Provision of international courier services for British Council offices in Asia Pacific and Question Paper Distribution (QPD) & Confidential Material Room (CMR) for Pakistan

The British Council is establishing a framework for the provision of secure courier services to support its examination operations, with an estimated total value of 7,000,000 GBP excluding VAT. The contract is divided into two separate lots: Lot 1 covers international courier services across the Asia-Pacific region for the transportation of confidential materials to worldwide destinations, including the United Kingdom, while Lot 2 focuses on domestic logistics within Pakistan. This includes the secure distribution of question papers from Confidential Material Rooms in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad to various examination venues. The framework is intended to run from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2030, with a possible extension until January 1, 2031. Suppliers must demonstrate robust security controls, chain-of-custody procedures, and the ability to provide security-cleared personnel. Key requirements include the use of tamper-evident packaging and seals, strict adherence to examination delivery timelines, and compliance with British Council security standards for material rooms. Award decisions will be based on the most advantageous tender, evaluated through a combination of technical scoring and commercial pricing, where the lowest overall price receives the maximum commercial score. Successful providers will be expected to manage health and safety risks, maintain compulsory liability insurance, and adhere to strict confidentiality and information governance standards. Payment for undisputed invoices will be made within 30 days.