The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) draws upon two civilian deployable capabilities to meet Australia's humanitarian, stabilisation and recovery objectives. DFAT is seeking to better understand the capabilities in the market to manage an integrated, but streamed, pool of civilian experts.

Currently, DFAT supports deployment of Australian civilian expertise through both the Australian Government's Australian Civilian Corps (ACC) and the UN Stand-By Partnership Programme.

DFAT manages the ACC, working with multiple service providers who deliver logistical, training and management support. Australian specialists are deployed as Australian government officials from the register for periods between six and 18+ months primarily to assist our neighbours in the Indo–Pacific region build capability.

Separately, the department provides funding to a UN Stand-By partner, RedR Australia, to deploy Australian experts to UN agencies for surge support during a humanitarian crisis (usually between 3–6 months). The following profiles provide additional information on each deployable mechanism.

DFAT is exploring options to better integrate these streams of deployment capability, whilst preserving the different benefits offered by the two streams. This will deliver greater strategic alignment and visibility of the department's deployable capabilities, as well as management and administrative efficiencies. It is envisaged that a new integrated deployment model could be managed by a single service provider (or consortium). It is proposed that a new model will be introduced mid-2017.

DFAT is seeking submissions (no more than three pages) outlining how your organisation/s would look to support a new integrated capability. Interested parties are encouraged to engage with RedR on consortium models. DFAT will consider submissions to determine future engagement.

Submissions should be sent to acc@dfat.gov.au by cob 6 June 2016.

Profiles of DFAT's current deployable capabilities

Australian Civilian Corps (ACC)

• Supports about 40–50 deployments each year drawn from a core group of 100 specialists (now being recruited) and a broader register of 385 Australian civilian specialists managed by DFAT. ACC deploy as Australian Government officials.
• Deployees can be placed with government ministries, non-government organisations and UN agencies working on a disaster preparedness, recovery and long term development goals.
• DFAT exercises a high degree of control in the oversight and strategic management of specific deployments and carries high levels of duty of care for each deployee.
• The following management functions are outsourced:
  • Register recruitment and selection processes
  • Mobilisation and deployment support for ACC personnel overseas
  • Deployment training
• Administration and HR functions are managed in-house through DFAT's systems. Outsourcing these functions is a high priority.

Stand-By Partnership Programme

• The UN Stand-By Partnership Programme draws on partner organisations across the world to provide short-term staffing (3–6 months) to UN field operations to meet emergency gaps.
• RedR Australia is currently the sole Stand-By Partner in the Asia– Pacific and Southern Hemisphere. As such, it is the only Stand-By Partner DFAT currently funds.
• RedR is a leading provider of humanitarian training in Australia and overseas. RedR Australia recruits, trains and manages its own roster of over 500 experienced humanitarian professionals.
• These humanitarian professionals travel on personal passports, are deployed predominantly to United Nations agencies, and are classified as "experts on mission" under Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations (13 February 1946).
• The Stand-By partner is responsible for the mobilisation,and ultimate management, of the deployees overseas. Along with the host UN agency, the stand-by partner bears the duty of care for the deployees' safety and wellbeing.
• Using this mechanism, in 2014–15, DFAT supported 99 deployments across 34 countries.

This information is provided for planning purposes only and it does not represent solicitation or constitute a request for proposal or any type of commitment. The scale, scope and focus of the proposed investment may change at any time. This potential opportunity is subject to delays, revision or cancellation.