Provision of Worldwide Real Estate Surveying Services

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has estate property around the world 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.

The FCDO’s role in the management of its global Estate is similar to an investor/developer/landlord in that:

• it owns, leases, occupies and manages the Estate
• it sells surplus and non–performing assets to maximise the returns from the Estate

FCDO requires Service Providers to act on its behalf in the provision of Real Estate Surveying Services to support the management of the Global Estate. A broad range of professional services are required to support the surveying team in managing the FCDO estate and any estate related issues that may occur.

Top level service requirements include but are not limited to:

• Services, advice and due diligence relating to the viability of freehold, leasehold, licenced property and land, with the management, negotiation and transaction of the acquisition itself
• Services and advice on the disposal of land or property, as well as the undertaking and managing the marketing and disposal of the property
• Services, advice on rent related issues including rent reviews, rental values and rental payments, including undertaking and negotiation of rental agreements
• Services and advice on dealing with surrender, expiry or renewal of a lease, including undertaking and managing negotiations on dilapidations, lease terms and exit timing/strategy
• Services and advice in respect of issues relating to rates, land and property taxes and charges, including negotiation or through professional support/ representation at local land tribunals
• Valuations and appraisal advisory services
• Country specific town planning advice and guidance
• Legal advisory and Counsel Services
• One-off reports from on site or desktop studies, surveys and audits
• Strategic advice to develop regional, country and estate and asset management plans

Optional services which may be required under the contract include:

• Property, Facilities, Estate and Financial Process Management Services
• Project Management Services

The intention is that this requirement will be split into lots based on Geographic region:

Lot 1 – Africa

Lot 2 – Asia Pacification and South Asia

Lot 3 – Europe (including UK), Eastern Europe and Central Asia Lot 4 – Middle East and North Africa

Lot 5 – Americas

Each lot will be awarded as a seperate contract. For each geographic region a Service provider is appointed to, it is expected that either the Service Provider or appointed subcontractors will be able to deliver services within the region.

It is anticipated that the form of contract shall be FCDO Terms and Conditions. The FCDO however are seeking feedback on appropriate standard forms of contract used within the market to provide these services.