Strengthening the Global Trading System (GTS)

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Published: Aug 12, 2026

Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Source: uk_fts

About This Opportunity

This is a consulting contract in the trade and industry sector, with a focus on Trade Policy. Located in United Kingdom, Europe, this opportunity is open to firms and consortiums, with an estimated budget of GBP 8.0 million.

Published through UK FTS - Find a Tender Service, a national government procurement portal. Public procurement tenders follow the country's national bidding regulations and may have specific eligibility and documentation requirements for consulting in the trade and industry sector. Consulting assignments are typically evaluated with a strong emphasis on the technical proposal, including the methodology and qualifications of key experts. Shortlisted firms may be invited to submit financial proposals in a second stage. This is an advance notice — the formal tender is expected to be published shortly. Interested parties can use this time to prepare documentation and identify potential partners.

Description

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is undertaking Early Market Engagement (EME) in advance of a potential future procurement opportunity for Strengthening the Global Trading System (GTS). The GTS contract is expected to form part of the Trade Centre of Expertise (Trade CoE), which sits within FCDO's wider Growth Community of Expertise (Growth CoE). The Trade CoE provides technical assistance to help developing countries participate more effectively in international trade and support inclusive, sustainable and export-led economic growth. The proposed GTS support offer will focus on strengthening the capacity of developing countries, including Least Developed Countries (LDCs), to engage in, influence and benefit from the multilateral trading system, particularly through the World Trade Organization (WTO). Indicative areas of support may include: - Technical assistance and advisory services to strengthen developing country participation in international trade negotiations and trade related processes. - Capacity building and institutional support to improve engagement with the WTO and other relevant multilateral and regional trade bodies. - Policy, legal and technical assistance to support the implementation of, and access to benefits from, international trade agreements. - Research, analysis and knowledge sharing to strengthen trade policy development and decision making. FCDO welcomes engagement from organisations with relevant expertise in trade and development, including SMEs and consortia. Suppliers interested in this opportunity, whether as a potential Prime Contractor or subcontractor, are invited to attend (virtually) an Early Market Engagement Event on Thursday 10 September at 10:00am (UK time). The session will provide further information on the emerging requirement and offer suppliers an opportunity to contribute views that will help inform FCDO's approach. Please note that the information provided at this stage is indicative only and does not constitute a commitment to procure. The final scope, requirements and contractual arrangements will be confirmed in any future Tender Notice. The route to market has not yet been determined. Feedback received through FCDO's preliminary market engagement activities will be used to help shape the procurement strategy and inform decisions on the most appropriate delivery model. Please follow this link for registration details: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=09Ci08h8Uk-7-YW9Q9lCecrVSZRgRcpDtJxVU1ZowUdUNDU5RzE2SzFDVzRGS0tGWlk5SkVXMjBWQyQlQCNjPTEu&route=shorturl

Data provenance

This notice is sourced from UK FTS - Find a Tender Service and was originally published on August 12, 2026. Last refreshed today. Reference: 076945-2026. BidsFactory mirrors official procurement notices and links back to the source for full legal text.

About Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has issued 288 procurement notices on BidsFactory, including 26 currently open and 152 awarded contracts. Activity concentrates in Governance & Public Administration, General Supplies & Services, and Construction & Civil Works. All notices are published for United Kingdom. Notices are distributed via UK FTS - Find a Tender Service and UK Contracts Finder. Most recent publication: August 12, 2026.

Frequently asked questions about this tender

How can I submit a bid?

Visit UK FTS - Find a Tender Service to access the full notice, required documents, and submission instructions. Quote reference 076945-2026 when communicating with the contracting authority.

Who is the contracting authority?

This notice was issued by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in United Kingdom. The authority is responsible for evaluating bids, awarding the contract, and managing performance.

What type of contract is this?

This is a Consulting contract in the Trade & Commerce sector. The classification helps bidders match the opportunity to their qualifications and registered scope of supply.

What is the estimated budget?

The estimated contract value is £8,000,000 - £8,000,000. Bidders should ensure their proposals are consistent with this range and account for any local taxes and contract execution costs.

Where will the contract be performed?

The contract is for delivery in United Kingdom. Foreign bidders should review local registration, taxation, and any in-country presence requirements before submitting.