Conflict, Stability & Security Fund (CSSF) Framework Re-Tender 2018 - Extension and Value Uplift

Tender description

The Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) is a cross-government fund, which delivers and supports: - security, - defence, - peacekeeping, - peace-building and - stability activity, using both Official Development Assistance (ODA) and non-ODA funding. Further information on the CSSF's work and its impact is available in our annual report. Due to unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances outside of the Authority's control, namely the Covid-19 pandemic, the exit of Western Forces from Afghanistan, and current conflicts, the Authority has seen significantly higher reliance on the CSSF Framework than originally forecast when procured in 2018. The Authority’s requirements demand continued access to place contracts within the scope of the CSSF Framework in order to meet urgent operational needs and respond to evolving circumstances including the crises referenced above. Recognising the need for a long-term solution, the Authority is already undertaking the re-procurement of the CSSF Framework to provide a sustainable basis for meeting these requirements. In the short term however, the Authority considers it necessary to: i) increase the upper value limit of the CSSF Framework from £300,000,000 to £500,000,000; and ii) extend the term of the current CSSF Framework from 31/12/22 to 30/06/23. This short extension will enable the re-procurement of the CSSF Framework to be completed without disruption to the routine operations of the Authority, and mitigates the risks the Authority would face as a result of any such disruptions. This is considered by the Authority to be a necessary step as a new procurement could not be completed in a satisfactory manner before the expiry of the current CSSF Framework without extension and alternatives would entail significant inconvenience and potential increase in costs for the Authority. The economic operators originally appointed to the CSSF Framework are as listed within the Contract Award Notice (2019/S 016-034785). The link to the notice is: https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:034785-2019:TEXT:EN:HTML Please see Contract Award Notice (2019/S 016-034785) Lot 1: The Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) is a cross-government fund, which delivers and supports: - security, - defence, - peacekeeping, - peace-building and - stability activity, using both Official Development Assistance (ODA) and non-ODA funding. Further information on the CSSF's work and its impact is available in our annual report. Due to unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances outside of the Authority's control, namely the Covid-19 pandemic, the exit of Western Forces from Afghanistan, and current conflicts, the Authority intends to increase the upper value limit of the Framework from £300,000,000 to £500,000,000. Due to the unforeseen and unavoidable increased resource demands placed on the Authority related to current conflicts, the Authority also intends to extend the end date of the current CSSF Framework from 31/12/22 to 30/06/23. This short extension will enable the re-procurement of the CSSF Framework to be completed without disruption to the routine operations of the Authority, and mitigates the risks the Authority would face as a result of any such disruptions.