OUR PROGRAMMES
Certified Procurement Specialist
Programme information
A FIDIC Certified Procurement Specialist is a senior professional who possesses comprehensive knowledge and expertise in managing procurement activities. This should be consistent with FIDIC guidelines and principles and international good practice, with a particular focus on the pre-contract stage.
This certification is for individuals who understand the important aspects of project identification and feasibility studies. They should also possess the ability to: develop project procurement strategies, prepare pre-qualification documents, put together shortlisting and tender dossiers, evaluate tenders and award contracts.
The individual is expected to manage the procurement function in a manner that is consistent with FIDIC standards and other relevant international good procurement practices, while ensuring compliance with applicable requirements and sustainability (including environmental and social practices and standards), and effectively manage risks and relationships among the various stakeholders involved in the procurement of large-scale engineering and construction projects.
The individual should uphold transparency, fairness, and integrity, while actively managing the risk of corruption and unethical behaviour at all times, in manner that is consistent with the applicable requirements.
Details of the application requirements, exam syllabus, assessment, fees, and available dates are available in the relevant section below.
Application requirements
Pre-requisites
Route 1:
- An engineering, construction management, QS, economics, business administration, law, or infrastructure development qualification or degree AND
- A minimum of 5 years professional experience AND
- A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in handling procurement tasks using FIDIC (or FIDIC-based) contracts.
Route 2:
- A minimum of 10 years of professional experience AND
- A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in handling procurement tasks using FIDIC (or FIDIC-based) contracts.
Competences
- Good English language proficiency and understanding.
Application document(s)
- Recent portrait photo, taken on a plain background.
- Proof of residence, which meets the requirements. These, as well as the form, can be found here.
- Copy of a qualification/degree (if applicable). Kindly provide an English translation if the document is issued in another language.
- A completed and self-signed Professional experience form, which can be downloaded here. It should highlight the minimum required experience (5 years for candidates with a degree/qualification or 10 years for candidates with no degree/qualification).
- A completed and signed copy of the Reference form, which can be downloaded here. It should be signed by a referee who has known the applicant and can attest to candidate’s skills for at least 3 years of professional experience in handling procurement tasks using FIDIC (or FIDIC based) contracts. If needed, the Reference form can be submitted multiple times, signed by different referees to meet the cumulative minimum of 3 years of professional experience in handling procurement tasks using FIDIC (or FIDIC-based) contracts.
Fees
- Application fee: CHF 100. This fee is payable at the submission of the application. There is no discount applicable to this fee.
- Examination fee: CHF 1,500. This fee is payable before the participation in the exam and also covers the certification fees.
- Retake fee: CHF 750. This fee is only payable before the participation in a retake exam, if the candidate fails/is unsuccessful during the initial exam attempt.
- Yearly renewal fee: CHF 250. This fee is payable at the end of Year 1 and Year 2 of the certification validity period.
NB: All FCL fees are non-refundable, unless stated otherwise in the Terms of service.
FCL applies a tiered discount policy, based on the financial data of each candidate’s country of residence.
- Tier 1: 0% discount
- Tier 2: 15% discount
- Tier 3: 35% discount
- Tier 4: 50% discount
The above reductions will only apply to the certification and recertification fees.
Click here for information on the tiers: FCL discount tiers
Assessment details
This is an assessment of the candidate’s existing skills and knowledge. The candidate must apply ready to be assessed, and no training is being offered by FCL as part of the programme.
The Certified Procurement certification programme entails a single-phase assessment, which is an open-book exam. Candidates who fulfil the programme’s pre-requisites will be invited to participate in an online and invigilated exam, once their applications are reviewed and verified.
The exam includes 100 multiple-choice questions. The total exam duration is 250 minutes and candidates need to complete the exam in one sitting.
The pass mark for the FCPS exam is set at 60%, or as may be adjusted from time to time by the FCL.
Award of Certification
If you satisfy the required examination pass mark, you will be awarded your Certified Procurement Specialist certification.
