Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Kent County Council
Invicta House
Maidstone
ME14 1XX
Contact
Ms Milly Massy
Telephone
+44 3000422036
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
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://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=b3d0d696-0e83-eb11-810c-005056b64545
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/Advert/Index?advertId=b3d0d696-0e83-eb11-810c-005056b64545
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
SC20081 – Kent and Medway Growth Hub
Reference number
DN531775
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79900000 - Miscellaneous business and business-related services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Growth Hubs are locally based, Government-backed services linked to the national business support helpline. They enable businesses to access local and national business support. Government funding for Growth Hubs is made available via the 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). The South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) covers Kent and Medway, Essex, Southend, Thurrock and East Sussex. It is the largest LEP in England. The SELEP (via Essex County Council as its accountable body) receives funding from Government for a Growth Hub. The SELEP operates a federal model, with local partnerships for each economic area within the LEP. For Kent and Medway, this is the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership (KMEP). The Growth Hub for the SELEP area reflects this federal model, with separately procured and managed services in Kent and Medway, Essex and East Sussex.
The Council wishes to procure a local Growth Hub service across the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership. The Growth Hub aims to simplify and coordinate access to business support in local areas, connecting businesses with the best support available from the private and public sectors. It will target support on those businesses with the opportunity, ambition, and greatest potential to grow.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Background
Growth Hubs are locally based, Government-backed services linked to the national business support helpline. They enable businesses to access local and national business support. Government funding for Growth Hubs is made available via the 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). The South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) covers Kent and Medway, Essex, Southend, Thurrock and East Sussex. It is the largest LEP in England. The SELEP (via Essex County Council as its accountable body) receives funding from Government for a Growth Hub. The SELEP operates a federal model, with local partnerships for each economic area within the LEP. For Kent and Medway, this is the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership (KMEP). The Growth Hub for the SELEP area reflects this federal model, with separately procured and managed services in Kent and Medway, Essex and East Sussex.
The current Kent and Medway Growth Hub service can be accessed at www.askphil.biz
Procurement Description
The Council wishes to procure a local Growth Hub service across the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership. The Growth Hub aims to simplify and coordinate access to business support in local areas, connecting businesses with the best support available from the private and public sectors. It will target support on those businesses with the opportunity, ambition, and greatest potential to grow.
The contract term will be from 1st July 2021 to 31st March 2024 (33 months). Contract value is circa £224K per annum (subject to funding allocation), for the “core” service, to engage over 4150 businesses and support 1380 per annum. With a further £300k for “enhanced” business support services of 36 hours intensive support to an additional 50 businesses over a 12-month period.
Key activities include:
Core:
• Marketing and Engagement of the service to businesses
• Provision of single point of contact for business support services
• Assessment of business need and signposting to relevant support.
• Direct one to one business support for ambitious and high growth companies
• Development of strategic partnerships and robust referral networks
• Data collection, verification, and reporting
Enhanced:
• Delivery of 36 hours of intensive support over a 12-month period to support SMEs emerging from the pandemic. Activities are not prescriptive but required metrics around economic impact will need to be met.
Any organisation who wishes to tender for this opportunity is required to express an interest via the Kent Business Portal (www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk), on expression of interest a copy of the Selection Questionnaire will be made available for submission no later than noon 12th April 2021.
In the event that additional funding for this service is granted to the Council to continue to deliver the Growth Hub Services consisting of the repetition of similar services entrusted to the Supplier under this Contract after 31 March 2023, the Council reserves the right to procure the new services via the negotiated procedure without prior publication in accordance with Regulation 32(9) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, the conditions for which will be as per the conditions of the grant funding
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
33
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
12 April 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: Yes
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Kent County Council
Maidstone
Country
United Kingdom