Expert Advisory Call Down Service 2 (EACDS 2)

The Expert Advisory Call Down Service 2 (EACDS 2) Framework Agreement is split into 4 Lots:

Lot 1. Women and Girls, ITT_5143

Lot 2. Life-Saving Humanitarian Work, ITT_5144

Lot 3. British Investment Partnerships, ITT_5145

Lot 4. Climate Change, Nature & Global Health, ITT_5146

It is an interim Framework Agreement to replace the current EACDS Framework for one year, with two (2) one year extension options, due to commence in February 2023. The Framework provides the call down service, equating to an annual value of GBP 13 000 000.

FCDO wishes to work with Framework Suppliers who are committed to ensuring that the best technical development expertise is quickly and efficiently accessible to FCDO staff and colleagues across the civil service. The aim is to ensure that the UK development programme is at the forefront of international development best practice.

FCDO's professional advisers and programme teams need up-to-date knowledge, evidence, and expert support in order to ensure that our policies and programmes are well designed and managed, achieving maximum impact and value for money. FCDO requires expertise in four broad areas which will support the delivery of the UK's International Development Strategy.

The service will be accessible by FCDO and other UK government departments that deliver programmes funded by UK Official Development Assistance (ODA).

The other UK government departments are:

Home Office

Department of Health & Social Care

Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sports

Office for National Statistics

Ministry of Defence

HM Revenue and Customs

HM Treasury

Department for Education

Department for International Trade

Department for Work & Pensions

Department for Transport

The Scottish Government

Welsh Government

This list is not exhaustive. A complete list of OGDs who are entitled to use the Framework Agreement can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations This list may be updated from time to time due to re-structuring or re-organisation.

FCDO is seeking Supplier to deliver a 12-month Framework Agreement of up to GBP 13 000 000 from February 2023 until February 2024 to provide Expert Advisory Call Down Services.

The value of Lot 4 may be up to GBP 4 000 000, however, the total estimated Framework Agreement value will be managed across all 4 Lots up to a maximum budget of GBP 13 000 000.

This Framework is solely for work in relation to ODA (Official Development Assistance) for FCDO and Other Government Departments who have ODA budgets.

The timeframe may be extended by up to an additional 2 x 12 months beyond the original 12 month term until February 2026 subject to satisfactory performance of the suppliers, continuing need, availability of funding, and the agreement of the suppliers and FCDO, utilising a negotiated procedure.

Please note the estimated value of this Framework Agreement is up to a maximum of GBP 39 000 000 split across all four lots. This figure includes a value of GBP 13 000 000 split across all four lots for the initial 12 month term and the possible 2 x 12 month extensions at a total value of GBP 26 000 000 split across all four lots and extension options. The estimated value includes all applicable taxes, and tenderers should include all applicable taxes in their tenders. Please note that the estimated value above represents a maximum, and FCDO expects that competitive tenders based on the Terms of Reference (Volume 3 of the ITT Pack) will come in at a lower level.

The main recipients of the services will be UK aid programmes. The service will be accessible by FCDO and other UK government departments that deliver programmes funded by UK Official Development Assistance (ODA).

The expected outcomes are to provide additional technical expertise to FCDO departments, overseas offices and Other Government Departments in the delivery of Official Development Assistance (ODA). This will include but is not limited to programme design and development, business case development, independent advice/inputs into new and innovative thinking and products and rapid provision of technical teams to deliver specific requirements where there is a time-sensitive need.

Lot 4: Climate Change, Nature & Global Health, ITT_5146

To build economic, security and technological partnerships of the future we will continue to put shared global challenges at the heart of our offer to low- and middle-income countries: as a responsible international actor and a trusted strategic partner. We will turn our historic global leadership at COP26 and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic into lasting progress for our allies and partners and for British people. And through the Prime Minister's Clean Green Initiative we will partner with low- and middle-income countries to ensure they can access the funding and support needed for them to deliver on their climate ambitions.

This will be a single supplier Lot with quick turnaround timescales of 2-3 weeks to get expertise and teams on the ground, direct call-off contracts, pre-determined Expert Band Ceiling Rates linked to expertise, agreed discounts based on number of input days, use of the HMRC ceiling policy for travel and subsistence with payments reimbursed based on actual expenditure, and contractual SLA's and KPIs.

Framework Suppliers should be aware that through the life of the Framework, FCDO expect that some roles may fall under the UK Governments off payroll working rules (IR35).  FCDO will provide to the Supplier a determination as to the technical expert's employment status. The Framework Suppliers, as the worker's fee payer, will be responsible for deducting Tax and National Insurance contributions, paying these to HMRC, in line with the associated reporting requirements as detailed in: https://www.gov.uk/topic/business-tax/ir35

Lead Suppliers are not eligible to Sub-contract on other bids for the Framework Agreement. If a Lead Supplier is identified as a sub-contractor on another bid for the Framework Agreement, FCDO will exclude the Bid submitted by the Lead Supplier from our evaluation.

Subcontractors are eligible to participate in more than one bid for the Framework Agreement and across all 4 Lots. Sub-contractors can be successful on more than one Lot.

An FCDO standard Framework Agreement will be awarded. Additional information: Lead Suppliers:

Lead Suppliers are eligible to bid for more than one Lot, however, Lead Suppliers can only be successful on one Lot.

The successful Lead Supplier will be determined by achieving the highest combined technical and commercial score in a Lot. Where a Lead Supplier has achieved the highest total score in more than one Lot, FCDO will award the Lead Supplier the Lot in which they have attained their highest score.

FCDO reserve the right to award more than one Lot to a Lead Supplier in exceptional circumstances where they are the only Lead Supplier to demonstrate sufficient capability against the published criteria, and meet the requirements set out in ITT Volume 2, Technical scoring and grounds for exclusion, page 11, after securing their first Lot award.

Lead Suppliers are not eligible to Sub-contract on other bids for the Framework Agreement. If a Lead Supplier is identified as a sub-contractor on another bid for the Framework Agreement, FCDO will exclude the Bid submitted by the Lead Supplier from our evaluation.

Subcontractors:

Subcontractors are eligible to participate in more than one bid for the Framework Agreement and across all 4 Lots. Sub-contractors can be successful on more than one Lot.