The Certified Procurement Specialist certification is valid for three (3) years from the date of issue.
Yearly monitoring and recertification procedure
The certification is valid for three (3) years from the date of issue. To maintain the validity of the credentials for this 3-year term, certificate holders will need to follow a specific yearly monitoring procedure. Failure to meet the yearly monitoring requirements will result in the credentials being suspended and/or withdrawn before their expiration date.
When the credentials expire (at the end of the 3-year term), the certificate holders will be required to follow a specific recertification procedure.
Details of the Monitoring and recertification procedures can be found here.
Dates
Schedule for 2024:
Application period:
30 September – 15 November 2024
Exam date: 27 November 2024
(Further information on other certification exam dates for 2025 will be provided in the future).
Examination syllabus
Candidates will be tested on the following topics:
- Project Identification and Initial Studies
1.1. Needs assessment
1.2. Initial feasibility studies
- Feasibility Studies
2.1. Detailed feasibility analysis
2.2. Project viability evaluation
- Project Procurement Strategy Development
3.1 Procurement Strategy
3.1.1. Market analysis
3.1.2. Procurement approach and contract types selection
3.1.3. Risk Management
3.1.4. Project timeline and milestones
3.1.5. Stakeholder management
3.2 Contract Packaging
3.2.1. Scope definition
3.2.2. Division of work
3.2.3. Coordination plan
- Tendering Process Management
4.1. Prequalification of Tenderers
4.1.2 Criteria development
4.1.3. Pre-qualification process
4.2. Tender Documentation
4.2.1. Preparation of tender documents
4.2.2. Issuance of tender documents
4.2.3. Clarifications and addenda
- Tender Submission, Opening and Evaluation
5.1. Receipt and opening of tenders
5.1.1. Managing tender receipt
5.1.2. Tender opening procedures
5.2. Tender Evaluation
5.2.1. Technical evaluation
5.2.2. Financial evaluation
5.2.3. Risk and compliance assessment.
- Recommendation and Award
6.1. Comparative analysis
6.2. Preparation of evaluation report
6.3. Contract award decision
6.4. Contract negotiation and finalisation.
- Sustainable Development and Ethics
7.1. Sustainability (including environmental and social) Practices
7.2. Ethical conduct.
Body of knowledge
The FIDIC Certified Procurement Specialist (FCPS) exam is based on the FIDIC body of knowledge (some of which are listed below) and international MDB/global institutions/agencies, procurement systems and arrangements and good practices.
Candidates should have some knowledge of or the understanding of their use and relevance listed below. Candidates will be allowed to consult these publications during their exam.
- FIDIC Golden Principles (2019)
- FIDIC Procurement Procedures Guide 1st Ed (2011)
- FIDIC Contracts (1999 editions) Guide 1st Ed (2000) & FIDIC Contracts Guide (2nd Edition 2022)
- Client/Consultant Model Services Agreement (1998 White Book) Guide 2nd Ed (2001)
- Various MDB (World Bank, EBRD etc.) and global Institutions / Agencies (UN, EU (PRAG), US (FAR) etc.) Procurement systems and arrangements
- FIDIC Conditions of Contract for Construction – Red Book (1999 and 2017 edition/reprinted 2022 with amendments)
- FIDIC Conditions of Contract for Plant & Design-Build – Yellow Book (1999 and 2017 edition/reprinted 2022 with amendments)
- FIDIC Conditions of Contract for EPC Turnkey Projects – Silver Book (1999 and 2017/reprinted 2022 with amendments edition)
- FIDIC Short Form of Contract – Green Book (1999 and 2021 edition)
- FIDIC Client/Consultant Model Services Agreement – White Book 5th Ed (2017).
The online exam will be held three to four times per annum, as indicated in the “Dates” section.
If the application period is not currently open, inform us of your interest in the Procurement Specialist certification programme by filling out the Expression of Interest (EOI) form below.
You will be notified when the next application period opens.
The infograph below offers a guide to the application process and the steps needed to qualify for the FCL certification exams.
Interested?