Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Access - The Foundation for Social Investment
8-10 New Fetter Lane
London
EC4A1AZ
Contact
Seb Elsworth
Telephone
+44 2070846830
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI31 - Camden and City of London
Charity Commission (England and Wales)
1159699
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://access-socialinvestment.org.uk/us/vacancies/
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://access-socialinvestment.org.uk/us/vacancies/
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Economic and financial affairs
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Blended Finance Evaluation Partner
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73210000 - Research consultancy services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Access - The Foundation for Social Investment (Access) are looking for an evaluation partner for our blended finance programmes. We welcome a range of proposed methodologies and approaches to this role, as long as they are participatory and inclusive. We are looking for an evaluation partner who ideally has an in-depth knowledge of social investment and the charity and social enterprise sector. They will work closely with us, gaining an in-depth understanding of programmes and ways of working.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £300,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
We are seeking an evaluation partner to work across our blended finance programmes to help us to assess the achievements and outcomes (both positive and unintended) of both the individual programmes, and our overall approach to blended finance. We would also hope that this partner would help us to fill some of the current gaps in the research around blended finance in the UK social investment and charitable sectors. We would also like the this partner to help us contextualise our work in terms of the wider economy, to help us understand our successes and challenges within a broader context.
Blended finance is at the core of what we do at Access and we think it is an essential tool for driving capital into the communities which need it most, and in creating a more diverse and equitable social investment sector in the UK. In order to do this we need a partner who can help us build on the evidence we and the wider sector already have about what does and doesn't work.
We are open to a variety of different evaluation approaches, and would expect those tendering to outline their proposed approach and methodology and why they believe it is appropriate. We'd also like to emphasise that we are looking for a partner that will work alongside us and really get to know how our programmes, and how Access as an organisation works, rather than simply delivering an evaluation at a distance. We imagine this may involve sitting in on internal meetings (such as our Blended Finance Investment Committee, Blended Finance Management Group etc), regular meetings with different staff members, and taking the time to truly understand our purpose and the role of blended finance within it.
Whatever evaluation approach is selected we would like it to include:
• Participatory Approaches
• The creation of a partner-led research fund
• A balance of programme insights and overall blended finance lessons
• Learning-led
• A consideration of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Budget and Timescales
We would expect to contract the evaluation partner on a rolling basis, with review points, and the possibility of it being extended based on performance. The initial evaluation contract is anticipated to run for four years to the end of December 2027 and the annual budget is £90,000 maximum including VAT, so £360,000 for the full duration of the initial evaluation. Please read all sections of this document for information on how to apply.
The specific nature of analysis and reporting will be agreed with the appointed evaluation partner and we welcome a broad range of approaches to answering the questions and delivering on the evaluation purpose.
We would expect all bids to include an outline of how their approach will appropriately deal with the nature of our blended finance programmes, particularly how to balance programme level insights with cross programme ones, and how their team will offer the right levels of expertise to deliver the evaluation.
Evaluation Management
The evaluation will be managed by Access, although we plan for our social investment partners to play a key role in evaluation design and delivery.
The primary audiences for the evaluation are:
• Internally for Access decision making
• Our Social Investment Intermediary partners
• The social enterprises and charities funded using blended finance
• Government, specifically the Department of Culture, Media and Sport
• Mainstream and impact investors who may participate in blended finance structures
• Foundations and other potential providers of concessional capital
• Other stakeholders currently working on, or interested in delivering blended finance programmes (other social investment wholesalers, charitable foundations, social investment funds)
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £300,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
48
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Access reserves the right to renew the contract beyond the stated term end, in the event that our blended finance work is continuing
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: Yes
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
26 March 2024
Local time
11:59pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
27 March 2024
Local time
9:00am
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Access - The Foundation for Social Investment
London
Country
United Kingdom