The following is an overview of the various project reports published by the World Bank, including commentary on their commercial significance.

Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) Reports:
In collaboration with the borrower country, the Bank produces a Country Assistance Strategy (CAS), which is a three-year business plan for the country identifying development priorities to maximize poverty reduction. The CAS, combined with the Bank’s Economic and Sector Work, generates ideas for projects. In its final form, the CAS document outlines the Bank’s planned operations in the country — lending, analytical work, and technical assistance. Eighty-five countries are covered by the CAS process.

• Importance for U.S. companies -- The CAS is the earliest indication of which type of projects or industry the bank will fund in a particular country. Spanning 3 to 5 years into the future, the CAS gives a good overview of the priorities that will be pursued by the country and whether this planned development will take place in sectors relevant to your company’s operations.

Monthly Operational Summary (MOS) Report:
The Monthly Operational Summary (MOS) report provides a brief description and country contact information of all the projects under consideration by Bank staff. Information includes the project, the sector in which it will be conducted, its title, the Project Information Document (PID) number, the funding amount, a brief description, and a point of contact at the executing agency in the country responsible for the project, including telephone and fax numbers.

• Importance for U.S. companies -- Specific project information is available on upcoming projects permitting companies to get involved "in country" to make sure the bidding documents are drawn up fairly and with full information as to the options offered by your company. Companies should focus their efforts on identifying market opportunities, use local representation in the countries they want to work in and focus on building relationships with key players. Companies should work with in-country Commercial Service representatives and coordinate with local World Bank Office.

World Bank Project Database:
Search the Projects Database to research all publicly available information about Bank-funded projects, including upcoming procurement opportunities.  It is also possible to reseach contracts that have been previously awarded. The database allows for searches by region, country/area, theme and sector. All contracts subject to World Bank Board approval since July 1, 2000 are included in this database.

• Importance for U.S. companies -- This database provides current information on projects funded by the World Bank. Open and active projects can be researched to find opportunities to compete in future tender competitions.  The database can also be searched to identify firms who have won previous contracts and who are possible consortium partners for U.S. companies or customers with imminent sub-contracts to be sourced.

Project Information Document (PID):
This document is usually short and includes a description of the project and the details of key contacts such as the name of the World Bank task manager or team lead. The PID is essential for tailoring bidding documents to the project. It also generally details how many major tenders will be implemented in the course of the project. **NOTE: The PID is located within the Project Database under each individual project.

Project Appraisal Document (PAD):
Compared to the PID, the PAD contains more extensive information on the project including its development objectives, a full project description, procurement plan and project timeline. It also contains contact information on Bank team leaders. The distribution of this document can be restricted, however many project appraisal documents can be found on the Bank’s website.  **NOTE: The PAD is located within the Project Database under each individual project.

Procurement Plans:
Prior to loan negotiations, the borrowing country must prepare a procurement plan for WB approval.  This initial plan must list the proposed contract opportunitiess for goods, services, or civil works required for the first 18 months of the project, including the proposed procurement methods of those contracts and the relevant WB “Prior Review” procedures.  The borrowing country updates the plan annually or as necessary during the course of the project.  

• Importance for U.S. companies -- The procurement plan has particular commercial relevance, offering insight into the sequence and timing of various bid opportunities.  The procurement plans typically can be found within "Annex 8: Procurement Arrangements" of the Project Appraisal Document (PAD) for each project.  Alternatively, to review recently published procurement plans, please click here.

Country Procurement Assessment Reports (CPAR):
The WB produces an intensive, comprehensive assessment and diagnostic tool offering analysis of a particular country’s procurement regime, called a Country Procurement Assessment Report (CPAR).  Specifically, the CPAR identifies existing risks and vulnerabilities of the regime and assists the country in ultimately strengthening the institutional, legal, and policy framework underpinning its procurement regime.  The CPAR is typically a joint effort between the WB and its client country, and these assessments are conducted as the procurement system in a particular country changes or undergoes reform.  CPARs are published rather sporadically. 

• Importance for U.S. companies -- The CPAR enables your company to evaluate a particular country’s procurement policy operations, legal regime (including appeal mechanism), procedures and practices, anti-corruption measures and institutional strengths and weaknesses.  Because the process of preparing a project bid is often an expensive and labor-intensive investment, it may be useful to consult the CPAR to familiarize yourself with the country’s procurement regime.  To review World Bank published CPARs, please click here.  

World Bank Central Procurement Page:
The WB website has a central procurement page that provides companies with updated policies governing the procurement process, downloadable bidding documents, descriptions of the procurement process from a bidding company’s perspective, and a database of previous contract awards. There are several other items of interest linked to the procurement page for companies seeking procurement opportunities:

• For information on the procurement of goods, services and civil works, you may click on the “Procurement Guidelines” link in the “Shortcuts” section from the menu in the lower left column.
• For information on foreign consulting under a WB loan, you may click on the “Consultant Guidelines” link in the same section.
•  For information/downloadable documents necessary for bidding on a WB project, including sample bid documents, instructions, and explanations, you may click on the “Bidding/Consulting Opportunities” link from the menu in the upper left column.
•  For information on contract awards, you may click on the “Database of Contract Awards” in the “Highlights” box in the top right corner of the webpage.  The database is an excellent tool for researching trends of successful bidders by variables such as country, region, sector, procurement method, procurement type, or even by competitors for all contracts subject to WB Board approval since July 1, 2000.  For example, you may conduct a specific search on contracts awarded to U.S. companies who have exported medical supplies and pharmaceuticals successfully to Africa. Please note those countries borrowing from the WB must announce contract awards within two weeks of receiving a “no objection” vote from the WB Board.