Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office
Buyer's address
https://fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to 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
Provision of Notary Services for Complex International Legal Transactions
Reference number
Estates-10064-2023
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79130000 - Legal documentation and certification services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The FCDO wishes to appoint a Supplier to provide Notary Services, to assist with the facilitation of acquiring, executing, and managing the FCDO global estate. These services will support the authentication and drafting of legal documents for use in international contexts. The notary services for which the Tenderer is invited to tender for include but are not limited to, notarial services, powers of attorney, legalisation, acting and attesting within foreign languages and translation services.
The Notary Services tendered under this agreement will be used by the FCDO and other Government Departments and arms-length bodies, including the British Council, the UK’s leading culture and education institution.
The Contract will be for an initial 5 year period with an option to extend for up to a further 2 years.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £740,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 79100000 - Legal services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (the 'FCDO') - is the government department responsible for promoting British interests overseas and supporting our citizens and businesses around the globe. FCDO safeguard the UK’s security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners.
The FCDO has estate property around the world (including the United Kingdom) and operates in over 280 different locations. The estate comprises Embassies & High Commissions (anything from a stand-alone, freehold building on a secure compound, to a fitted-out leased office in a multi-occupied, high-rise building), visa offices, Residences for Heads of Post and residential buildings for diplomats. Additionally, there are individual “legacy” properties such as churches, cemeteries, etc.
To assist with the facilitation of acquiring, executing, and managing this estate, the Estates, Security and Network Directorate (ESND) of the FCDO, wish to appoint a Supplier to provide Notary Services. These services will support the authentication and drafting of legal documents for use in international contexts. The notary services for which the Tenderer is invited to tender for include but are not limited to, notarial services, powers of attorney, legalisation, acting and attesting within foreign languages and translation services.
The objectives of this contract are to:
• Establish a commercial arrangement with an experienced partner that provides value for money for the department by supporting the timely, wise, and effective management of the FCDO estate and that of its One HMG Partners (Other Government Departments and arms-length bodies) through the provision of notary services for complex international legal transactions.
• Establish a viable and resilient process that can deliver on the accurate and timely provision of notary services, ensuring no additional cost or time to the department.
The scope of services includes providing the following, in relation to the FCDO estate and those of its One HMG Partners; grant of power and delegated authority,
- General legal advice, legal opinions, and guidance
- Drafting appropriate supporting documentation for the acquisition, management and disposal of property interests
- Miscellaneous advice on UK, international and overseas local law
- Advice and guidance on the intricacies and levels of complexity of each task
- Translation services for legal documentation
- Acting and advising in a Notary capacity in various languages and jurisdictions
- Knowledge of the relevant legal procedures and mechanisms
- Notarial, certification and legalization services
- Prompt and timely turnaround of all legal notarial documentation
- Arranging secure delivery of documents to UK and overseas addresses
- Other ad hoc advice/services as advised
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £740,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
20 August 2024
End date
19 August 2029
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The contract will allow for the option to extend for a further 2 years after the initial 5 year period.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
The requirement will be procured via the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's eprocurement portal: https://fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk. Suppliers, not currently registered on the portal, who are interested in being considered for this opportunity must self-register on the site in order to participate - registration is free and instantaneous.
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2023/S 000-037849
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
1 July 2024
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
1 July 2024
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
Important Information for all Potential Suppliers
In order to participate and gain access to the Invitation To Tender pack, potential suppliers should access the FCDO’s e-procurement portal, JAGGAER ONE, available via the below link.
URL: https://fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html
Once logged in, search for itt_6415 Provision of Notary Services for Complex International Legal Transactions.
If a potential supplier is not registered on the portal, click the link above (or copy and paste the link into your web browser) to be taken to the home page. Click the “Click here to register!” button, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete registration.
Registration takes approximately 5 minutes and is free of charge.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Potential suppliers should note that two-factor authentication will be required to access the FCDO’s e-procurement portal, JAGGAER ONE, which requires Google Authenticator to be downloaded onto a mobile device. For more information in relation to two-factor authentication, a guide can be accessed by clicking the link on the home page of the FCDO’s e-procurement portal, JAGGAER ONE.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commercial Directorate, King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution
London
Country
United Kingdom