Liverpool City Region Brokerage Partners

The purpose of the Growth Hub Liverpool City Region (Growth Hub) is to be the central repository of information, advice and support for pre-start, new and existing businesses within the City Region.

United Kingdom-Liverpool: Custom broker services

2016/S 108-193523

Contract notice

Services

Directive 2004/18/EC

Section I: Contracting authority

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

Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership
12 Princes Parade
For the attention of: Andy Devaney
L3 1BG Liverpool
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1512373522
E-mail: andy.devaney@liverpoollep.org

Internet address(es):

General address of the contracting authority: http://www.liverpoollep.org

Address of the buyer profile: http://www.liverpoollep.org

Electronic access to information: https://www.liverpoollep.org/tenders/

Further information can be obtained from: The above mentioned contact point(s)

Specifications and additional documents (including documents for competitive dialogue and a dynamic purchasing system) can be obtained from:Liverpool City Regional Local Enterprise Partnership
12 Princes Parade
For the attention of: Andy Devaney
L3 1BG Liverpool
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1512373522
E-mail: andy.devaney@liverpoollep.org

Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to: Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership
12 Princes Parade
For the attention of: Lisa Duddridge
L3 1BG Liverpool
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1512373954
E-mail: lisa.duddridge@liverpoollep.org

I.2)Type of the contracting authority

Other: Local Enterprise Partnership

I.3)Main activity

Economic and financial affairs

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:

Local Growth Hub Liverpool City Region Brokerage Partners.

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: Delivery will take place across the Liverpool City Region.

NUTS code UKD5

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)

The Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been awarded funds by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to establish a Growth Hub for the Liverpool City Region, initially this funding will be matched by European Regional Development Funds (ERDF).
The purpose of the Growth Hub Liverpool City Region (Growth Hub) is to be the central repository of information, advice and support for pre-start, new and existing businesses within the City Region. Providing them with a holistic business support service, by diagnosing their needs and signposting to the most appropriate commercial or public funded assistance available to help them grow.
The Growth Hub seeks to do this through engaging Brokerage Partners covering each of the 6 Local Authority (LA) areas of Halton, Knowlsey, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. In addition we are seeking a specialist broker to cover harder to reach groups including Women and BME Groups across the City Region. Therefore there will be a total of 7 lots that suppliers can bid for.
These contracts are for a 20 month period to run from 1.8.2016 to 31.3.2018.
The allocated budget per lot is 80 000 GBP for the 20 month period.
The contract will be awarded to the highest scoring bidder in each Lot.
Growth Hub Brokerage Partners will need to undertake the following actions:
— Mapping of Business Support Services;
— Provision of Business Information;
— Business Pre-Start, Start-up and Growth Diagnostic;
— Business Pre-Start, Start-up and Growth Signposting;
— Provision/Facilitation of Business Networks;
— Promotion of Growth Hub Services;
— Collaboration with local delivery and brokerage partners;
— Maintaining records on common CRM platform;
— Evaluation of business support impact;
— Any other necessarily required ancillary services.
Growth Hub Brokerage Partners will be a primary access point for brokerage to a wide range of business support services in the Local Authority area covered by the Growth Hub, which will include the provision of the following Services:
— Pre-start support;
— Business Start;
— Business Growth;
— Business Planning;
— Business Finance;
— Skills and Training;
— Sales and Marketing;
— Supply Chains/Procurement;
— Innovation, Research and Development;
— Product, Service and Process Development;
— Export and Import;
— Business Premises;
— Business Networks;
— Mentoring;
— Sector Specialists;
— Accessing and taking advantage of the International Festival for Business in 2016;
— Any other necessarily required ancillary services.
The Supplier shall signpost business into the most appropriate support available from a wide range of local, national and commercial providers. It is then for the business to determine, from the information provided, which provider they select to provide services, using appropriate procurement and evaluation.
The Supplier will be required to record all activity onto the Growth Hub CRM system to ensure support for business through the Growth Hub is coherent and that brokerage destinations and effectiveness can be monitored.

The Supplier shall utilise www.localgrowthub.com or any other system as specified by the LEP for the online search and identification of appropriate services for business. This will be maintained by the Growth Hub with current information on services for businesses in a readily searchable format.

