Develop Business Growth Hub Cheshire and Warrington

Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership is seeking a supplier to provide services to establish and develop a Business Growth Hub and work with other entities to ensure that there is a co-ordinated approach to business support within Cheshire and Warrington.

United Kingdom-Northwich: Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

2015/S 099-180201

Contract notice

Services

Directive 2004/18/EC

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1)Name, addresses and contact point(s)

Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership
Richmond House, Gadbrook Business Park, Rudheath
For the attention of: Martin Forbes
CW9 7TN Northwich
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 1606812280
E-mail: martin.forbes@local.gov.uk

Internet address(es):

General address of the contracting authority: http://www.871candwep.co.uk/

Address of the buyer profile: http://www.mytenders.org/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA33429

Electronic access to information: http://www.871candwep.co.uk/

Electronic submission of tenders and requests to participate: http://www.871candwep.co.uk/

Further information can be obtained from: Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership
Richmond House, Gadbrook Business Park, Rudheath
For the attention of: Martin Forbes
CW9 7TN Northwich
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 1606812280
E-mail: martin.forbes@local.gov.uk
Internet address: http://www.871candwep.co.uk/

Specifications and additional documents (including documents for competitive dialogue and a dynamic purchasing system) can be obtained from: Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership
Richmond House, Gadbrook Business Park, Rudheath
For the attention of: Martin Forbes
CW9 7TN Northwich
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 1606812280
E-mail: martin.forbes@local.gov.uk
Internet address: http://www.871candwep.co.uk/

Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to: Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership
Richmond House, Gadbrook Business Park, Rudheath
For the attention of: Martin Forbes
CW9 7TN Northwich
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 1606812280
E-mail: martin.forbes@local.gov.uk
Internet address: http://www.871candwep.co.uk/

I.2)Type of the contracting authority

Regional or local agency/office

I.3)Main activity

General public services

I.4)Contract award on behalf of other contracting authorities

The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities: no

Section II: Object of the contract

II.1)Description

II.1.1)Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority:

Growth Hub Establishment and Development Services.

II.1.2)Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance

Services
Service category No 11: Management consulting services [6] and related services
Main site or location of works, place of delivery or of performance: Cheshire.

NUTS code UK

II.1.3)Information about a public contract, a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system (DPS)

The notice involves a public contract

II.1.4)Information on framework agreement

II.1.5)Short description of the contract or purchase(s)

Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (the ‘LEP’) is seeking a supplier to provide services to establish and develop a Business Growth Hub and work with other entities to ensure that there is a co-ordinated approach to business support within Cheshire and Warrington.
In order to enhance prospects and economic growth within local areas, the Government has been supporting a series of Growth Hubs across the country to make it easier for businesses to start and grow by ensuring business support is simpler, more co-ordinated and easier to access by business. Growth Hubs are locally-led partnerships which cooperate to provide coordinated business, innovation and trade support within a Local Enterprise Partnership area and make it simpler for businesses to access the support they need.
Growth Hubs should bring together all of the local bodies involved in supporting businesses and work with national bodies such as UK Trade and Investment (‘UKTI’), Innovate UK, Growth Accelerator and Manufacturing Advisory Service to ensure that national and local business support works together in the most streamlined and effective way possible, putting the business customer at the centre of the system. Specifically, a Growth Hub must raise awareness of national and local business support, provide a single point of access for businesses and provide a diagnostic and signposting service to make sure that all businesses, regardless of their size or sector, are aware of what is available and can access the right support for them.
The LEP has secured revenue funding from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (‘BIS’) for 2015/2016 only, to establish and support a Business Growth Hub in Cheshire & Warrington. The supplier will, under the governance of the LEP, establish the Growth Hub and ensure that local and national partners involved in business support are brought together ensuring:
— a co-ordinated and complimentary menu of business support and advice;
— business networks and links to specialist information; and
— advice and services for pre-start, new, developing and established businesses (urban and rural) to help them grow and/or respond to changes in their market environment and opportunities.
The supplier will deliver the following objectives and services in performance of the contract (and setting up the Growth Hub):
— creation of a single point of initial contact for businesses seeking advice in the Cheshire and Warrington area;
— creation of a unified business interface for business support providers for the Cheshire and Warrington area;
— ensuring effective sign posting to local and national business support programmes;
— providing in depth advice where needed via a team of locally-based advisors; and
— creating a platform for the future joint commissioning of business support programmes in the Cheshire and Warrington area.
The initial term of the contract is from contract award until 31.3.2016 and has an approximate value of (300 000 GBP), as secured from BIS. The contract may, at the LEP’s discretion, be extended beyond 31.3.2016 by up to three further periods of one year in the event that further funding is secured for the continued development of the Growth Hub. If further funding is secured (from BIS or other public sources, including the European Commission), the contractual value is expected to rise to (2 100 000 GBP). Bidders should note that at the contract award date, only funding from BIS is confirmed. If the LEP receives funding from other public sources and exercises its right to extend the contract, the supplier would be required to comply with the terms and conditions attached to this grant funding, which could amend the service delivery model, outputs, targets, audit and evidentiary requirements and the value of the contract.
In awarding the contract, the LEP will exercise its right under Regulation 56(3) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 to examine tenders before verifying the absence of grounds for exclusion and the fulfilment of the selection criteria.
The LEP has decided not to sub-divide this contract into lots due to the nature of the services being procured and the need to establish, through the establishment and development of the Growth Hub, a sole point of contact for business support in Cheshire and Warrington.

