--- title: "Strengthening the Global Trading System (GTS)" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06dddc" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06dddc" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06dddc.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06dddc.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office" published: "2026-08-12" --- # Strengthening the Global Trading System (GTS) Buyer: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06dddc [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06dddc) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06dddc.json) ## Summary The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is developing a potential global trade and development services contract under its Trade Centre of Expertise. The work would support developing countries, including Least Developed Countries, to participate more effectively in international trade and gain benefits from inclusive, sustainable and export-led growth. Expected activities include technical assistance and advice for trade negotiations and related processes; capacity building and institutional support for engagement with the World Trade Organization and other multilateral or regional trade bodies; policy, legal and technical assistance on implementing trade agreements; and research, analysis and knowledge sharing for trade policy and decision-making. Delivery will involve work with developing-country institutions and international trade bodies. The procurement is for services and is classed as foreign economic-aid-related services. This procurement is at the planning and early market engagement stage. FCDO is considering a potential future contract, with the final scope, requirements and contractual arrangements to be developed following market feedback. The expected route to market has not yet been determined. FCDO has scheduled a virtual early market engagement session for 10 September 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30 UK time, and expects the next notice on 19 October 2026. The indicative contract period is 1 April 2027 to 1 December 2031, with renewal possible until 1 December 2032. The estimated value is £8,000,000 excluding VAT and £10,000,000 including VAT. There is one planned lot, intended to be suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises. This will suit organisations with established expertise in international trade and development, particularly those able to combine policy advice, legal and technical assistance, research and practical capacity building. Experience supporting developing countries, Least Developed Countries, trade ministries or other public institutions would be relevant, as would knowledge of the World Trade Organization and regional or multilateral trade systems. Suppliers should be able to strengthen institutional capability, support participation in negotiations and trade-related processes, and turn analysis into usable policy and implementation advice. The requirement may suit specialist consultancies, international development organisations, research bodies and partnerships combining these capabilities. FCDO has expressly welcomed SMEs and consortia, and organisations may prepare to participate either as a prime contractor or subcontractor when the future procurement takes shape. ## Notice The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is undertaking Early Market Engagement (EME) in advance of a potential future procurement opportunity for Strengthening the Global Trading System (GTS). The GTS contract is expected to form part of the Trade Centre of Expertise (Trade CoE), which sits within FCDO's wider Growth Community of Expertise (Growth CoE). The Trade CoE provides technical assistance to help developing countries participate more effectively in international trade and support inclusive, sustainable and export-led economic growth. The proposed GTS support offer will focus on strengthening the capacity of developing countries, including Least Developed Countries (LDCs), to engage in, influence and benefit from the multilateral trading system, particularly through the World Trade Organization (WTO). Indicative areas of support may include: - Technical assistance and advisory services to strengthen developing country participation in international trade negotiations and trade related processes. - Capacity building and institutional support to improve engagement with the WTO and other relevant multilateral and regional trade bodies. - Policy, legal and technical assistance to support the implementation of, and access to benefits from, international trade agreements. - Research, analysis and knowledge sharing to strengthen trade policy development and decision making. FCDO welcomes engagement from organisations with relevant expertise in trade and development, including SMEs and consortia. Suppliers interested in this opportunity, whether as a potential Prime Contractor or subcontractor, are invited to attend (virtually) an Early Market Engagement Event on Thursday 10 September at 10:00am (UK time). The session will provide further information on the emerging requirement and offer suppliers an opportunity to contribute views that will help inform FCDO's approach. Please note that the information provided at this stage is indicative only and does not constitute a commitment to procure. The final scope, requirements and contractual arrangements will be confirmed in any future Tender Notice. The route to market has not yet been determined. Feedback received through FCDO's preliminary market engagement activities will be used to help shape the procurement strategy and inform decisions on the most appropriate delivery model. Please follow this link for registration details: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=09Ci08h8Uk-7-YW9Q9lCecrVSZRgRcpDtJxVU1ZowUdUNDU5RzE2SzFDVzRGS0tGWlk5SkVXMjBWQyQlQCNjPTEu&route=shorturl ### Planning Information Live Early Market Engagement Session will be taking place virtually on Thursday10/09/2026 at 10:00 - 11:30 AM UK BST. The link to the registration form is: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=09Ci08h8Uk-7-YW9Q9lCecrVSZRgRcpDtJxVU1ZowUdUNDU5RzE2SzFDVzRGS0tGWlk5SkVXMjBWQyQlQCNjPTEu&route=shorturl ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076945-2026 | | 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 | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 12 Aug 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 19 Oct 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Apr 2027 - 1 Dec 2031 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £8,000,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | | Locality | LONDON | | Postcode area | South West London | | Postcode | SW1A 2AH | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London | | Local authority | Westminster | | Electoral ward | St James's | | Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 75 - Administration, defence and social security services ### Codes - 75211200 - Foreign economic-aid-related services ## Release History - 12 Aug 2026 at 16:22 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076945-2026 - 6 Aug 2026 at 13:59 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074772-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076945-2026 12th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074772-2026 6th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=09Ci08h8Uk-7-YW9Q9lCecrVSZRgRcpDtJxVU1ZowUdUNDU5RzE2SzFDVzRGS0tGWlk5SkVXMjBWQyQlQCNjPTEu&route=shorturl - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06dddc. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06dddc.json.