMENT
Article 6 of the Grant Agreement requires Partners to purchase items (equipment, works, goods and services) for the Action using their own procurement procedures, provided these ensure best value for money (or, if appropriate, the lowest price) and the absence of conflict of interest. Any procurement contract must also respect the general eligibility conditions.
Ensuring the availability of key supplies in appropriate quantity, quality and time, is a key factor for the success of Humanitarian Aid Action. 
To this end, DG ECHO expects its Partners to closely monitor their supply chains, to adopt adequate procurement approaches and anticipate (together with appropriate mitigating measures), potential implementation challenges. The Partner is request to detail such information in Chapter 10 of the Single Form.
Framework contracts (or subcontracts) can be used for selecting a provider if this is the usual practice of the Partner (e.g. for a given type of service or for multiple purchases of the same goods). In order to be eligible, the framework contract must (have) be(en) awarded on the basis of best value for money and absence of conflict of interest. The framework contract does not necessarily have to be concluded before the start of the Action. 
Ensuring high quality levels of medical and food supplies distributed to final beneficiaries falls within the European Commission’s humanitarian priorities. To this end, DG ECHO introduced specific provisions on quality assurance of medical supplies, devices and food in Annex 5 to the Grant Agreement.
These provisions are further developed in the document, “Provisions on medical and food supplies applicable to actions funded under the EU Humanitarian Partnership Certificate 2021 – 2027”. 
This guidance document constitutes the reference source providing binding provisions for:
 
REFERENCE, DOCUMENTS & USEFUL LINKS
Annotated Grant Agreement (AGA) – including Specific Rules for HUMA (Annex 5) SPECIFIC RULES FOR CARRYING OUT THE ACTION, 4. Quality standards for medical and food supplies
Provisions on medical and food supplies applicable to actions funded under the EU Humanitarian Partnership Certificate 2021 – 2027
Single Form Guidelines 2021, Chapters 10.3 and 10.4