Planning

Portfolio Risk Assurance Programme III

  • Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-003578

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0436e6

Published 2 February 2024, 3:48pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office

King Charles Street

London

SW1A 2AH

Email

fei.huang@fco.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 2070080932

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://forms.office.com/e/FS94grQ3JV

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Portfolio Risk Assurance Programme III

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 75211200 - Foreign economic-aid-related services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The programme aims to improve efficiency and effectiveness of FCDO bilateral programmes in Pakistan. It will focus on portfolio and programme assurance, by playing an advisory role, building capacity of implementing partners and developing tools to mitigate risks for all Official Development Assistance (ODA) and non-ODA programmes.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £2,000,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 79412000 - Financial management consultancy services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • PK - Pakistan

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Portfolio Risk Assurance Programme III (PRAP III), is the third phase of an original Portfolio Risk Assurance Programme (PRAP) and a successor of PRAP II.

The programme aims to improve efficiency and effectiveness of FCDO bilateral programmes in Pakistan. It will focus on portfolio and programme assurance, by playing an advisory role, building capacity of implementing partners and developing tools to mitigate risks for all Official Development Assistance (ODA) and non-ODA programmes. This will be achieved by mitigating the risks of high fraud and corruption in public funds, and by ensuring implementation of due diligence and safeguarding policies. Reviews will help identify where risks are highest. Programme effectiveness should improve as risk-managed funds have a higher chance of reaching the intended beneficiaries while efficiency will be improved by addressing governance and system flaws within partner organisations and streamlining the flow of funds to beneficiaries. The programme will also help build capacity across BHC programmes to measure VFM and report on it, which will contribute directly to achieving the intended impact of the programme. Support to partner organisations to take positive action to manage risks can promote and ensure consistency and standardisation of how FCDO and the implementing partners working at different scale, address risks and assess value for money.

The intended outcomes of the programme are:

1. Improved risk management of Pakistan Network programmes.

2. Improved understanding, measurement, and management of value for money within the portfolio.

The main components of the proposed programme are:

• Review and advise on the highest risk elements of our portfolio, ensuring there are robust governance, management and financial controls to mitigate fiduciary risks.

• Conduct comprehensive cash flow tracking reviews following complete delivery chain from implementing partner through to downstream beneficiary/recipients. These reviews might document the financial flow process and confirm the authenticity of the cash value being processed between payee and recipient. They could also corroborate the evidence for supporting payment release by checking the validity of the data or examination of goods or services delivered.

• Support and build the capacity of FCDO staff in interpreting finance, audit and assurance reports and adequate follow up.

• Help implementing partners to further develop tools to identify, manage and mitigate risks, drawing on best practice.

• Provide access to a broader range of relevant specialists such as legal advice, labour law expertise, forensic audit specialists, and accountants. .

• Conduct value for money reviews of selected programmes, identify challenges, ensure lesson learning across portfolio and build capacity of the implementing partners to assess VfM.

• Support and advise on best practice of safeguarding policies by delivery partners, follow up on enhanced due diligence recommendations and conduct periodic reviews when required.

The proposed programme budget is £2m (inclusive of VAT and local taxes) over 5 years. The primary recipients of the services will be partner organisations operating in the delivery chains of FCDO Pakistan’s programmes. The supplier and their potential supply chain partners would need to obtain registration under the relevant department as laid out by rules of the government of Pakistan.

two.2.14) Additional information

FCDO will be holding an online EME event on Tuesday 20th Feb 2024 9:30 to 11:00 GMT - to attend you will need to register at the following link:

https://forms.office.com/e/FS94grQ3JV

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

2 February 2024


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes