Provision of OSCE Election Observation Monitors

Please note that this is an award notice and the opportunity is now closed.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) issues this Contract Award Notice as it has established a single-supplier Framework Agreement with Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) for the provision of Election Observation Monitors to Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Election Observation Missions, under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCRs).

The UK is a strong supporter of the OSCE Election Observation Missions (EOMs) carried out by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The contribution of UK observers to EOMs demonstrates the UK's support for the work of ODIHR to promote democratic principles and institutions in the OSCE region.

The FCDO has established a Framework Agreement with WFD to recruit and manage UK observers to ODIHR EOMs. WFD will:

1. Select, recruit, train and manage, on behalf of the FCDO, UK observers to the OSCE's ODIHR EOMs in OSCE participating States.

2. Ensure observers are fully trained and aware of their responsibilities as independent observers.

3. Undertake all logistical arrangements to deploy the observers, including visas, travel, insurance, and accommodation.

The estimated spend of this Framework Agreement is approximately £3,000,000 over 3 years.

There will be no form of exclusivity or volume that is guaranteed under the resultant Framework Agreement and the FCDO will be entitled to enter into other contracts and arrangements with other suppliers for the provision of any, or all, of the requirements which are the same as, or similar to those specified under the established Framework Agreement.

Additional information: In accordance with the PCRs, the FCDO has undertaken a compliant tender exercise via a Restricted (two-stage) procedure to establish a single-supplier Framework Agreement with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) to supply UK election observers to OSCE/ODIHR election observation missions. This tender exercise was evaluated on a Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) basis with a mix of technical and commercial evaluation criteria. WFD achieved the highest score overall and therefore are the successful bidder.

The FCDO incorporated a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of the Framework Agreement was communicated to tenderers. This period allowed unsuccessful tenderers to challenge this decision before the Framework Agreement was signed (as appropriate). The standstill period expired midnight of 11th October 2021, no challenges were received. If an appeal regarding the award of the Framework Agreement has not been successfully resolved, The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or who are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Following expiry of the standstill period, the FCDO has now formally entered into a Framework Agreement with WFD.