Provision of Antiques and Works of Art Valuation Services

Descriptions

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has estate property around the world (including the United Kingdom) and operates in over 280 different locations. The estate comprises Embassies & High Commissions (anything from a stand-alone, freehold building on a secure compound, to a fitted-out leased office in a multi-occupied, high-rise building), visa offices, Residences for Heads of Post and residential buildings for diplomats. Additionally, there are individual "legacy" properties such as churches, cemeteries, etc.  In the course of time certain FCDO properties have accrued items amongst the contents that may be considered to be antiques and works of art (AWA). The FCDO has a financial reporting requirement (IFRS) to ensure such items are well managed, correctly recorded and accurately valued in our annual accounts. The majority of the FCDO's AWA collection is located at overseas posts. Each financial year posts are required to perform an inventory check of all their AWA. The Estates, Security and Network Directorate (ESND) of the FCDO, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, requires valuations of AWA at locations across the FCDO estate which house some of our more valuable collections. The objectives of this procurement are: - Establish a global antiques and works of art valuation programme with an experienced partner which delivers on financial reporting commitments and represents good value for money - Ensure that the overall AWA valuation remains accurate and that any unknown and/or missing antiques are identified and incorporated into accounts. - Inform our approach to prioritising any maintenance requirements. The scope of services includes valuating 16 Overseas' posts' AWA collections. The collections include but is not limited to, such items as Furniture, Carpets, Chandeliers, Silverware, Glassware, China, Tapestries, Sculptures, Decorative arts & Paintings.