3.

Ethics in Procurement
3.1 Responsible and Ethical Suppliers
The IRC endeavors to purchase goods and services from ethical suppliers.
This includes:
 Procuring goods and services that are manufactured and/or supplied under
conditions that are not abusive or exploitative of any persons.
 Procuring goods and services whose manufacture and supply have the least negative
impact on the environment.
The IRC shall not conduct business with companies or individuals determined to be:
 Exploiting child labor.
 Directly or indirectly abusing the basic social rights of its employees or the IRC’s
beneficiaries.
 Not providing safe and reasonable working conditions for its employees.
 Engaged in the illegal manufacture, supply or transportation of weapons.

Due Diligence in supplier selection will ensure that the IRC’s Suppliers do not conduct
business in a manner which may be harmful to the IRC or our beneficiaries. Please refer to
Supply Selection Overview SOP# GSC/PROC/002

3.2 Supplier Relations

Building positive and long term relationships with Suppliers improves the level of service
from Suppliers, enabling more efficient delivery of goods and services to our programs.
Good business practice includes the following:
 Accord fair and equal treatment to all Suppliers and their representatives.
 Provide equal opportunity for qualified Suppliers to provide quotations.
 Do not take advantage of Suppliers’ errors, and show consideration for Suppliers’
difficulties by cooperating with them whenever possible.
 Avoid subjecting Suppliers to needless expense or inconvenience when requesting
quotations or returning goods.
 Explain clearly and fully to Suppliers the reason(s) for the rejection of their bids
/proposals, but keep confidential any information from other suppliers.
 Review IRC procurement documents in detail with Suppliers to ensure they understand
the terms and conditions.
 If, for any reason, one Supplier is permitted to submit a revised quotation, all
competitors should be given the same opportunity. Re-quoting should be kept to an
absolute minimum.