DFAT may require a contractor to manage a second phase of the Australia Assists program.

The program deploys technical specialists to work with government, multilateral agencies and communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and conflict. Deployments are into geographic and thematic areas of priority in line with Australia's humanitarian responsibilities and our national interests.

In 2022, one hundred and two (102) specialists deployed to 27 program partners in 31 countries across the Pacific, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

The current 7-year contact ($104 million) will end in June 2024. DFAT anticipates any future contract will be $70 million over five years (2024-2029) with options to extend at DFAT’s discretion for up to a further five years.

DFAT may approach the market through a two-step procurement process in the second half of 2023. A Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) would be Step 1 of a two-step procurement process, followed by a Request for Tender (RFT) to shortlisted organisations from Step 1. The contract would commence by mid-2024.