If Suppliers directly deliver services to businesses, they must ensure and demonstrate to the LEP’s satisfaction that these services are considered equally alongside those of other providers when performing the Services. Activity and performance will be subject to monitoring and scrutiny by the LEP.
Suppliers will be required to comply with the Growth Hub Handbook, which will be maintained by the LEP. The Handbook will specify standards required of the Supplier, operating protocols, use of diagnostics tools and marketing requirements, including the use of Growth Hub and ESIF branding on the Supplier’s documents, websites and communications and information uploads to Growth Hub website. The Handbook will be revised and updated by the LEP periodically and any such revisions will be applicable to the Contract.
The following outputs, outcomes and service levels are required from each Lot by the LEP by 31.3.2018.
Measure Local Growth Hub Target.
1. No of businesses engaging with Local Growth Hub with core information gathered on the business (phone/email/website) 833.
2. No of businesses receiving initial diagnostic/brokerage 167.
3. No of businesses referred to business growth services (in total and with breakdown by service) 167.
4. No of businesses taking up business growth services (in total and with breakdown by service) 83.
5. No of businesses reporting growth following support provided (in total and with breakdown by service) 67.
6. No of jobs created (in total and with breakdown by service) 33.
7. Satisfaction level with Local Growth Hub and service provided (by Growth Hub business survey) 80 %.
8. Additionality level (by Growth Hub business survey) 50 %.

II.1.6)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79223000

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

The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): yes

II.1.8)Lots

This contract is divided into lots: yes
Tenders may be submitted for one or more lots

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:

Funding is via BIS Growth Hub and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and will fund Growth Hub Brokerage Partners for a total of 20 months.
The LEP reserves the right to allocate more than one supplier to cover each LA area and to terminate contracts early due to unsatisfactory performance.
The potential value of each Lot is 80 000 GBP for 20 months.
Services contracted for delivery of an effective brokerage service are expected to include, but are not limited to the following:
— Mapping of Business Support Services;
— Provision of Business Information;
— Business Pre-Start, Start-up and Growth Diagnostic;
— Business Pre-Start, Start-up and Growth Signposting;
— Provision/Facilitation of Business Networks;
— Promotion of Growth Hub Services;
— Collaboration with local delivery and brokerage partners;
— Maintaining records on common CRM platform;
— Evaluation of business support impact;
— Any other necessary ancillary service.
Estimated value excluding VAT:
Range: between 1 and 560 000 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

Starting 1.8.2016. Completion 31.3.2018

Information about lots

Lot No: 1 Lot title: Halton

1)Short description

Brokerage services for all aspects of Business Support In Halton Local Authority area.

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79223000

3)Quantity or scope

4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion

Starting 1.8.2016. Completion 31.3.2018

5)Additional information about lots

Lot No: 2 Lot title: Knowsley

1)Short description

Brokerage services for all aspects of Business Support in Knowsley Local Authority area.

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79223000

3)Quantity or scope

The Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been awarded funds by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to establish a Growth Hub for the Liverpool City Region, initially this funding will be matched by European Regional Development Funds (ERDF).
The purpose of the Growth Hub Liverpool City Region (Growth Hub) is to be the central repository of information, advice and support for pre-start, new and existing businesses within the City Region. Providing them with a holistic business support service, by diagnosing their needs and signposting to the most appropriate commercial or public funded assistance available to help them grow.
The Growth Hub seeks to do this through engaging Brokerage Partners covering each of the 6 Local Authority (LA) areas of Halton, Knowlsey, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. In addition we are seeking a specialist broker to cover harder to reach groups including Women and BME Groups across the City Region. Therefore there will be a total of 7 lots that suppliers can bid for.
These contracts are for a 20 month period to run from 1.8.2016 to 31.3.2018.
The allocated budget per lot is £80,000 for the 20 month period.
The contract will be awarded to the highest scoring bidder in each Lot.
Growth Hub Brokerage Partners will need to undertake the following actions:
— Mapping of Business Support Services;
— Provision of Business Information;
— Business Pre-Start, Start-up and Growth Diagnostic;
— Business Pre-Start, Start-up and Growth Signposting;
— Provision/Facilitation of Business Networks;
— Promotion of Growth Hub Services;
— Collaboration with local delivery and brokerage partners;
— Maintaining records on common CRM platform;
— Evaluation of business support impact;
— Any other necessarily required ancillary services.
Growth Hub Brokerage Partners will be a primary access point for brokerage to a wide range of business support services in the Local Authority area covered by the Growth Hub, which will include the provision of the following Services:
— Pre-start support;
— Business Start;
— Business Growth;
— Business Planning;
— Business Finance;
— Skills and Training;
— Sales and Marketing;
— Supply Chains/Procurement;
— Innovation, Research and Development;
— Product, Service and Process Development;
— Export and Import;
— Business Premises;
— Business Networks;
— Mentoring;
— Sector Specialists;
— Accessing and taking advantage of the International Festival for Business in 2016;
— Any other necessarily required ancillary services.
The Supplier shall signpost business into the most appropriate support available from a wide range of local, national and commercial providers. It is then for the business to determine, from the information provided, which provider they select to provide services, using appropriate procurement and evaluation.
The Supplier will be required to record all activity onto the Growth Hub CRM system to ensure support for business through the Growth Hub is coherent and that brokerage destinations and effectiveness can be monitored.

