Early Market Engagement (EME) Event: Humanitarian Emergency Response Operations and Stabilisation 2.0 (HEROS 2.0)

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) intends to run a competitive procurement for the Humanitarian Emergency Response Operations and Stabilisation (HEROS) successor programme (HEROS 2.0). The FCDO will be hosting a Market Engagement Event for HEROS 2.0 and would like to invite prospective suppliers to attend. Further details on the event are provided below.

Background & Programme Objectives

Implemented since November 2017, the Humanitarian Emergency Response Operations and Stabilisation programme (HEROS 1.0) (Development tracker link: https://bit.ly/4176TTi) enables FCDO to respond rapidly, at scale, to global humanitarian disasters and support work on protracted crises, chronic emergencies and humanitarian reform. It also provides FCDO with a flexible model to support the UK Government's conflict, stabilisation and security work in fragile and conflict-affected states, both during steady state periods and in response to new crises.

HEROS 2.0 will build on the success of HEROS 1.0 and deliver four (4) overarching capabilities as detailed below:

1. Early Warning & Analysis

2. Standing Humanitarian Expertise

3. Scalable Expertise

4. Humanitarian Logistics

HEROS 2.0 Market engagement Objectives

(1) Provide an overview and understanding of the programme to potential bidders (2) Understand the level of market interest and the specialisms, locations and size of potential bidders or bid partners. (3) Test FCDO assumptions with market (4) Solicit insights and ideas from the market on design and delivery to help shape the final ToR (5) Highlight key procurement messages (6) Connect prospective bidders who may wish to form consortia (7) Networking opportunity with FCDO programme representatives

The market engagement will be an in person event taking place in central London on the afternoon of 21 September 2023. Prospective suppliers wishing to attend the event should register their interest by 8th September 2023 via the FCDO Procurement Portal: https://fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk and register under PQQ_1458. Please note this is not a call to competition and does not constitute the commencement of the procurement process. The use of PQQ functionality for the purpose of organising EME event is due to the limitation of the system.

Further detail on the location and time of the event will be provided to those who register. Please note the event is in person only and there will be no virtual facility available.

FCDO will endeavour to provide further information on the HEROS 2.0 requirement including key areas for comment from prospective suppliers 1 week prior to the event. Please note space for the event will be constrained and attendance is limited to a maximum of 2 individuals per Supplier.

Additional information: Further information

HEROS 2.0 will build on the success of HEROS 1.0 and deliver four (4) overarching capabilities as detailed below:

1. Early Warning & Analysis

Expert analytical capability to provide horizon-scanning for global humanitarian and conflict risk drivers, presenting this information and analysis to FCDO. This capability will be required to shape and inform regular information products and reporting, as well as answer ad hoc requests for detailed analysis.

In addition, FCDO requires a 24/7 monitoring and information management system to provide alerts and reporting for emerging crises and rapid-onset humanitarian emergencies, to inform FCDO response decisions.

2. Standing Humanitarian Expertise

Technical expert capacity to provide advice, analysis, and evidence products in support of FCDO's humanitarian planning, preparedness and response. This capacity must be deployable globally, to provide 'first response' support to sudden-onset humanitarian crises, in addition to supporting protracted crises and system reform.

This capacity should cover a range of technical specialisms alongside a core generalist humanitarian skill set (Indicative specialisms include: Shelter, WASH, Health, Cash, Preparedness, Protection & Inclusion, Resilience, Localisation & Participation)

3. Scalable Expertise

Capability to deploy, at pace, technical expertise for FCDO to fulfil specific, time-limited advisory and analytical requirements across humanitarian, conflict and security objectives.

The proposed solution should be able to deliver advice and expertise to FCDO in the UK and at posts overseas, and potentially to the wider international system. This should be supported by robust enabling functions to ensure expertise is suitably identified, trained, vetted and equipped as required.

4. Humanitarian Logistics

End-to-end logistics function to plan, scope, source and deploy equipment and humanitarian supplies in response to crises, as required by FCDO. This capability may include the management of UKAid stockpiles, in the UK and globally, as well as rapid sourcing and delivery in response to crisis demand.

Delivery of this component will additionally be facilitated by expert advisory support to FCDO (in the UK and overseas) and potentially the global humanitarian system. Expert advice on supply chain management is essential. Expertise should be deployable as required to facilitate crisis response and logistics in highly-challenging affected locations.