Foreign economic-aid-related services

Tender description

This is a prior information notice (PIN) only: Publication and a call for competition will be conducted once the scope of work is fully defined and approved. DFID’s Public Finance and Tax Department is currently designing a new programme of support to developing country governments in four areas: public financial management, tax, macro-economics and fiscal transparency. This will not be a traditional DFID programme, and instead aims to provide a responsive service as and when needs and opportunities arise. The new service will be delivered by a ‘Resource Centre.’ The objective of the Resource Centre will be to help build the capacity of developing country governments in the areas of public financial management (PFM) and tax. This is a prior information notice (PIN) only: publication and a call for competition will be conducted once the scope of work is fully defined and approved DFID’s Public Finance and Tax Department is currently designing a new programme of support to developing country governments in four areas: public financial management, tax, macro-economics and fiscal transparency. This programme aims to provide a responsive technical support service as and when needs and opportunities arise. The new service will be delivered by a ‘Resource Centre.’ The objective of the Resource Centre is to help build the capacity of developing country governments in the areas of public financial management (PFM) and tax. The kinds of support envisaged through the Resource Centre include: short term technical assistance (usually of a few weeks’ – several months’ duration); long term technical assistance (such as embedding an expert advisor within a partner country’s revenue authority or government ministry, or specialist support in a particular area over a number of years); and, potentially, comprehensive programmes (such as a full package of support with various components, designed to build capacity over a number of years). The Resource Centre will also support DFID country offices in designing full programmes of support for their partner governments, through, for example, scoping studies in advance of design. The precise geographic coverage of the Resource Centre has yet to be finalised, but it is envisaged that it will, as a minimum, be open to all DFID priority countries. It is anticipated that the Resource Centre will commence activities in the second half of the 2020-21 UK financial year, or early in the 2021-22 financial year. It is anticipated to run for a minimum of 5 years, subject to available resources, sufficient demand for its services and proof of concept, among other criteria. The total budget for the programme will be between 15 000 000 GBP and 35 000 000 GBP; the final budget will depend on the operating model chosen and the nature and scope of services to be provided. DFID is hosting a pre-Business Case Early Market Engagement (EME) event about the Resource Centre and the anticipated services required from interested parties on: 3.2.2020 – 9.30-11.30 at DFID HQ in Whitehall and East Kilbride (simultaneous meeting connected via video conference, with an option for remote dial-in). At this stage, DFID is keen to solicit the views of the market regarding the programme’s proposed objectives and feasibility. DFID would welcome the participation of both national and international organisations. At the event, DFID will present the Resource Centre and its proposed services, and hold a discussion on a set of key questions: 1) What implementation model would work best to deliver the services required on a demand-driven basis? 2) What is the existing technical capability, as well as gaps in the market, in the above areas? 3) What services can be delivered for the available budget? 4) Are there any geographic limitations to delivery? 5) What do you see as the main risks and challenges to deliver this programme? Parties interested in attending the EME event or requiring any other information must register interest via the DFID Supplier Portal, by the deadline of 23.1.2020. Suppliers should also register for EME attendance on Survey Monkey, by the same deadline. This Survey Monkey will capture all registration details and therefore must be completed to ensure registration. Confirmation emails will be sent out after the deadline date. Please note that this is a prior information notice to advertise an Early Market Engagement exercise. No tender document will be available at this stage. Further details concerning the event will be provided on the DFID Portal in due course.