Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Defra Network eTendering Portal
17 Nobel House
London
SW1P 3JR
Contact
Simon Desborough
Telephone
+44 2072385921
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs
Buyer's address
https://defra.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
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Environment
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Provision of a Fund Manager for the Blue Planet Fund
Reference number
33717
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 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is seeking to appoint a Challenge Fund Manager to administer competitive grant funding schemes under the Blue Planet Fund (BPF) between FY22/23 to FY2029/30. The initial contract will be offered for a period of three years with options to extend.
The potential £65m grant funding will establish a new competitive fund that will focus solely on tackling marine issues across the world in all four BPF themes and will focus on activities under the four Defra-led BPF outcomes: marine protected areas (MPAs) and other effective conservation measures (OECMs); illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU); (inter)national fisheries; and marine pollution. Climate outcomes will be indirectly delivered through the Defra-led outcomes. It will also provide benefits towards the other three outcomes (critical marine habitats, small-scale fisheries, and sustainable aquaculture) which are led by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The appointed supplier will:
• Manage the administration of the grant application and award processes for the fund for the lifetime of the contract, ensuring good use of public money.
• Provide support to the expert committee, the Defra competitive fund team and directly to projects.
• Provide effective management and monitoring and reporting of all projects.
• Provide effective support to Delivery Partners.
• Evaluate projects and deliver improvements to the fund’s processes based on evidence, best practice and outreach.
• Liaise with the independent MEL evaluator on the evaluation of the fund, which will involve sharing of documentation, reports, making recommendations for changes based on results and knowledge of the project portfolio:
• Provide ad hoc technical advice or briefing on issues arising from new or proposed developments to the grant schemes or specific one-off tasks.
This notice invites potential suppliers to a market engagement virtual event (using Teams) between 2pm – 3pm on 7 July 2022. The event will set out the Authority’s intention and seek feedback to inform the tender exercise. We are seeking comments and questions to the proposals outlined to help us to finalise the shape of the forthcoming tender specification.
We reserve the right to amend, add to or withdraw all or any part of the requirements presented. All answers are tentative and qualified by the exploratory nature of this market engagement supplier event.
Feedback will be collated and will be made available to all attendees and organisations that have registered an interest in this forthcoming tender opportunity along with a copy of the presentation.
Interested parties should email simon.desborough@defra.gov.uk with your name, email address, job title and the organisation you represent. Invites will be issued from 14 June 2022 onwards.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £7,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 71248000 - Supervision of project and documentation
- 75130000 - Supporting services for the government
- 79421000 - Project-management services other than for construction work
- 90720000 - Environmental protection
- 98910000 - Services specific to international organisations and bodies
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
International delivery locations
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is a Prior Information Notice to facilitate market engagement. The Authority is seeking to approach the market in the coming months to appoint a fund manager. The Authority is looking for the markets comments on the requirement to inform the Specification and timeline.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
24 August 2022
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