Southern Africa Development Community Secretariat – Procurement and Grants Policy Article 33. Technical requirements ............................................................................................................................. 26 Article 34. Clarifications and modifications of bidding documents ........................................................................... 27 Article 35. Submission of bids.................................................................................................................................... 27 Article 36. Validity period; modification and withdrawal of bids .............................................................................. 28 Article 37. Bid securities ............................................................................................................................................ 28 Article 38. Opening of bids ........................................................................................................................................ 29 Article 39. Examination, evaluation and comparison of bids ..................................................................................... 30 Article 40. Prohibition of negotiations with bidders................................................................................................... 31 Article 41. Acceptance of bid and entry into force of the contract ............................................................................. 31 SECTION II. PREQUALIFICATION PROCEEDINGS ........................................................................................... 32 Article 42. Prequalification Processes ........................................................................................................................ 32 CHAPTER IV. APPEAL OF PROCUREMENT DECISIONS ..................................................................................... 34 Article 43. Right to appeal a procurement decision.................................................................................................... 34 Article 44. Procedures for handling appeals ............................................................................................................... 34 CHAPTER V. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS ...................................................................................................... 34 Article 45. Procurement implementation structure ..................................................................................................... 34 Article 46. Modifying contracts .................................................................................................................................. 35 Article 47. Monitoring and Auditing of Procurement Activities ................................................................................ 35 Article 48. Review of the Procurement Policy ........................................................................................................... 36 Article 49. Sanctions ................................................................................................................................................... 36 Article 50. Record keeping ......................................................................................................................................... 37 CHAPTER I. SCOPE ..................................................................................................................................................... 38 Article 51. Scope of Application ................................................................................................................................ 38 Article 52. Purpose of Grants .................................................................................................................................... 38 CHAPTER II. PRINCIPLES .......................................................................................................................................... 38 Article 53. General principles applicable to Grants .................................................................................................... 38 Article 54. Eligible Costs ............................................................................................................................................ 39 Article 55. In-kind contributions ................................................................................................................................ 39 Article 56. Transparency ............................................................................................................................................ 40 Article 57. Programming ............................................................................................................................................ 40 Article 58. Calls for proposals .................................................................................................................................... 40 Article 59. Exceptions to calls for proposals .............................................................................................................. 41 Article 60. Publication of beneficiary awarded .......................................................................................................... 41 Article 61. Information for applicants ........................................................................................................................ 41 Article 62. Principle of no cumulative awards............................................................................................................ 42 Article 63. Principle of non-retroactivity .................................................................................................................... 42 CHAPTER III. APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCEDURE ................................................................................... 42 Article 64. Guidelines for Applicants ......................................................................................................................... 42 Article 65. Applications for Grants............................................................................................................................. 43 Article 66. Submission of grant applications .............................................................................................................. 43 ii