Enhanced International Support Service (EISS)

This notice is for Market Engagement purposes only. The Department for International Trade (DIT) provides an Overseas Business Network (OBN) Service to help UK companies navigate overseas market entry. The OBN Service is delivered by Overseas Delivery Partners for countries across nine global regions. Following a review, DIT is proposing to procure a replacement service, with improvements that will: ensure easier access into overseas markets, increase export growth, service additionality, engage businesses with high potential export and improve both customer satisfaction and return on investment (ROI) per business supported. We are consulting the market on the delivery model for the Enhanced International Support Service (EISS) to ensure business continuity, by establishing new arrangements by March 2020.

Services will be delivered across up to nine global regions: China, South Asia, North America, Latin America & Caribbean, Middle East, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and Eastern Europe & Central Asia.

The nine global regions will be procured separately. The aim of the Enhanced International Support Service is to simplify the UK exporter journey and as far as possible to deliver a consistent service offer across all regions with the aim being to substantially increase the contribution and value of exports from UK SME's internationally. The Enhanced International Support Service in a global region may include the provision of services to UK businesses seeking to export into the region, planning and market entry advice for exporters, regional market research and advisory. The Enhanced International Support Service in a global region may also include industry sector specific research and advice, developing and maintaining a catalogue of local related specialist service providers (e.g. lawyers, accountants, sector specialists), service catalogue maintenance, regional service coordination, contact hub with associated ICT and digital services (e.g. CRM and call handling systems), support to incoming missions. Market engagement will inform the potential lotting strategy. Market engagement will inform the total value and, if necessary, the way in which the value is split regionally/globally.

Additional information: DIT will commence a period of market engagement which will be launched by an event taking place mid to late May 2019 which will be followed by a series of local market engagements in each region. These are planned to take place between May 2019 and December 2019. At these engagements DIT will set out the background for proposed changes to the current service as a means of structuring a debate around potential service improvements. DIT will be inviting potential Suppliers to provide feedback via the means of a market engagement questionnaire, which will inform the next stages of procurement.

Suppliers can express an interest to engage with our market engagement process for the Enhanced International Support Services by emailing their expression of interest to; [email protected] Please specify the region(s) in which you are interested. Potential Suppliers must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement prior to further communication and receipt of additional information.