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Handling fees
See the handling fees that are applied to supplies and services procured by UNICEF.

Handling fees are charged in order to defray the incremental direct and indirect costs that UNICEF incurs by providing services. The fees are established based on total projected annual procurement for a commodity group. However, special fees may be applied when:
- procurement for a specific partner is projected to exceed $100 million per year or
- a multi-year agreement is established.
See below fees for least developed countries (LDCs) and, further below, for UN agencies.
Commodity group |
Handling fee for LDC* |
Handling fee |
---|---|---|
Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) vaccines | 4% | 4.5% |
New and under-used vaccines | 3% | 3.5% |
Auto disable (AD) syringes | 8% | 8.5% |
Antimalarials | 4% | 4.5% |
Antiretrovirals | 4% | 4.5% |
Long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) | 3% | 3.5% |
Cold chain equipment | 8% | 8.5% |
Diagnostic test kits | 4% | 4.5% |
Education | 8% | 8.5% |
Laboratory equipment | 8% | 8.5% |
Medical equipment/kits | 8% | 8.5% |
Nutrition | 8% | 8.5% |
Pharmaceuticals | 8% | 8.5% |
Printing | 8% | 8.5% |
Transportation | 8% | 8.5% |
Water, sanitation, hygiene | 8% | 8.5% |
Communication | 8% | 8.5% |
Other | 8% | 8.5% |
Warehouse items | 6% - 8% | 6.5% - 8.5% |
*A minimum handling fee of $300 applies to each Request for Procurement Services. The minimum handling fee is applicable to ALL commodities, without exception.
Partner | Handling fee | Comments |
---|---|---|
UN agencies | between 3% and 5% |
The fee takes into account the joint work that may be done with other UN agencies. The specific handling fee charged depends on the volume of procurement and the amount of collaboration/joint activities. |
For further information, please contact us at psid@unicef.org.