A/RES/59/296 Having also considered the reports of the Secretary-General on the analysis of establishing a global procurement hub for all peacekeeping missions at Brindisi, Italy, 28 and on the implementation of the strategic deployment stocks, including the functioning of the existing mechanisms and the award of contracts for procurement, 29 and the related reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, 30 Having further considered the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the procurement of goods and services through letters of assist, 31 1. Requests the Secretary-General, in order to improve the transparency and efficiency of procurement in peacekeeping operations, to ensure implementation of and compliance with the mechanisms aimed at facilitating the compilation by all missions of an assessment of progress and final performance of vendors and its immediate transmission to the United Nations Procurement Service at Headquarters; Notes progress towards the harmonization of Headquarters and mission 2. procurement databases, and in this regard welcomes the continued efforts towards improved transparency and accountability of a comprehensive procurement system, including the availability of peacekeeping procurement data for Member States, as currently displayed on the United Nations Procurement Service web site; Requests the Secretary-General to continue to improve reporting 3. procurement data to Member States and to consider procurement system processes utilized in the government and private sectors; Notes the efforts made by the Secretary-General to increase procurement 4. opportunities for developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and requests the Secretary-General: (a) To continue to simplify the vendor registration process, taking into account access to the Internet; (b) To take further steps to sensitize the business community to procurement opportunities within the United Nations system, including: (i) The holding of additional business seminars; (ii) Inviting the Inter-Agency Procurement Working Group to hold more meetings in developing countries; (iii) Including the issue of diversity of sources of procurement as an agenda item at the annual meetings of the Inter-Agency Procurement Working Group; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that all peacekeeping missions operate with reference to their procurement plans in order to realize the benefits offered by proper procurement planning; Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to monitor and address 6. causes of excessive procurement lead times at peacekeeping missions; _______________ 28 A/59/703. A/59/701. 30 A/59/736/Add.2 and A/59/736, paras. 114–116. 31 A/57/718. 29 12