Special cases
Co-financing
Where the Action is co-financed by several donors and one of the other donors, whose contribution to the total cost of the Action is greater than that of the Commission, imposes procurement rules on the Beneficiary that differ from those set out in Annex IV, the Grant Beneficiary may apply the rules imposed by the other donor. In all cases, the general principles and rules on nationality and origin still apply.
Central Buying Offices
Where the Beneficiary uses a central buying office as service provider, it selects it in conformity with the procedures set for service contracts.
A central buying office is a non-profit making, autonomous and professional structure, specialised in the technical and commercial management of supplies.
This central buying office applies the rules imposed by the Grant Beneficiary. Where it is a humanitarian procurement centre (HPC) recognised as such by the relevant service of the EC (see http://ec.europa.eu/echo/about/actors/procurement_en.htm ), it applies the rules agreed upon at the time of its approval, subject to the rules on nationality and origin.
Sources and useful links: