Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why the recent Department for International Development Cargo and Passenger Air Charter Services Tender was not subject to a public procurement process, as was used when this tender was last issued in 2016.

Traditionally, as part of Humanitarian Emergency Response Operations (HEROs,) DFID had a framework contract in place for the charter air component of its humanitarian response, this expired in April 2020. DFID appraised a number of options for the replacement service taking into consideration value for money and the most efficient service provision. Absorbing the air charter component into the HEROs contract was assessed as the preferred option.

This solution would result in better alignment between all elements of the response as well as minimising the requirement for DFID to run a parallel procurement process. The HEROs contract supplier would in turn run a robust and transparent procurement process, with an element of oversight from DFID, ensuring that a value for money service provision was maintained. The service provision would be delivered within the existing scope of services and no funding increases to the existing agreement would be required.