Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
Telephone
+44 1355844062
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Development & Diplomacy
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Technical Assistance (TA) Facility to strengthen Rwanda's Social Protection Sector: Exiting Poverty Rwanda Programme
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 75211200 - Foreign economic-aid-related services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This Notice corrects an error in value of the contract as published under notice 2025/S 000-058840.
The TA Facility will provide technical expertise and capacity building to the Government of Rwanda and support the effective implementation of its Social Protection Sector Strategic Plan (SP-SSP) and ultimately a strengthened national social protection system, as well as the delivery of FCDO's Exiting Poverty in Rwanda (EPR) programme which aims to eradicate extreme poverty and reduce overall poverty.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £7,677,885
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- RW - Rwanda
Main site or place of performance
Kigali
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This Notice corrects an error in value of the contract as published under notice 2025/S 000-058840.
This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice. This notice is to indicate that the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) proposes to extend the contract with the named supplier for the Technical Assistance (TA) Facility to strengthen Rwanda's Social Protection Sector: Exiting Poverty Rwanda Programme in a manner that is necessary to support a responsible exit from the programme . This contract extension will increase the contractual value by £1.8m as set out in the original contract and a 15 month time extension.
The Technical Assistance facility provides technical expertise and capacity building to the Government of Rwanda and support the effective implementation of its Social Protection Sector Strategic Plan (SP-SSP) and ultimately a strengthened national social protection system, as well as the delivery of FCDO's Exiting Poverty in Rwanda (EPR) programme which aims to eradicate extreme poverty and reduce overall poverty.
This extension will enable continued delivery of the technical assistance facility which provides technical expertise and capacity building to the Government of Rwanda.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Techincal / Weighting: 70
Cost criterion - Name: Cost / Weighting: 30
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The original contract included options to extend the right to extend
the programme by up to 1.5 years with a maximum, potential 50% increase to budget of the initial contracted value.
This modification will extend the contract by 15 months from 31 March 2026 to 30 June 2027. It will increase the financial limit by £1.8m. which is within the 50% increase of budget as initially tendered.
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
This contract was awarded to CowaterSogema International Inc as per contract award notice (https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/f822e7a8-824a-4bc6-a559-606a0ce62366?origin=SearchResults&p=1) External ID: f822e7a8-824a-4bc6-a559-606a0ce62366
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
This Notice corrects an error in value of the contract as published under notice 2025/S 000-058840.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) intends to award a 15 month extension to the Technical Assistance (TA) Facility to strengthen Rwanda's Social Protection Sector: Exiting Poverty Rwanda Programme. This amendment is made under Regulation 72(1)(b) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, which permits modifications because additional services by the original contractor have become necessary where a change of contractor cannot be made for economic or technical reasons. FCDO considers that the extension can be awarded without prior publication of a notice under Part 2 of the Public using the procedure in regulation 99(3) (VEAT notice). The modification does not exceed 50% of the original contract value.
The extension to 30 June 2027 is necessary to allow FCDO unlock £15m in additional donor funding that is crucial to enable a responsible exit from the programme in a way that minimises harm to its beneficiaries. The nature and scope of the contract remain unchanged. This amendment does not materially expand the contract scope. Cowter International will continue to deliver the same core services.
Proceeding with a new procurement would introduce significant risks, including loss of the additional donor funding, the potential for duplication of costs already borne, reputational risk with host government and adverse development impact on the most vulnerable beneficiaries. Additionally, a change of supplier would be impractical due to technical knowledge of the supplier on the Rwanda Social Protection System, trust, and well established relationships with the host government. These attributes are not readily transferable.
Before entering the proposed contract amendment, the Authority will observe the standstill period of 10 calendar days from the day after publication on the UK e-notification service required by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 at regulation 99 before executing the amendment allowing all relevant parties adequate time to review and respond.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
PROJ_10147
Title
TA Facility to strengthen Rwanda’s Social Protection Sector as part of FCDO’s Exiting Poverty in Rwanda Programme
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
3 March 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Cowater International
275 Slater Street Suite 1600
Ontario
KP1P5H9
Country
Canada
NUTS code
- CA - Canada
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £7,677,885
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This Notice corrects an error in value of the contract as published under notice 2025/S 000-058840.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) intends to award a 15 month extension to the Technical Assistance (TA) Facility to strengthen Rwanda's Social Protection Sector: Exiting Poverty Rwanda Programme. This amendment is made under Regulation 72(1)(b) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, which permits modifications because additional services by the original contractor have become necessary where a change of contractor cannot be made for economic or technical reasons. FCDO considers that the extension can be awarded without prior publication of a notice under Part 2 of the Public using the procedure in regulation 99(3) (VEAT notice). The modification does not exceed 50% of the original contract value.
The extension to 30 June 2027 is necessary to allow FCDO unlock £15m in additional donor funding that is crucial to enable a responsible exit from the programme in a way that minimises harm to its beneficiaries. The nature and scope of the contract remain unchanged. This amendment does not materially expand the contract scope. Cowter International will continue to deliver the same core services.
Proceeding with a new procurement would introduce significant risks, including loss of the additional donor funding, the potential for duplication of costs already borne, reputational risk, adverse development impact on the most beneficial beneficiaries.
Before entering the proposed contract amendment, the Authority will observe the standstill period of 10 calendar days from the day after publication on the UK e-notification service required by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 at regulation 99 before executing the amendment allowing all relevant parties adequate time to review and respond.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Foreign Commomwealth & Development Office
Abercrombie House, Eaglesham Road
East Kilbride
G75 8EA
Telephone
+44 1355844062
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Foreign Commomwealth & Development Office
Abercrombie House, Eaglesham Road
East Kilbride
G75 8EA
Country
United Kingdom