Procurement methods glossary
Last checked: 30 October 2026
Every World Bank tender has a selection method. It decides how bids are prepared, how they are evaluated and who may take part. On our notice pages the "Method" line shows the method's name and the abbreviation the Bank uses (RFB, QCBS, INDV…). This glossary explains each abbreviation briefly, based on the Seventh Edition (September 2025) of the World Bank Procurement Regulations. Numbers in brackets are paragraph numbers in the Regulations.
Where the codes come from
In projects financed by the World Bank, the tender is run by the agency in the borrowing country (the "Borrower" in the Regulations), not by the Bank. The Borrower picks one of the methods the Bank has approved and records it in the procurement plan. The methods fall into two groups:
- Goods, works and non-consulting services: RFB, RFQ, RFP and direct selection (Section VI, 6.2).
- Consulting services: QCBS, QBS, FBS, LCS, CQS and direct selection for firms; individual consultant selection for people (Section VII, 7.2 and 7.34).
Goods, works and non-consulting services
Request for bids (RFB)
The most common competitive bidding method. It is used when the Borrower can specify its requirements in detail, and bidders respond to those requirements with bids (6.5). The process has a single stage. Qualification criteria are usually assessed as pass/fail. Weighted, scored Rated Criteria may also be used (6.6, 5.50). Large contracts may be preceded by prequalification (6.23).
Request for quotations (RFQ)
A competitive method based on comparing price quotations from firms. For limited quantities of readily available off-the-shelf goods or services, standard commodities or simple, low-value civil works it can be more efficient than the more complex methods (6.7). It is one of the most frequent methods on our site.
Request for proposals (RFP)
A competitive method for cases where, because of the nature or complexity of the work, the Borrower is better served by letting proposers offer their own solutions. Proposals may meet or exceed the requirements in different ways (6.3). It is normally run in several stages and evaluated with weighted Rated Criteria (6.4). An Initial Selection normally comes first (6.25).
Direct contracting (DIR)
Approaching and negotiating with only one firm. It may be appropriate when there is only one suitable firm or there is a justification for using a preferred firm (6.8). Examples: extending an existing contract for similar work, buying from the original supplier for compatibility, proprietary equipment available from one source only, emergencies, and very low-value, low-risk purchases (6.9). Prices must be reasonable and the work must not be split to avoid competition (6.10). There is no open call, since there is no competition. You will mostly see this method on contract award notices.
Consulting services (firms)
To select a consulting firm, the Borrower draws up a shortlist of five to eight firms from those that expressed interest (7.16–7.17); CQS and direct selection are the exceptions. That is why most consulting notices are a request for expressions of interest (REOI): firms first present their experience, and shortlisted firms then receive the request for proposals.
Quality and cost-based selection (QCBS)
Quality and cost-based selection. Among shortlisted firms, both the quality of the technical proposal and the price count. The request for proposals sets a minimum technical score, and the weight of quality against cost depends on the assignment. Among the technically qualified proposals, the one with the highest combined score wins (7.3).
Quality-based selection (QBS)
Quality-based selection. Cost is not an evaluation criterion: only the highest-ranked firm's financial proposal is opened, or that firm is invited to submit one for negotiation (7.8). It suits complex or specialised assignments that are hard to define precisely, assignments with a high downstream impact, and work that can be done in substantially different ways (7.9).
Fixed budget selection (FBS)
Fixed budget selection. The request for proposals states a budget that must not be exceeded, and the proposal with the highest technical score within that budget wins (7.4–7.5). It is used for simple, precisely defined assignments with a reasonable and sufficient budget (7.4).
Least cost selection (LCS)
Least cost selection. The request for proposals sets a minimum technical score. Among the proposals above it, the one with the lowest evaluated cost wins (7.7). It suits standard or routine assignments with well-established practices, such as engineering designs for non-complex works (7.6).
Consultant qualification selection (CQS)
Consultant qualification selection. The Borrower requests expressions of interest with the terms of reference (ToR) attached, asking at least three qualified firms for information on their experience. It picks the firm with the best qualifications and relevant experience and invites it to submit technical and financial proposals for negotiation. Advertising the request is not mandatory (7.11). It is used for small assignments or emergencies where a full competitive process is not justified (7.12).
