Tender

Notice for Strengthening Higher Education for Female Empowerment (SHEFE)

FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

TenderAmendment

12 Feb 2025 at 14:19

TenderAmendment

03 Feb 2025 at 09:42

Tender

20 Jan 2025 at 16:26

Summary of the contracting process

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has announced a public procurement tender titled "Notice for Strengthening Higher Education for Female Empowerment (SHEFE)." The tender, classified under "Foreign economic-aid-related services" (CPV 75211200), involves an inception period followed by a grant management programme. This programme will include a closed call to select 4 pilots from the SPHEIR programme and an open call to invite 8 new innovative proposals, focusing on improving access, safeguarding, and employment outcomes for women and girls. The procurement method is open, with a contract period from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2029. Key dates include a tender period ending on 18 March 2025, with the primary delivery locations spanning the British Oversea Territories, Channel Islands, Europe, Isle of Man, the United Kingdom, and Rest of the World. The contract is valued at £41 million.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in higher education and gender empowerment. Companies capable of designing innovative and impactful educational interventions, especially those that address gender-based violence and promote STEM education for women, will find this tender particularly relevant. SMEs and VCSEs are encouraged to compete, as the procurement process actively supports these entities. Winning this contract would enable businesses to enhance their portfolio and demonstrate their capability to execute large-scale international projects, thereby expanding their market presence and contributing to global diplomatic and educational reforms.

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Notice Title

Notice for Strengthening Higher Education for Female Empowerment (SHEFE)

Notice Description

Inception Period: The below work will be preceded by an inception period to fully resource the team as well as finalise design of the programme. Grant Management: In Phase 1 of the grant management activity the Supplier will design a closed call competitive grant process to invite and select 4 successful pilots from the SPHEIR programme up to a total of PS12.7 million with each grant receiving between (PS1-4 million). These have demonstrated 'proof of concept' and strong results in improving access, quality, and relevance to scale and replicate interventions in new states and geographies. SPHEIR pilots will be required to pivot their concepts to adopt a comprehensive gender transformative approach. In Phase 2 The Supplier will run an open call competitive process to invite 8 new, high potential and innovative proposals up to a total of PS25.6 million, in priority geographies with a focus on improving access, safeguarding and employment outcomes for women and girls. Interventions may include improving take up of STEM subjects and increasing female representation in academia and underrepresented fields such as the tech industry. The Supplier will also invite proposals that drive an evidence-based approach to reducing all forms of gender-based violence and harm, including tackling sexual violence, exploitation, abuse and harassment in the HE sector. Centre of Expertise - Higher Education: The Supplier will launch a new pilot offer under the Centre of Expertise for Education which will be delivered through SHEFE. The demand-led, draw down facility will ensure the FCDO's global network has access to high-quality technical expertise, best practice and tailored policy advice. This will not only expand our global reach to support HE reform, but it will also help to strengthen diplomatic engagement with policy makers. The new enhanced offer will also respond to new windows of opportunity when they arise, including short term requests for direct support from host governments to deliver HE reform, including short-term deployments of embedded experts. It will enhance the 'Best of British' brand by promoting UK expertise and showcase our ability to convene prominent international experts in a community of practice. To view and register for this opportunity please go to: https://fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-7cb90cf6-ee3e-4f58-af6a-8fb4f1531524
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/32ed3564-940e-46e3-ba7c-09717ae07eb2
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure (above threshold)
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services


CPV Codes

75211200 - Foreign economic-aid-related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£41,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Feb 20251 years ago
Submission Deadline
18 Mar 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Jun 2025 - 30 Jun 2029 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
marco.hurst@fcdo.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2AH
Post Town
South West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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