Non-Competitive Process (Directed Contracting)

In the exceptional circumstances listed below, non-competitive contracts are permissible:

• The need is of pressing emergency/urgency and delay would prevent the contracting authority from meeting operational requirements of NPP programs and activities;
• There is only one supplier capable of providing the required goods and services or capable of performing the work; and
• The competitive tendering process would not result in obtaining the best value for money.

A CA may enter into a non-competitive contract, if at least one of the three circumstances above is met. 

A Directed Contract Form must be approved and signed for every non-competitive contract. Contracting and technical authorities are responsible to provide the rationale for any exception to the competitive process and make sure the rationale for a non-competitive contract is adequately supported.

If a contract total value exceeds CA’s delegated financial authority, the Directed Contract Form must be approved and signed by an appropriate delegated financial authority as per the tables below. The signed form must be kept in the contracting file. 

Non-competitive contracts that require COO or MD NPP approval must be accompanied by a briefing note.