Post and courier services

Tender description

The purpose of the PIN is to publicise a market engagement exercise that will be conducted by FCO Services in relation to its upcoming procurement for the carriage of the diplomatic bag and commercial shipments around the globe, known as its global logistics programme. FCO Services wishes to engage with the logistics supply market to gain a better understanding of the capabilities of the logistics supplier market to support its understanding of: — the identity of the bidders that are interested in providing the service, — the capabilities within the market, — any barriers that may prevent organisations potential bidders from participating in a tendering exercise for this requirement, and — the market’s appetite for different commercial delivery models to meet the requirements. FCO Services, as a trading arm of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has as part of its remit, responsibility for the secure delivery of diplomatic mail and commercial government shipments to over 220 posts around the world. The diplomatic bag plays a pivotal role in ensuring government foreign policy is implemented and that our people remain safe motivated and informed. Working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, partners across government and friendly foreign governments, we provide safe, secure and reliable logistical services. FCO Services plan to re-tender the current agreement in 2020 and with the help of the market wishes to explore and consider optimal options and delivery models for this requirement including the best commercial delivery models. It is anticipated that the contract notice will be issued in June 2020. Engagement will be a mixture of face-to-face meetings and desk-based research via questionnaires. Interested parties should contact Claire Estick (Claire.Estick@fco.gov.uk) before 19.2.2020 to request further information and indicate their preferred method of engagement. If FCOS proceeds with face-to-face meetings as part of this market engagement process, those meetings will be held in Milton Keynes or the surrounding area. Dates are to be confirmed but expected to be the latter part of February 2020.