Air Operator Registration - Pre-requisites for doing business with the UN
What business opportunities are available for registered air operators?
The United Nations Secretariat has a continuous requirement for air transportation services in support of its global operations, including in UN Peacekeeping Missions and UN Special Political Missions. Such air transportation services requirements include fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft for the transportation of passengers, cargo or both, as well as requirements for unmanned aircraft services.
Vendors registered as pre-qualified Air Operators with the UN Secretariat will be eligible to participate in bidding process and for award of contracts for air transportation services, including Long-Term Aircraft Charter Agreements (LTAC), Short-Term Aircraft Charter Agreements (STAC) and Stand-by Aircraft Charter Agreements (SACA).
Who can apply for registration as a pre-qualified air operator?
The United Nations Secretariat registers actual air operators only, that are in possession of a valid Air Operator Certificate (AOC) authorizing them to conduct the type of operations in the designated region and with all types of aircraft, which they intend to offer for United Nations contracts. Please, note, all technical documentation must be provided in English Language.
What are the requirements for registration as a pre-qualified Air Operator with the United Nations Secretariat?
The registration process for pre-qualification as an Air Operator involves two-steps, consisting of a technical application and an administrative/financial application.
Technical Registration:
The technical air operator registration requirements are stipulated in the UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR THE PROVISION OF FLIGHT SERVICE VENDOR REGISTRATION FOR MANNED AND UNMANNED COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT CHARTER SERVICES, Edition 4 (TOEC).
The TOEC describe technical and administrative procedures of the United Nations technical fight service vendor registration process. The TOEC are based on the United Nations Aviation Standards for Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Air Transport Operations (UNAVSTADS). The TOEC represent requirements for a vendor-supplier relationship and must not be construed as legal requirements published by a competent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Guidance Materials:
- United Nations Aviation Standards for Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Air Transport Operations document (UNAVSTADS.);
- United Nations Secretariat Technical and Operational Evaluation Criteria for the Provision of Flight Service Vendor Registration for Manned and Unmanned Commercial Aircraft Charter Services (TOEC Ed. 4) (Accessible Version)
Administrative/Financial Registration:
The administrative/financial registration process is undertaken through the United Nations Global Marketplace (www.ungm.org). Prospective Air Operators are required to apply for registration at Level 2 in UNGM. The requirements for registering in UNGM at the Basic Level, Level 1 and Level 2 are available on the Procurement Division’s website at: https://www.un.org/Depts/ptd/vendors/vendor-registration-0.
To be registered as a pre-qualified Air Operator, vendors must fully complete both the technical and financial registration process.
Who performs the air operator registration?
The technical evaluation is conducted by the Aviation Safety Section, Office of Supply Chain Management in two phases. In phase one, a desktop technical audit of each vendor will be conducted to determine potential contractor’s fitness for purpose to perform the services required. In phase two, an onsite technical audit will be conducted to verify conformity with the UN requirements before an award of contract. With the introduction of the revised TOEC Edition 4, the onsite technical audit is risk-based and might be substituted by a remote technical audit. The technical audit methodology will be determined by the Aviation Safety Section, Office of Supply Chain Management on a case-by-case basis.
The financial evaluation is conducted on-line through the UNGM (www.ungm.org) by the Enabling and Outreach Service, Office of Supply Chain Management.
How to initiate the application process?
Please complete the Form link below to request a Vendor Registration Kick-off Meeting with the Enabling and Outreach Service. This introductory meeting aims to inform your company about the registration process, contacts within the UN, and details of the technical and administrative/financial application requirements. During the meeting you will have ample time to ask questions that you may have regarding the registration process.
To book a registration kick off meeting, click here
In conclusion – UN Flight Service Vendor Registration:
- You must be an AOC Holder.
- You must have full operational and maintenance control over the aircraft and crew offered to the UN.
- The State of Registry of aircraft have no unresolved ICAO Significant Safety Concern.
- The State of Registry and/or the AOC Holder are not included in any aviation safety list, ban list etc. to allow unrestricted operations globally.
- You are complying with the UNAVSTADS and TOEC as published on the Procurement Division’s webpage.
- The completeness and correctness of the application must be certified (dated signature) by a duly company’s authorized individual before submission.
- You must register in the UNGM at Level 2.
- As part of the UNGM registration process, your company must declare that it complies with all required pre-requisites for eligibility for registration with the UN and accept the UN Supplier Code of Conduct.
Latest updates on technical specifications and other requirements
- 1 June 2022: Effective date of the United Nations Secretariat Technical and Operational Evaluation Criteria for the Provision of Flight Service Vendor Registration for Manned and Unmanned Commercial Aircraft Charter Services, Edition 4.
- Updated 16 Jun 2016 - Air Transportation Companies under long term charter are required to have an active compliant aircraft-tracking unit that transmits real-time automatic geospatial tracking flight data with event logging capabilities to the United Nations Aviation Global Satellite Tracking Service provider Blue Sky Network, LLC. Please review the attached document for a detailed description of the requirement.
Transition from ITB to RFP for long term air charter requirements
- UN is implementing a revised solicitation methodology for long-term air charter requirements (RFP method),
specific eligibility criteria apply for participation in pilot RFP(s). - 03 October 2013 - Updated: Transition in solicitation methodology for long-term air charter requirements - Feedback from industry
- 18 December 2013 - Air Charter Conference (18 Dec 2013): presentation and form for additional feedback
- 1 May 2015 - In the context of the transition from ITB to RFP and relevant changes made in the acquisition of long term air charter services, the UN is updating its Terms and Conditions of Contract, as indicated at the recent Air Conference on 17 April 2015.
While no direct changes are anticipated for existing contracts, newly awarded contracts will be based on the template which can be found on the Procurement Division website under the following link. The updated Long Term Air Charter Agreement (April 2015 version) will be used in conjunction with the General Conditions of Contracts for the Provision of Services.