Government’s foreign affairs department has alerted the market to a plan to seek out and sign a contract with a tech provider which will help deliver services across the planet

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has detailed plans to put in place a £100m contract with a new partner to provide digital and data services to hundreds of diplomatic facilities around the world.

The chosen provider, which will be appointed by the end of this year, will assist the department with various citizen services, as well as internal tech support for FCDO-managed embassies, consuls and other offices in cities worldwide.

The department has published a commercial planning notice outlining its intention to award a “contract [that] is expected to cover digital and data development, provide support and maintenance for FCDO’s public-facing digital services – including 24/7/365 support where needed to provide a resilient foundation – provide digital platform services, and enable a set of strategic digital developments”.

The services in question will help support “the UK’s diplomatic, development and consular work around the world… in over 250 posts across the globe”.

Related content

• FCDO deploys global consular system to ‘offer complete view of our interactions with a British national’
• Spending Review: How are departments planning to use tech to save billions?
• Digital Leaders’ Download: Vijay Rangarajan on how tech and data helps FCDO respond to conflict, crisis – and the coronation

The notice adds: “The objective of the Consular and Crisis Directorate is to support British people overseas who find themselves in need or distress, and to help people avoid the need for our assistance in the first place.”

The deal is expected to come into effect in September and last for an initial term of three years, plus two potential extensions of a further year each. The engagement is expected to be worth about £100m to the chosen provider.

Procurement will take place via the newly established £4bn Technology Services 4 framework, which came into effect a few weeks ago.

Suppliers that have secured a spot on this buying vehicle are invited to take part the FCDO’s ongoing market-engagement activities, including an online event to be held on Wednesday 14 January. Firms wishing to take part should alert the department today.

In 2024 the Foreign Office announced that it had completed the initial worldwide implementation of an upgraded global system to allow overseas embassies to provide government a “complete view of our interactions with a British national”.