Planning

Resilience in Agriculture and Investing in Nature Zambia (RAINZ)

FOREIGN, COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

16 Dec 2025 at 11:54

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), a central government public authority located in London, is in the planning stages of a procurement process for the "Resilience in Agriculture and Investing in Nature Zambia (RAINZ)" project. This project aims to support policy reform in Zambia, focusing on increasing agricultural productivity and improving natural resources management. Key milestones include an Early Market Engagement event on 5th February 2026, with a communication channel open until 5th March 2026 for market engagement queries. The procurement is above the threshold and is scheduled to have a contract period starting 1st August 2026 and ending 31st July 2030, with potential renewal extending to 31st March 2033.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in foreign economic-aid-related services, particularly those specialising in agricultural policy reform, climate services, and market improvements. The contract is suited for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), providing substantial growth prospects given the contract's value of £8,333,333 GBP (gross amount £10,000,000 GBP). Companies with expertise in providing research, technical assistance, and consultancy for policy facilities will benefit from engaging in this procurement process, gaining access to high-profile projects that support government priorities in Zambia. Interested businesses are encouraged to participate in the upcoming engagement events to help shape the contract's scope and demonstrate their capabilities.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Resilience in Agriculture and Investing in Nature Zambia (RAINZ)

Notice Description

The purpose of the EME is to Provide an update to the market from the last engagement and seek input into the design of Component 1, the Policy Facility. This component works at systems level. It aims to support policy reform to increase agricultural productivity and improve natural resources management. Reforms may focus on supporting crop diversification, public extension services, agricultural market improvements - including financial markets, climate and weather services and early warning systems. Activities will be further defined during the inception phase but are likely to include research, technical assistance and embedded advisory capacity to support the Government of Zambia's Ministries and Agencies deliver on priorities linked to the RAINZ objectives. Interested suppliers are invited to attend an Early Market Engagement event on Thursday, 05 February 26 - 10:00 -11:30 UK Time. Please follow this link for registration details: https://forms.office.com/e/586QCJ047z The draft Terms of Reference and questions from FCDO to the market will be shared in advance of the event via the portal. Suppliers will be invited to ask questions and give their feedback on the contract's scope and design, including the range of products and services. We will also seek to gauge the level of interest in the contract as we consider the route to market.

Planning Information

It is an information notice to give interested suppliers the opportunity to register interest on the FCDO Supplier Portal (https://fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html), engage in pre-procurement dialogue and register for the virtual Early Market Engagement event being held on Thursday, 05 February 26 - 10:00 -11:30 UK Time. Please register to attend viahttps://forms.office.com/e/586QCJ047z. You must register to attend via this link in order to receive the joining instructions. To facilitate continued market engagement and respond to any additional queries in the run up to this EME on this procurement opportunity, FCDO has now created a Communication Channel (under pqq_1972), which will remain open until 05 March 2026. See link: https://fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk/go/65721589019B26C01552. No submission of documents or any response is required by the market under this pqq_1972. No need to click "submit response". There are no pqq questions that need to be answered. Please also be informed that this communication channel will cease to exist soon upon a decision on the route to market is taken and posted on this Channel.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f691
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083288-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
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
£8,333,333 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
23 Mar 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Jul 2026 - 31 Jul 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
FOREIGN, COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
Contact Name
Nicola Burleigh
Contact Email
nicola.burleigh@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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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