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PROVISION OF SECURITY GUARDING SERVICES FOR BRITISH EMBASSY HARARE

Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

16 Oct 2026 at 10:52

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

16 Oct 2026 at 10:47

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

20 Apr 2026 at 10:00

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

20 Apr 2026 at 09:42

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is seeking a fully managed security guarding service for the British Embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe. The service covers static guard posts, foot patrols, mobile response, alarm monitoring and round-the-clock command and control. The supplier must provide the staffing, supervision, shift patterns and staff rotation needed to maintain operational resilience and continuity. This is a security services requirement, covering the embassy site in Harare. The contract calls for an integrated guarding operation rather than a single security task, with responsibility for both frontline protection and the monitoring and coordination functions that support it.

The buyer has invited tenders through an open competitive flexible procedure. Suppliers submit technical and commercial tenders; after initial evaluation, the FCDO may seek clarification, negotiate with the highest-scoring supplier and run a preferred-supplier stage, or proceed directly to award. Questions were due by 5 November 2026 at 14:00 UTC and tenders by 10 November 2026 at 14:00 UTC. The stated contract period runs from 1 May 2027 to 30 April 2030, with options for two further one-year extensions. The estimated value is £1,494,082.45 excluding VAT (£1,725,665.24 including VAT). Quality accounts for 60%: mobilisation 15%, service delivery 15%, resources, staff and training 10%, risk management 10%, and quality assurance, customer support and contract management 10%. Price accounts for 40%.

This opportunity is suited to security providers able to manage a continuous, multi-function guarding operation at a diplomatic site in Harare. Suppliers should be able to demonstrate sufficient personnel and supervisory capacity for static coverage, patrols, mobile response, alarm monitoring and 24/7 command and control, while maintaining resilient staffing and continuity through shift and rotation arrangements. Strong proposals will need to address mobilisation, service delivery, workforce resources and training, risk management, quality assurance, customer support and contract management, as these are the quality areas assessed. Experience operating in a high-security embassy environment would be directly relevant to the operational demands. The requirement also favours firms with the systems and management capability to coordinate security activity and sustain reliable service across the full contract term.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

PROVISION OF SECURITY GUARDING SERVICES FOR BRITISH EMBASSY HARARE

Notice Description

The Contractor will be responsible for delivering a fully managed guarding solution, including static posts, foot patrols, mobile response, alarm monitoring, and a 24/7 command-and-control capability. Staffing levels, supervision, shift patterns and rotation arrangements must always ensure operational resilience and continuity.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The contract will be awarded for an initial period of three (3) years, with the option to extend for up to two further periods of one (1) year each (3+1+1). Any extension will be subject to satisfactory supplier performance and will be exercised at the Authority's discretion. The maximum potential contract duration is five (5) years.

Planning Information

The Authority wishes to undertake Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) in a proportionate and transparent manner to help refine the upcoming procurement for Security Guarding Services for British Embassy Harare. This notice is issued to inform the market of an upcoming procurement opportunity and to engage with potential suppliers prior to the launch of a formal tender exercise. Objectives of the PME Through this engagement, the Authority aims to: • Understand supplier capability and capacity to deliver • Explore operating models • Test approaches to staffing and workforce management. • Validate compliance and governance. • Explore commercial approaches. This engagement is conducted under PA23 s.16 to help prepare the procurement and will be managed to avoid unfair advantage or distortion of competition. Registration Instructions Register on portal → Express Interest → Download Pack → Submit questionnaire by deadline. Disclaimer This engagement is not a call for competition. Participation is optional, not evaluated, and does not affect eligibility to bid. Participation will not affect the ability of suppliers to compete in any future procurement. PME Questionnaire Pack Suppliers are requested to answer the following questions: 1. Organisation legal name, registration number, and local presence 2. Security company licensing and regulatory approvals applicable in the host country 3. Experience delivering security guarding services in high risk, diplomatic, or critical environments in Harare. 4. Proposed service delivery and supervision model 5. Vetting, training, and staff rotation approach 6. Command, control, communications, and incident management capability 7. Compliance with international security standards / codes of conduct 8. Key operational risks and market constraints 9. Cost model transparency (non binding) 10. Declaration of conflicts of interest 11. Data Protection and information security controls Responses will be used solely to inform the Authority’s procurement strategy. Contracting Authority Details Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Public Procurement Organisation Number: PXRR 8771 PHVX King Charles Street London SW1A 2AH United Kingdom Organisation type: Public authority – central government Contact name: [Insert name] Email: [Insert email] Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0685e0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097797-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79710000 - Security services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,494,082 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,494,082 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
10 Nov 20262 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
11 May 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 May 2027 - 30 Apr 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
2032-11-01

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2AH
Postcode Area
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

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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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