Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Kent County Council
Sessions House
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
Contact
Miss Laura Garay
Telephone
+44 3000416282
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKJ4 - Kent
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
SC20066 - Inward Investment
Reference number
DN525434
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Kent County Council is seeking a supplier that can be the inward investment agency for Kent and Medway. The successful supplier must demonstrate an excellent understanding of the key issue’s companies face when looking to relocate, an understanding of the industrial and commercial property market in Kent and Medway, how to identify and develop leads, how to support companies during the relocation process, and how to support companies following their relocation. The successful supplier should be able to demonstrate competence in the delivery of inward investment services. The core of the contract will be to provide support to SMEs, in accordance with the requirements of the ESIF Programme, but the successful candidate will also be required to support non-SMEs. This part of the contract will not be funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £1,500,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ4 - Kent
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Kent’s Interim Strategic Plan, “Setting the Course”, places a strong emphasis on the importance of attracting investment, and we encourage locally based agencies to work closely with government agencies to bring new investment into the area. We are looking to consolidate and increase our promotion of Kent and Medway as a UK inward investment gateway, alongside secured commitment from Government and the Department for International Trade (DIT) to match local support for inward investment where it is focused around sectors in which Kent and Medway have particular strengths.
Kent County Council is seeking a supplier that can be the inward investment agency for Kent and Medway. The successful supplier must demonstrate an excellent understanding of the key issue’s companies face when looking to relocate, an understanding of the industrial and commercial property market in Kent and Medway, how to identify and develop leads, how to support companies during the relocation process, and how to support companies following their relocation. The successful supplier should be able to demonstrate competence in the delivery of inward investment services. The core of the contract will be to provide support to SMEs, in accordance with the requirements of the ESIF Programme, but the successful candidate will also be required to support non-SMEs. This part of the contract will not be funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The successful supplier will be expected to deliver, alongside Kent County Council and Medway Council, specific outcomes that contribute to economic development in Kent and Medway and will work closely with stakeholders in the county and internationally, including DIT and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership. Prospective bidders are required to specify how they will perform this role, and to demonstrate competence in such delivery.
The successful supplier will develop innovative and creative solutions to secure inward investment in Kent and Medway. The key features of the service are; Securing external investment into Kent and Medway that creates new jobs; Promoting Kent and Medway to overseas markets; Maintaining close contact with investing businesses through an after-care programme.
Prospective bidders are required to specify how they will deliver these.
The successful supplier will also demonstrate how it will deliver and contribute to the following economic outcomes for Kent and Medway: More investment opportunities from overseas markets; Increased supply chain benefits for local businesses; More inward investment in Kent and Medway; Raised profile as a destination for inward and foreign direct investment.
All Expressions of Interest must be registered via the Kent Business Portal and all interested candidates must submit a Selection Questionnaire via the Kent Business Portal by midday on the 10th March 2021.The Selection Questionnaire consists of a range of pass/fail questions, only Candidates who meet the minimum criteria will proceed to receive the Tender process.
This notice is placed in consideration of The Public Contract Regulations, Regulation 32 (9) to (12), subject to additional funding being made available during the lifetime of the initial contract.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
21
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: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Competitive procedure with negotiation
four.1.5) Information about negotiation
The contracting authority reserves the right to award the contract on the basis of the initial tenders without conducting negotiations
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
10 March 2021
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
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
Kent County Council
Maidstone
Country
United Kingdom