Awarded Contract for the Provision of Notary Services for Complex International Legal Transactions

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (the 'FCDO') - is the government department responsible for promoting British interests overseas and supporting our citizens and businesses around the globe. FCDO safeguard the UK’s security, defend our values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with our international partners.

The FCDO has estate property around the world (including the United Kingdom) and operates in over 280 different locations. The estate comprises Embassies & High Commissions (anything from a stand-alone, freehold building on a secure compound, to a fitted-out leased office in a multi-occupied, high-rise building), visa offices, Residences for Heads of Post and residential buildings for diplomats. Additionally, there are individual “legacy” properties such as churches, cemeteries, etc.

To assist with the facilitation of acquiring, executing, and managing this estate, the Estates, Security and Network Directorate (ESND) of the FCDO, have appointed a Supplier to provide Notary Services. These services will support the authentication and drafting of legal documents for use in international contexts. The notary services for which the Tenderer were invited to tender for included but were not limited to, notarial services, powers of attorney, legalisation, acting and attesting within foreign languages and translation services.

The objectives of this contract are to:

• Establish a commercial arrangement with an experienced partner that provides value for money for the department by supporting the timely, wise, and effective management of the FCDO estate and that of its One HMG Partners (Other Government Departments and arms-length bodies) through the provision of notary services for complex international legal transactions.
• Establish a viable and resilient process that can deliver on the accurate and timely provision of notary services, ensuring no additional cost or time to the department.

The scope of services includes providing the following, in relation to the FCDO estate and those of its One HMG Partners; grant of power and delegated authority,

• General legal advice, legal opinions, and guidance
• Drafting appropriate supporting documentation for the acquisition, management and disposal of property interests
• Miscellaneous advice on UK, international and overseas local law
• Advice and guidance on the intricacies and levels of complexity of each task
• Translation services for legal documentation
• Acting and advising in a Notary capacity in various languages and jurisdictions
• Knowledge of the relevant legal procedures and mechanisms
• Notarial, certification and legalization services
• Prompt and timely turnaround of all legal notarial documentation
• Arranging secure delivery of documents to UK and overseas addresses
• Other ad hoc advice/services as advised Additional information: Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents

The requirement was procured via the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's eprocurement portal: fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk ↗. Suppliers, not currently registered on the portal, who were interested in being considered for this opportunity had to self-register on the site.