Tender

Strengthening Higher Education for Female Empowerment

FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

12 Feb 2025 at 14:58

Tender

20 Jan 2025 at 16:24

Summary of the contracting process

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is seeking suppliers to participate in the procurement process for the "Strengthening Higher Education for Female Empowerment (SHEFE)" project, classified under the CPV code 75211200 for foreign economic-aid-related services. The tender process is currently in the Tender stage, with the deadline extended to 18th March 2025. The procurement method is open, and submissions are to be made electronically or in writing. The value of the contract is estimated at £81,000,000, and the project includes various phases of grant management and a new pilot offer under the Centre of Expertise for Education. The project aims to improve access, safeguarding, and employment outcomes for women and girls, with a specific focus on increasing female representation in STEM subjects and academia. Interested businesses should note that the FCDO is headquartered in London, UK, and submissions will be reviewed following the bid opening on 4th March 2025.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in higher education services, gender equality initiatives, and technical expertise in economic aid. Companies with experience in managing grants, running competitive processes, and developing programmes to empower women and girls in higher education are especially well-suited for this contract. The project encourages innovative approaches to reducing gender-based violence and enhancing the representation of women in underrepresented fields such as technology. By participating, businesses can expand their global reach, strengthen diplomatic engagements, and showcase their capabilities in supporting educational reform. Organisations that can offer high-quality technical advice, best practices, and tailored policy recommendations will find this tender particularly advantageous for growth and visibility in the sector.

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Notice Title

Strengthening Higher Education for Female Empowerment

Notice Description

Corrigendum to FTS Notice for SHEFE - extension of tender deadline to 18th March 2025

Lot Information

Lot 1

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.

Options: option to extend by a further 24 months and by PS40 million

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04d4cd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004770-2025
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
Tender Suitability
Not specified
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
£81,000,000 £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
4 Mar 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
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
+44 1355844000

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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