Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office
King Charles Street
London
G75 8EA
Contact
Wasonga Misumi
Telephone
+44 1355844062
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
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
Reference number
PROJ_10147
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 75211200 - Foreign economic-aid-related services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Technical Assistance Facility to strengthen Rwanda's Social Protection Sector
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- RW - Rwanda
Main site or place of performance
Rwanda
two.2.4) Description of the procurement at the time of conclusion of the contract:
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.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession
Start date
3 March 2021
End date
30 June 2027
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
PO 10063
Title
Technical Assistance facility to strengthen Rwanda’s Social Protection Sector as part of FCDO’s Exiting Poverty in Rwanda Programme
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession award decision:
9 October 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract/concession has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Cowater International
109 Murray Street, Second Floor, Suite 4
Ottawa
KP1N 5N5
Country
Canada
NUTS code
- CA - Canada
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (at the time of conclusion of the contract;excluding VAT)
Total value of the procurement: £7,677,885
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office
East Kilbride
G75 8EA
Country
United Kingdom
Section seven: Modifications to the contract/concession
seven.1) Description of the procurement after the modifications
seven.1.1) Main CPV code
- 75211200 - Foreign economic-aid-related services
seven.1.3) Place of performance
NUTS code
- RW - Rwanda
seven.1.4) Description of the procurement:
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.
The work package agreed with the supplier will:
i. Sustain critical work currently being carried out by TAF and maintain support to government counterparts
ii. Work to make TAF more effective, evaluating how it works to ensure effectiveness across:
a. Policy support to GoR ministries
b. Renew focus on sub-national support and capacity building (LODA)
iii. Build sustainable capacity (as requested by the Steering Committee) in:
• Systems development: IT SP systems which last
• Support the training framework (to improve sub-national delivery)
iv. Set the groundwork for an expanded basket fund through sustainable interventions
seven.1.5) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession
Start date
3 March 2021
End date
30 June 2027
seven.1.6) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession:
£7,677,885
seven.1.7) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Cowater International
109 Murray Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 5N5
Country
Canada
NUTS code
- CA - Canada
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
seven.2) Information about modifications
seven.2.1) Description of the modifications
Nature and extent of the modifications (with indication of possible earlier changes to the contract):
This contract modification will increase the contractual value by £1.8m as set out in the terms of the original procurement and a increase the contract term by 15 months, extension.
seven.2.2) Reasons for modification
Need for additional works, services or supplies by the original contractor/concessionaire.
Description of the economic or technical reasons and the inconvenience or duplication of cost preventing a change of contractor:
In line with the VEAT notice - 2025/S 000-058956 (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058956-2025?) the contract modification 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.
seven.2.3) Increase in price
Updated total contract value before the modifications (taking into account possible earlier contract modifications, price adaptions and average inflation)
Value excluding VAT: £5,906,650
Total contract value after the modifications
Value excluding VAT: £7,677,885