Consultant direct selection (CDS)
Direct selection of a consulting firm, that is, negotiating with only one firm. It may be appropriate when only one firm is qualified, a firm has experience of exceptional worth for the assignment, or there is a justification for using a preferred firm (7.13). Further examples include a natural continuation of work done within the last 12 months, emergencies, and very low-value, low-risk assignments (7.14). In World Bank data, direct selection for goods and works carries the code DIR and for consulting the code CDS. Both are named "Direct Selection".
Individual consultants
Individual consultant selection (INDV)
Individual consultant selection. It is used for assignments that need no team of experts and no additional home-office support, and where the individual's experience and qualifications are what matters most (7.34). The evaluation is based on the individual's relevant qualifications and experience (7.35). The Borrower uses one of three routes:
- Open competition: a request for expressions of interest (REOI) is published with the complete ToR, and the consultant is chosen from those who responded (7.36–7.37).
- Limited competition: the Borrower invites qualified individuals it knows (7.38).
- Direct selection: possible for continuations of earlier work, assignments shorter than six months in total, urgent situations, or experience of exceptional worth (7.39).
The INDV notices on our site are requests for expressions of interest published under open competition.
Market approach
Separately from the method, the Borrower decides which market to approach and how. On our notice pages this appears as "Market scope" and "Market approach".
- Open: the requirement is advertised in good time, and all eligible firms can take part on equal terms. This is the Bank's preferred approach; the Borrower must justify any other (6.11, 7.22).
- Limited: no advertisement; only invited firms take part. Used when there are few firms or for other exceptional reasons (6.12, 7.23).
- Direct: negotiation with a single firm (see DIR and CDS above).
- International: used when foreign participation will increase competition. Open international procurement, with mandatory international advertisement, is preferred for complex, high-risk or high-value contracts (6.13–6.14, 7.24).
- National: may be agreed in the procurement plan when foreign competition is unlikely because of the size or nature of the work, and the country's own procurement procedures may be used (6.15–6.18, 7.25). Under the Regulations, foreign firms may take part in open national procurement on the same terms as national firms (6.17, 7.25). Always check the notice and the bidding documents themselves for the conditions of participation.
Bidding process terms
- Prequalification: normally used before an RFB. All applicants that meet the minimum requirements are invited to bid (6.23).
- Initial Selection: normally used before an RFP. Applicants are scored and only the highest ranked are invited to submit proposals (6.25).
- Single stage, one envelope: technical and financial parts in one envelope. Not used when Rated Criteria apply (6.28).
- Single stage, two envelopes: the technical envelope is opened and evaluated first, then the financial one (6.29).
- Multistage: for complex work, the first stage invites proposals on a conceptual basis. After clarification meetings the documents are updated and final proposals are requested (6.30–6.31).
- BAFO (best and final offer): bidders with responsive bids get a last chance to improve their offers. No negotiation follows (6.32).
- Rated Criteria: scoring of a bid's non-price aspects by how far they meet or exceed the minimum requirements (6.37).
Notice types and procurement groups
Our notice pages also show each notice's type and procurement group with their abbreviations:
- GPN (General procurement notice): published at the start of a project. It outlines the planned procurement and gives the Borrower's contact point (5.22).
- IFB (Invitation for bids): the call for a specific tender. The Regulations call it a "Specific Procurement Notice" (SPN) (5.22–5.23).
- REOI (Request for expressions of interest): for consulting assignments, firms or individuals are asked to express interest (7.11, 7.36).
- CA (Contract award): announces who was awarded the contract (5.93–5.95).
Procurement groups: GO goods, CW works, NC non-consulting services, CS consulting services. Goods cover machinery, equipment, vehicles and commodities together with related services such as transport, installation and training. Works are construction, repair, rehabilitation and maintenance. Consulting services are advisory or professional services such as feasibility studies, project management, engineering and training (Regulations, definitions).
Sources
- Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, Seventh Edition (September 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- World Bank Procurement Framework (opens in a new tab)
This guide summarises official World Bank documents. The provisions of the notice and the bidding documents prevail. guncelihale.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by the World Bank.
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