Opportunity

Provision of Business Support Consultants for DRIVE Project

  • Affilius Limited

F02: Contract notice

Notice reference: 2021/S 000-002238

Published 4 February 2021, 11:45am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Affilius Limited

The Rectory Blackburn Road, Rising Bridge

Accrington

BB5 2SB

Contact

Ms Janine Bradley

Email

janine.bradley@blackpool.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 1253478756

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKD4 - Lancashire

National registration number

08516327

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.affiliusgroup.com/

Buyer's address

https://www.affiliusgroup.com/

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://procontract.due-north.com/register

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://procontract.due-north.com/register

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Other type

Private Limited Company

one.5) Main activity

Other activity

Information Technology Consultancy


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Provision of Business Support Consultants for DRIVE Project

Reference number

DN522727

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Reference: DN522727

To secure the drive Project Affilius have joined forces with Selnet Ltd, the Social Enterprise Network for Lancashire. Selnet are nationally recognised as one of the UK’s top 100 Social Enterprises and the lead body representing social enterprise in the Lancashire sub-region. Selnet provide a range of business support services delivered through partners that build capacity, provide resources and opportunities to help increase competitiveness, sustainability and impact of the business supported. Selnet have many years’ experience in contract management and are the lead partner in the delivery of the drive project.

At Affilius we aim to provide an enjoyable service which guides our clients through a digital evolution to increase competitiveness, profitability, employee engagement and client satisfaction. We are a small team that gives clients flexibility and high levels of personal responsibility, expertise supported by a strong network of industry partners.

“drive” is a new, bespoke, stand-alone programme for Lancashire enterprises and entrepreneurs that fills a gap in both business start-up and growth support provision across Lancashire.

As a trusted project partner Affilius have agreed with Selnet to deliver specialist business support through a team of advisers, support activity will focus in Lancashire districts: Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Hyndburn Ribble Valley and Blackburn with Darwen. Affilius have committed private match funding to enable the partnership to access ERDF grant funding and are committed to achieving the project deliverables for the Lancashire economy. Over the lifetime of the project we will reach over 200 Businesses including social enterprise that will benefit from support tailored to their individual business needs.

Through a blend of one-to-one and one-to-many activities, drive will cater to the specific needs of both new enterprises and to established enterprises looking to grow;

• Provision of specialist start-up support to potential entrepreneurs and to new (under 12 months) SMEs and social enterprises, and;

• Provision of development, growth and capacity building support to established entrepreneurs, SMEs and social enterprises.

As part of the drive countywide partnership, the Affilius team will work across East Lancashire supporting project beneficiaries to improve the competitiveness and productivity of SMEs by increasing their capacity and capability and promoting entrepreneurship, with a particular emphasis on Social Enterprise (SE).

Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced business advisers to operate on a consultancy basis as part of the Affilius supply team. To provide business planning support to drive beneficiaries from specified Boroughs within East Lancashire (Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley). In order to encourage positive engagement in all Boroughs we are seeking to appoint up to 3 experienced advisers who have knowledge of the area, links to local business and business networks and connections with Lancashire Business growth hub, Boost Lancashire. The applicant should be aware of all existing business support provision across Lancashire, able to encourage engagement from businesses that will benefit from the package of support the drive project will deliver, and provide targeted support for businesses that are outside the scope of Boost.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKD4 - Lancashire

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced business advisers to operate on a consultancy basis as part of the Affilius supply team. To provide business planning support to drive beneficiaries from specified Boroughs within East Lancashire (Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley). In order to encourage positive engagement in all Boroughs we are seeking to appoint up to 3 experienced advisers who have knowledge of the area, links to local business and business networks and connections with Lancashire Business growth hub, Boost Lancashire. The applicant should be aware of all existing business support provision across Lancashire, able to encourage engagement from businesses that will benefit from the package of support the drive project will deliver, and provide targeted support for businesses that are outside the scope of Boost.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 100

Cost criterion - Name: n/a / Weighting: 0

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Start date

1 April 2021

End date

31 March 2023

This contract is subject to renewal

No

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: Yes

Identification of the project

ERDF


Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information

three.1) Conditions for participation

three.1.3) Technical and professional ability

Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Open procedure

four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system

The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement

Framework agreement with several operators

Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement: 3

In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years:

n/a

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date

8 March 2021

Local time

10:00am

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

8 March 2021

Local time

10:00am

Place

https://procontract.due-north.com/register


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: No

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Royal Court of Justice

London

Country

United Kingdom