4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion

Starting 1.8.2016. Completion 31.3.2018

5)Additional information about lots

Lot No: 3 Lot title: Liverpool

1)Short description

Brokerage services for all aspects of Business Support in the Liverpool Local Authority area.

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79223000

3)Quantity or scope

4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion

Starting 1.8.2016. Completion 31.3.2018

5)Additional information about lots

Lot No: 4 Lot title: Sefton

1)Short description

Brokerage services for all aspects of Business Support in the Sefton Local Authority area.

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79223000

3)Quantity or scope

4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion

Starting 1.8.2016. Completion 31.3.2018

5)Additional information about lots

Lot No: 5 Lot title: St Helens

1)Short description

Brokerage services for all aspects of Business Support in the St Helens Local Authority area.

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79223000

3)Quantity or scope

4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion

Starting 1.8.2016. Completion 31.3.2018

5)Additional information about lots

Lot No: 6 Lot title: Wirral

1)Short description

Brokerage services for all aspects of Business Support in the Wirral Local Authority area.

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79223000

3)Quantity or scope

TThe Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been awarded funds by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to establish a Growth Hub for the Liverpool City Region, initially this funding will be matched by European Regional Development Funds (ERDF).
The purpose of the Growth Hub Liverpool City Region (Growth Hub) is to be the central repository of information, advice and support for pre-start, new and existing businesses within the City Region. Providing them with a holistic business support service, by diagnosing their needs and signposting to the most appropriate commercial or public funded assistance available to help them grow.
The Growth Hub seeks to do this through engaging Brokerage Partners covering each of the 6 Local Authority (LA) areas of Halton, Knowlsey, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. In addition we are seeking a specialist broker to cover harder to reach groups including Women and BME Groups across the City Region. Therefore there will be a total of 7 lots that suppliers can bid for.
These contracts are for a 20 month period to run from 1.8.2016 to 31.3.2018.
The allocated budget per lot is £80,000 for the 20 month period.
The contract will be awarded to the highest scoring bidder in each Lot.
Growth Hub Brokerage Partners will need to undertake the following actions:
— Mapping of Business Support Services;
— Provision of Business Information;
— Business Pre-Start, Start-up and Growth Diagnostic;
— Business Pre-Start, Start-up and Growth Signposting;
— Provision/Facilitation of Business Networks;
— Promotion of Growth Hub Services;
— Collaboration with local delivery and brokerage partners;
— Maintaining records on common CRM platform;
— Evaluation of business support impact;
— Any other necessarily required ancillary services.
Growth Hub Brokerage Partners will be a primary access point for brokerage to a wide range of business support services in the Local Authority area covered by the Growth Hub, which will include the provision of the following Services:
— Pre-start support;
— Business Start;
— Business Growth;
— Business Planning;
— Business Finance;
— Skills and Training;
— Sales and Marketing;
— Supply Chains/Procurement;
— Innovation, Research and Development;
— Product, Service and Process Development;
— Export and Import;
— Business Premises;
— Business Networks;
— Mentoring;
— Sector Specialists;
— Accessing and taking advantage of the International Festival for Business in 2016;
— Any other necessarily required ancillary services.
The Supplier shall signpost business into the most appropriate support available from a wide range of local, national and commercial providers. It is then for the business to determine, from the information provided, which provider they select to provide services, using appropriate procurement and evaluation.
The Supplier will be required to record all activity onto the Growth Hub CRM system to ensure support for business through the Growth Hub is coherent and that brokerage destinations and effectiveness can be monitored.

4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion

Starting 1.8.2016. Completion 31.3.2018

5)Additional information about lots

Lot No: 7 Lot title: City Region wide Brokerage for Hard to Reach Groups

1)Short description

Brokerage services for all aspects of Business Support for Hard to Reach Groups in the City Region.

