Award

Technical Assistance (TA) Facility to strengthen Rwanda's Social Protection Sector: Exiting Poverty Rwanda Programme

FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

23 Sep 2025 at 10:52

Summary of the contracting process

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is proceeding to extend a contract associated with the Technical Assistance (TA) Facility to bolster Rwanda's Social Protection Sector under the Exiting Poverty Rwanda Programme. Categorised under foreign economic-aid-related services, this contract falls within the service procurement category. The procurement stage is currently in the award phase. The location related to this procurement is Rwanda. The extension, facilitated under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, is set to extend the contract duration by 15 months to 30 June 2027, unlocking an additional £15 million in vital donor funding. The service will continue to be provided by Cowater International without materially expanding the original scope.

This extension presents valuable business opportunities, particularly for organisations capable of delivering technical expertise and capacity building services. Businesses in the international development sector, especially those with expertise in social protection and collaboration with governmental projects, would be well-suited to evaluate potential future procurement opportunities. The procurement method used is limited, meaning the extension was awarded without prior publication of a competitive call. Interested suppliers should keep abreast of potential upcoming procurement announcements by FCDO, as this contract exemplifies the governmental focus on social sector development and sustainable poverty alleviation initiatives, both crucial areas in development funding.

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Notice Title

Technical Assistance (TA) Facility to strengthen Rwanda's Social Protection Sector: Exiting Poverty Rwanda Programme

Notice Description

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.

Lot Information

Lot 1

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 PS1.8m 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. 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

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 PS1.8m. which is within the 50% increase of budget as initially tendered.

Procurement Information

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 PS15m 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.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-059ffc
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058840-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£7,376,925 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
3 Mar 20214 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
wasonga.misumi@fcdo.gov.uk
Contact Phone
+44 1355844062

Buyer Location

Locality
EAST KILBRIDE
Postcode
G75 8EA
Post Town
Glasgow
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM9 Southern Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM95 South Lanarkshire
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
South Lanarkshire
Electoral Ward
East Kilbride West
Westminster Constituency
East Kilbride and Strathaven

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

COWATER INTERNATIONAL

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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