Scope
Reference
ITT_7394
Description
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is inviting tenders for a contract to provide internet infrastructure and service provision at the British Embassy in Baghdad.
The required data transfer rate is 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) of contended internet bandwidth, shared across the Embassy's 149 residential pods and 19 communal areas. The internet service provider (ISP) must provide a 24/7 English-speaking service desk and ensure resolution of issues within a prompt timeframe. The provision of internet is an urgent requirement; therefore, time is of the essence for the delivery of this contract.
In order to meet the requirements of the contract, the ISP must have valid licenses with the Government of Iraq for the use of telecommunication devices and for allocating frequencies.
Total value (estimated)
- £347,500 excluding VAT
- £347,500 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 19 January 2026 to 18 January 2027
- Possible extension to 18 January 2029
- 3 years
Description of possible extension:
The Contract will be for an initial period of one year, with the option to extend for up to two additional years (+1+1), bringing the total possible duration to a maximum of three years.
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
The estimated value of the Contract, including optional extension periods, is up to £347,500, comprising:
• Initial Contract Value: up to £143,500.00, covering the infrastructure (hardware) and monthly recurring internet costs.
Note: The cost of hardware required to enable internet provision must not exceed £50,000.00 and must cover all aspects of delivery for this part of the Contract, including equipment, sourcing, configuration, testing, deployment, and delivery to site.
• Optinal Extensions: an increase in the Contract value of up to £204,000 in total for two possible extension periods.
All estimated values are exclusive of UK VAT but include all applicable taxes.
Please note that the figure above represents a maximum; FCDO expects competitive tenders based on the Statement of Requirements to be significantly lower.
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 72411000 - Internet service providers ISP
- 32424000 - Network infrastructure
Contract locations
- IQ - Iraq
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
8 December 2025, 12:00pm
Submission type
Tenders
Tender submission deadline
16 December 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
The tender documents have been published on the FCDO's eSourcing Portal (the Portal): https://fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk/ under reference ITT_7394. You must log in or register on the Portal to access the tender documents and participate in this procurement.
If you experience any technical issues with the eSourcing Portal, please contact their helpdesk by calling +44 (0)203 868 2859 or use the 'Request Assistance' functionality, especially when contacting from outside the UK.
Any queries relating to the subject of the tender or the tender pack must be submitted via the 'Messages' functionality linked to ITT_7394 in the Portal.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
15 January 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Technical | Quality | 60% |
| Commercial | Cost | 40% |
Other information
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Competitive flexible procedure description
This procurement will be conducted under the Procurement Act 2023 using the Competitive Flexible Procedure (CFP) in a single-stage format, appropriate for well-defined requirements. In accordance with section 20(1) and 20(2)(b) of the Act, the Tender Notice will instruct suppliers on how to access all procurement documents and invite them to submit a bid in one comprehensive stage.
This stage comprises:
• Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), which covers Conditions of Participation; Technical Ability Certificates (TACs) and Exclusions and Debarment; and
• Technical and Commercial sections; followed by
• Post-tender negotiation with the highest-scoring supplier (the Prefered Supplier).
Suppliers who fail to meet the Conditions of Participation will be disqualified from further involvement in the procurement. Suppliers who satisfy all PSQ requirements will proceed to the evaluation of Technical and Commercial responses, where bids will be assessed against the published award criteria to identify the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT).
The Prefered Supplier will be invited to post-tender negotiations to optimise the proposal for better value for money (VfM) without distorting competition or altering the outcome.
Once the FCDO is satisfied with the final proposal, the outcome of the tender will be communicated to all bidders. The standstill period will commence on the day of the Contract Notice publication. Following the expiry of the standstill period the parties will conclude the contract, which will be signed before publication of the Contract Award Details notice.
Contracting authority
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PXRR-8771-PHVX
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
United Kingdom
Email: commercial.smi@fcdo.gov.uk
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government