Note: to register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the myTenders Web Site athttp://www.myTenders.org/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=154175

II.1.6)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79000000

II.1.7)Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

II.1.8)Lots

This contract is divided into lots: no

II.1.9)Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: no

II.2)Quantity or scope of the contract

II.2.1)Total quantity or scope:

Estimated value excluding VAT: 2 100 000 GBP

II.2.2)Information about options

Options: no

II.2.3)Information about renewals

This contract is subject to renewal: no

II.3)Duration of the contract or time limit for completion

Duration in months: 48 (from the award of the contract)

Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information

III.1)Conditions relating to the contract

III.1.1)Deposits and guarantees required:

A performance bond and/or parent guarantee may be required. See tender documents for further information.

III.1.2)Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them:

Payments will be as per the tender documents.

III.1.3)Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded:

If the contract is awarded to a consortium, joint venture or alliance, applicants will be required to contract with joint and several liability under English Law or either nominate a lead service provider with whom the contracting authority can contract and to whom all communication will be addressed or to form themselves into a single legal entity before the contract is awarded.

III.1.4)Other particular conditions

The performance of the contract is subject to particular conditions: no

III.2)Conditions for participation

III.2.1)Personal situation of economic operators, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: In accordance with Articles 57-58 of Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulations 57-58 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, and is set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire which is available from part I.1 above.

III.2.2)Economic and financial ability

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: In accordance with Article 58 of the Directive 2014/24/EU and Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and as set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire which is available from the address in Part I.1.

III.2.3)Technical capacity

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met:
In accordance with Article 58 of Directive 2014/24/EU and Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and as set out in the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire which is available from the address in Part I.1.

III.2.4)Information about reserved contracts

III.3)Conditions specific to services contracts

III.3.1)Information about a particular profession

III.3.2)Staff responsible for the execution of the service

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1)Type of procedure

IV.1.1)Type of procedure

Open

IV.1.2)Limitations on the number of operators who will be invited to tender or to participate

IV.1.3)Reduction of the number of operators during the negotiation or dialogue

IV.2)Award criteria

IV.2.1)Award criteria

The most economically advantageous tender in terms of the criteria stated in the specifications, in the invitation to tender or to negotiate or in the descriptive document

IV.2.2)Information about electronic auction

An electronic auction will be used: no

IV.3)Administrative information

IV.3.1)File reference number attributed by the contracting authority:

IV.3.2)Previous publication(s) concerning the same contract

IV.3.3)Conditions for obtaining specifications and additional documents or descriptive document

IV.3.4)Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

26.6.2015 – 17:00

IV.3.5)Date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates

IV.3.6)Language(s) in which tenders or requests to participate may be drawn up

English.

IV.3.7)Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

IV.3.8)Conditions for opening of tenders

Date: 26.6.2015 – 18:00

Place:

Richmond House, Gadbrook Business Centre, Rudheath.

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.1)Information about recurrence

VI.2)Information about European Union funds

The contract is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: yes
Reference to project(s) and/or programme(s): The supplier will be expected to align with other entities which will allow the supplier to deliver activities supported by the European Regional Development Fund (‘ERDF’) which relate to the Growth Hub. The supplier may also be required to prepare and submit bids with the LEP for future ERDF funding during the course of the contract. If the LEP secures funding for the continued operation and development of the Growth Hub, from the European Regional Development Fund or otherwise, it will exercise a contractual right to extend the term of the contract and the maximum value of the contract.
2014 to 2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme
European Regional Development Fund
Priority Axis 3: Enhancing the Competitiveness of Small and Medium Sized Enterprise.

VI.3)Additional information

(MT Ref:154175).

VI.4)Procedures for appeal

VI.4.1)Body responsible for appeal procedures

Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
WC2A 2LL London
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 2079476000

Body responsible for mediation procedures

Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
WC2A 2LL London
UNITED KINGDOM
Telephone: +44 2079476000

VI.4.2)Lodging of appeals

VI.4.3)Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained

VI.5)Date of dispatch of this notice:

18.5.2015