ECOWAS Tenders Code “Co-contracting" refers to a situation where the Community enters into a contract with several suppliers, contractors and service providers who shall be responsible for the delivery of goods works and services; "Contractor", "supplier" and "service provider" means any natural or legal person or group of such persons and/or bodies entering into a public contract with a procuring entity for the execution of works, the acquisition of goods or the provision of services; “Days”: means calendar day “Goods” means objects of every kind and description including, but not limited to raw materials, products, equipment and commodities and other physical objects of every kind and description, whether in solid, liquid or gaseous form, and electricity, as well as installation, transport, maintenance or similar obligations related to the supply of the goods if their value does not exceed that of the goods themselves; "Head of Institution" means the head of any ECOWAS Institution as defined in the specific protocol of each Institution; “ “Institutions of the Community” are entities established in accordance with Article 6 of the Revised ECOWAS Treaty and they include:        The ECOWAS Parliament; The Community Court of Justice; The Commission, its Agencies and Offices; The West African Health Organisation; The Intergovernmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa; Economic and Social Council; and Any other Institutions of the Community as may be established in accordance with the provisions of the ECOWAS Treaty; "Notice of invitation to bid” means all public advertisements in relation to the procurement of contracts, public invitation for applications or bids issued for the purpose of notification that a tender is being organized for the award of a contract; “Open Tendering” means a process where candidates or applicants are invited through public advertisement. “Restricted Tendering” is a process whereby candidates or applicants are directly invited to bid without any public advertisement. “Pre qualification” (“pre selection” with respect to consultants) means a formal procedure whereby candidates, contractors or consultants are invited to submit details of their resources and capabilities which are determined prior to invitation to bid on the basis of minimum criteria on experience, resources, capacity and financial standing; “Procuring Entity” means the institution, agency or office which expressed the need that has triggered the procurement process Final Page 2