2)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

79223000

3)Quantity or scope

If Suppliers directly deliver services to businesses, they must ensure and demonstrate to the LEP’s satisfaction that these services are considered equally alongside those of other providers when performing the Services. Activity and performance will be subject to monitoring and scrutiny by the LEP.
Suppliers will be required to comply with the Growth Hub Handbook, which will be maintained by the LEP. The Handbook will specify standards required of the Supplier, operating protocols, use of diagnostics tools and marketing requirements, including the use of Growth Hub and ESIF branding on the Supplier’s documents, websites and communications and information uploads to Growth Hub website. The Handbook will be revised and updated by the LEP periodically and any such revisions will be applicable to the Contract.
The following outputs, outcomes and service levels are required from each Lot by the LEP by 31.3.2018.
Measure Local Growth Hub Target
1. No of businesses engaging with Local Growth Hub with core information gathered on the business (phone/email/website) 833.
2. No of businesses receiving initial diagnostic/brokerage 167.
3. No of businesses referred to business growth services (in total and with breakdown by service) 167.
4. No of businesses taking up business growth services (in total and with breakdown by service) 83.
5. No of businesses reporting growth following support provided (in total and with breakdown by service) 67.
6. No of jobs created (in total and with breakdown by service) 33.
7. Satisfaction level with Local Growth Hub and service provided (by Growth Hub business survey) 80 %.
8. Additionality level (by Growth Hub business survey) 50 %.
Estimated value excluding VAT:
Range: between 1 and 80 000 GBP

4)Indication about different date for duration of contract or starting/completion

Starting 1.8.2016. Completion 31.3.2018

5)Additional information about lots

Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information

III.1)Conditions relating to the contract

III.1.1)Deposits and guarantees required:

Not required.

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

Suppliers will be subject to LEP payment terms.

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

N/A.

III.1.4)Other particular conditions

The performance of the contract is subject to particular conditions: yes
Description of particular conditions: Each Supplier will be asigned specific targets and contracts will be evaluated on an annual basis. The LEP reserves the right to terminate contracts in the event of under performance.
Adherence to Local Growth Hub Liverpool City Region Handbook and protocols and ERDF regulations. The LEP reserves the right to terminate contracts in the event of non compliance.

III.2)Conditions for participation

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

III.2.2)Economic and financial ability

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: Suppliers will be required to self-certify whether they already have, or can commit to provide the following:
— Up to date financial information in the form of full audited (or unaudited) financial accounts. Where these are not available it is possible to provide details of most recent year trading or a current statement on financial position backed by a bank letter or alternative means including management accounts. This financial information should support the measures indentified below;
— Relevant latest auditor’s report identifies that the organisation is a going concern;
— Statement that the organisation is not subject of administration or liquation arrangements;
— Statement that any outstanding CCJs can be met by existing cash reserves.

III.2.3)Technical capacity

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met:
Suppliers are expected to demonstrate their methodology for engaging businesses in the process and how they will move them through the brokerage process.
Suppliers will need to indicate what systems will be in place to ensure businesses move from engagement on to diagnostic/brokerage.
Suppliers will need to demonstrate that they will be able to offer all the services set out in this contract notice.

III.2.4)Information about reserved contracts

III.3)Conditions specific to services contracts

III.3.1)Information about a particular profession

Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession: no

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

Legal persons should indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff responsible for the execution of the service: no

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 below

1. Explain the process for engaging businesses and moving them through the brokerage process. Weighting 20

2. How will you ensure you engage with the necessary amount of businesses in the relevant Local Authority area. Weighting 20

3. What systems will be in place to ensure businesses move from engagement on to diagnostic/brokerage. Weighting 20

4. How will you ensure that you are able to offer all of the services listed in section 2 of the document. Weighting 20

5. Price. Weighting 20

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:

LGHCB

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

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

Payable documents: no

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

8.7.2016 – 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: 11.7.2016 – 9:00

Place:

12 Princes Parade.

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.1)Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: no

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): Liverpool City Region Integrated Business Support Programme.
Project Number: 22R15P00042.

VI.3)Additional information

VI.4)Procedures for appeal

VI.4.1)Body responsible for appeal procedures

Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership
12 Princes Parade
L3 1BG Liverpool
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1512372727
Internet address: www.liverpoolep.org

VI.4.2)Lodging of appeals

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

Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership
12 Princes Parade
L3 1BG Liverpool
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 1512372727
Internet address: www.liverpoollep.org

VI.5)Date of dispatch of this notice:

3.6.2016

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