International Development Secretary letter to DFID’s commercial suppliers about the Government’s planning for Brexit
Published 5 September 2019
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Dear all,
Government planning for Brexit
I am writing to update you on the Government’s planning for our departure from the European Union (EU). We would, of course, prefer to leave with a deal and we will work in an energetic and determined way to get a better deal. The UK will leave the EU on 31 October, however, whatever the circumstances.
Stepping up all necessary preparations for Brexit is now the Government’s top priority. For DFID, this means ensuring our supply partners can continue to deliver life-saving support to the world’s most vulnerable people.
You can find extensive guidance on GOV.UK on how to prepare your business for Brexit. This online tool asks you seven simple questions to get guidance relevant to your business or organisation on the steps you need to take to be prepared.
Please make sure your downstream partners are aware of this, and are also taking steps to prepare. All VAT registered companies in the UK will be allocated an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number in the next two weeks in order to trade goods with customers and suppliers in the EU after the UK has left. Letters informing businesses of automatically allocated EORI numbers have been sent. If you have not received a letter you can find out how to register for an EORI number.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal on October 31, DFID and other UK public sector contract opportunities will be published from 1 November on the new UK e-notification service, known as Find a Tender, instead of OJEU Tenders Electronic Daily (TED). Suppliers can continue to access relevant domestic portals, such as Contracts Finder. Any new information for DFID suppliers will be sent via DFID’s new Supply Partner Portal, so please do make sure your registration details are kept up to date.
I have already written to the UK Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) which lead and deliver humanitarian and development projects via the European Commission, and which are at risk of losing funding in a no deal scenario. We have asked these organisations to apply for UK government financial assurance before 31 October. This assurance will provide continuity for ongoing projects delivered by UK organisations if the EU terminates funding. All CSOs that work directly with DFID should be aware of the need to register for assurance, and the details of this offer are set out in a technical notice . While this is less likely to affect commercial suppliers, you may wish to check that the CSOs you work with have taken this step.
My Department and I will continue to support you to prepare successfully for our departure from the European Union on the 31 October, ensuring that we can meet our shared mission to eliminate global poverty.
I look forward to engaging with organisations and groups across the sector, including at the supplier conference on 4 September.
Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP
Secretary of State