Future opportunity

Chevening Cyber Security Fellowship: India and Western Balkans

  • Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice reference: 2021/S 000-006592

Published 31 March 2021, 12:56am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office

King Charles Street

London

SW1A 2AH

Email

natasha.mardinian@fcdo.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 02070081467

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UK - UNITED KINGDOM

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.gov.uk/fcdo

Buyer's address

https://fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at

https://fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html

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

Chevening Cyber Security Fellowship: India and Western Balkans

Reference number

6374

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 75100000 - Administration services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Chevening Cyber Security Fellowship is a fellowship opportunity within the Chevening Programme.

The requirement is for the provision of administrative services to run the Chevening Cyber Security Fellowship in Financial Years 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 (with an optional two year extension in Financial Years 2024/2025 and 2025/2026).

Estimated total value: £1,200,000 over 5 years (approx. £240,000 per year, depending on number of participants)

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £1,200,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 75110000 - General public services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - UNITED KINGDOM

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The FCDO (the Authority) is looking to put in place a contract with a supplier for the provision of administrative services to run two short educational programme for mid-career professionals. The first programme is for professionals from India and the second for professionals from Western Balkans countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia). The successful course provider will be awarded a contract to run the Chevening Cyber Security Fellowship in Financial Years 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 (April to March). The ideal timing of the India programme is a start date of end March in all three years. The expected date for the start of the first course is end- March 2022.For the Western Balkans programme the programme usually starts in January each year, however timelines are flexible and will be reviewed.

The intention of the Scholarship Unit and Commercial is to start a tender process for a new 3+2yr contract in March 2021 and award around end June 2021. This would allow time for the winning provider to collaborate with the Chevening Secretariat and the Embassies and advertise the programmes in August 2021 for applications and select new Fellows for the 2022 intakes. However, Covid-19 has impacted the delivery of the course in 2020 and 2021, and consequently the first course under this contract may be required to start later.

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

30 April 2021


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


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

Background to the Requirement:

Chevening is the UK government’s international awards scheme aimed at developing global leaders. Funded by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations, Chevening offers two types of awards – Scholarships and Fellowships. The scholarships are for one year Master’s in any subject at a recognised UK University.

The fellowships offer specifically designed courses aimed at mid-to-senior level professionals who are looking to expand their knowledge and expertise in their specific field of work. The programmes are tailored short courses which run for approximately 8 weeks at a designated UK university.

Chevening offers a unique opportunity for future leaders, influencers, and decision-makers from all over the world to develop professionally and academically, network extensively, experience UK culture, and build lasting positive relationships with the UK. Numbering over 50,000 worldwide, Chevening Alumni are an influential and highly regarded group. They have an excellent record of rising to positions of leadership across a wide range of fields including politics, business, the media, civil society, science and technology, and academia.

The primary objectives of the Chevening Fellowship programme are:

• To promote UK political, economic and commercial interests in priority geographic regions

• To promote UK institutions, culture and values

• To forge lasting ties with future leaders, opinion formers and decision makers in politics,

government, business, journalism, science and technology and civil society

• To achieve outcomes aligned to FCDO priorities

The Chevening Cyber Security Fellowship has two strands, an India programme and a Western Balkans programme. The Fellowships are aimed at mid-career professionals with demonstrable leadership potential in the field of cyber security, cyber policy and internet governance. For each programme strand, a minimum of six professionals with a minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience from the Government, Police Service and Defence, academia, the legal profession, entrepreneurs and industry are chosen for the two ten week long fully funded residential programmes. These are currently delivered currently at Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom.

Fellows are drawn from the government, police service, academia, the legal profession, entrepreneurs, civil society and industry. The course enables a small yet significant group of Cyber experts to get professional training on the subject enabling them to come up to speed with the best British practices. This goes a long way in contributing to developing mutual understanding between countries in mitigating Cyber Security cooperation.

Activities in cyberspace have direct impact on social and economic prosperity of a nation. This fellowship allows Cyber experts to receive professional training enabling them to inform their work. It also enhances cooperation and collaboration between the countries in promoting international security and stability in cyberspace.

The programme is sponsored by the FCDO, successfully running since 2013.

Procurement Portal Instructions:

The Contracting Authority intends to use an e-tendering system for the procurement. If you intend to bid, please register on our e-procurement portal here:

https://fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html

Statement of Requirements:

If you wish to see a copy of the Draft Statement of Requirements (SoR), please contact natasha.mardinian@fcdo.gov.uk and this will be issued to you via email.

Please note that:

1. We are sharing the SoR solely the purpose of fostering early market interest.

2. We reserve the right to change the SoR at any time, including in the final Invitation to Tender.

3. The rules of the competition and the final SoR in question will be communicated in the tender

pack.