Project supporting the development of public health capabilities in EMR

The Authority entered into a Contract, in the form of a Collaboration Agreement, in November 2024 with Global Health Development (GHD) for technical assistance and support in the delivery of a joint workplan and events management and logistics services associated with the organisation of training events, to deliver strengthening and capacity building activities leading to improved compliance with the International Health Regulations in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). GHD are the implementing arm of the Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET).

The contract provided for a twelve (12) month extension of the term to 31 March 2026 which was exercised in March 2025. A further Contract Modification (CM) has now been executed in accordance with Regulation 72(1)(b) increasing the contract value by £120,000 excluding VAT.

The CM is permissible under Regulation 72(1)(b) which states: '(1) Contracts…may be modified without a new procurement procedure… in any of the following cases:- (b) for additional…services…by the original contractor that have become necessary and were not included in the initial procurement, where a change of contractor – (i) cannot be made for economic or technical reasons…, or (ii) would cause significant inconvenience or substantial duplication of costs for the contracting authority, Provided that any increase in price does not exceed 50% of the value of the original contract.' Additional services have become necessary as required by the funders of the Authority’s International Health Regulations Strengthening Project (IHR-SP); DHSC.

The contract has been modified to enable the IHR-SP to utilise the additional funding which has become available. The procurement route for the contract was a Regulation 32(b)(ii) procurement without prior publication of a call for competition on the basis that ‘competition is absent for technical reasons.’ GHD were the only identified organisation able to deliver the Authority’s requirements.

Their unique expertism and experience and resources within the EMR places them as the only capable economic operator. It is therefore believed a change of contractor would not be possible. The variation increases the contract value by 24% of the original contract value.