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PA23 UK2 - Preliminary market engagement notice - Compound Refurbishment Works for the British Embassy, Tokyo - Phase 2

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office · Central government

In brief

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has announced plans to buy construction work. This is an early notice: there is nothing to bid on yet, but it tells you a tender may follow.

The estimated value is £20,000,000 excluding VAT.

The contract runs for 25 months, starting 1 November 2028.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Competition

Typical: a median of 3 bids per contract for this buyer (from 68 awards in the last 12 months).

What the notice says

Project Background Following the sale of surplus land within the British Embassy Tokyo compound, FCDO is delivering a multi year phased refurbishment of the retained estate. The programme is designed to modernise the Embassy campus, address life expired infrastructure, improve security, sustainability and accessibility, and support the UK’s diplomatic objectives in Japan. The overall programme consists of three phases: • Phase 1 (Under Contract): Refurbishment and fit out of entrance and gatehouses, main office building, repurposed garages and FM suite (Block E), and seismic strengthening to retaining walls. • Phase 2 (Estimated contract value £15-20 million): Chancery Building extension…Read the full description
Project Background Following the sale of surplus land within the British Embassy Tokyo compound, FCDO is delivering a multi year phased refurbishment of the retained estate. The programme is designed to modernise the Embassy campus, address life expired infrastructure, improve security, sustainability and accessibility, and support the UK’s diplomatic objectives in Japan. The overall programme consists of three phases: • Phase 1 (Under Contract): Refurbishment and fit out of entrance and gatehouses, main office building, repurposed garages and FM suite (Block E), and seismic strengthening to retaining walls. • Phase 2 (Estimated contract value £15-20 million): Chancery Building extension and refurbishment. • Phase 3 (Estimated contract value £15-20 million): Ambassador’s Residence refurbishment, multi purpose facilities including plant, storage and parking, and site wide streetscape and landscaping (Block Z). This PME relates only to Phases 2 and 3. Scope of Future Phases Phase 2 – Chancery Building The anticipated scope includes: • Extension, remodelling and full refurbishment of the Chancery Building; • Replacement of mechanical and electrical systems; • Building fabric upgrades and internal fit out; • Accessibility and sustainability enhancements; • Associated landscaping works; • Contractor input to develop designs from RIBA Stage 3 through to RIBA Stage 4 (or Japanese equivalent), prior to construction. Phase 3 – Estate and Residential Works The anticipated scope includes: • Refurbishment of the Ambassador’s Residence; • Construction or refurbishment of a multi purpose building accommodating storage, plant and parking facilities; • Site wide streetscape improvements and landscaping; • Continued operation within a live diplomatic estate. Phasing and Packaging Considerations The Authority is currently considering a number of potential approaches to the packaging and sequencing of Phases 2 and 3. As part of this Preliminary Market Engagement, FCDO is seeking market feedback to understand supplier appetite, capacity and preferences in relation to these options, and the relative advantages and risks associated with each. The options under consideration include, but are not limited to, the following Option A – Tender Phase 2 and Phase 3 Separately Phase 2 would be procured through a standalone competitive exercise, with an anticipated contract value in the region of £15–20 million Phase 3 would be procured at a later date following the delivery of Phase 2 – This means there will be two separate buying processes, done at different times. Option A - Anticipated Contract Award dates: Phase 1: November 2028 Phase 2 December 2030 Option B – Tender Both Phases Together (Staged Approach) The Authority is also exploring a staged delivery approach, whereby a single procurement exercise is undertaken covering both phases, this option inculdes: Phase 2 of the project, with all associated deliverables and timelines and would require a tenderer to provide a fixed price. Phase 3 Tenderers will also be asked to provide a tender including pricing for Phase 3 on the current scope – this scope may be subject to change as we near delivery and tenderers may be asked to reprice using rates provided at tender stage. Phase 3 is not guaranteed and may not be awarded. This model may offer early commitment to a delivery partner while retaining flexibility over later phases. The Authority welcomes market views on the feasibility of this approach, including design maturity expectations, risk allocation, and commercial mechanisms to manage change, repricing and uncertainty. Option B - Anticipated Contract Award Dates Phase 2: November 2028 inc Phase 3 evaluation Phase 3: December 2030 Commercial and Contractual Considerations Based on earlier phases, the Authority currently anticipates: • Use of an NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract, potentially Option A (fixed price with activity schedule), subject to final strategy; • Potential use of Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) to support design development, risk management and programming Delivery in Japan, requiring compliance with Japanese building regulations, planning processes and professional licensing; • Strong interface management with ongoing embassy operations and security stakeholders. The Authority welcomes market feedback on alternative contracting strategies, packaging options, risk allocation and delivery models suitable for Phases 2 and 3.

How to bid

  1. Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
  2. Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
  3. Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.

Timeline

  1. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 047262-2026
  2. Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 053599-2026

About the buyer

Procurements

445

Awards

277

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From notice 047262-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 21 May 2026, last updated 8 June 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.