Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Norfolk County Council
County Hall, Martineau Lane
Norwich
NR1 1DH
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKH15 - Norwich and East Norfolk
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc/aspx/Home
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc/aspx/Home
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc/aspx/Home
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
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
Consultancy Services - to analyse the digital presence and capacity of SME retailers in market towns
Reference number
NCCT42278
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Norfolk County Council wishes to procure consultancy services to assess the digital skills, selling web presence and social media competency of small and medium sized retailers in Norfolk’s market towns. We would also like to assess the support and capacity for Local Investment Boards and Virtual Marketplaces in our market towns.Please note: Award of a contract is dependent on Norfolk County Council being awarded funding. We are asking that you apply for this contract at your own risk.Full details of the requirement can be found in the Service Specification, which forms a Schedule to the Terms and Conditions.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £155,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH17 - Breckland and South Norfolk
- UKH16 - North and West Norfolk
- UKH15 - Norwich and East Norfolk
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Norfolk County Council wishes to procure consultancy services to assess the digital skills, selling web presence and social media competency of small and medium sized retailers in Norfolk’s market towns. We would also like to assess the support and capacity for Local Investment Boards and Virtual Marketplaces in our market towns.In June 2021, Norfolk County Council applied for funding to the Community Renewal Fund for the programme ‘Sustainable Towns Innovating Norfolk’s Growth’.OutputsThe project consists of four feasibility studies:1. Evaluate the e-commerce presence, digital and social media competency of businesses across Norfolk’s 21 designated Market Towns. Establish local capacity for Local Investment Boards and Virtual Marketplaces as identified in the emerging Norfolk Rural Strategy 2021-24.2. Bring together the learning from successful community approaches to e-commerce, such as the virtual marketplace model from across the UK and propose the characteristics of a bespoke solution for Norfolk’s market towns.3. Evaluate and establish possible sites for green distribution centres/hubs; integrate those sites with EV charging and possibly electric generation; investigate roles of the hubs in the areas of packaging and recycling.4. Work to establish pilot Local Investment Boards in North Walsham and Fakenham.This TenderThis tender is for the first of these outputs, namely the evaluation of the e-commerce presence and digital and social media competency of businesses across Norfolk’s 21 designated Market Towns.Outcome of the ProjectThe outputs from this project will form the basis for future interventions – specifically on improving digital skills, capacity, presence for SME retailers in our market towns – including projects bidding into the Shared Prosperity Fund from 2022.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70
Price - Weighting: 30
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £155,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
6
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 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
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: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
27 August 2021
Local time
11:00am
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
27 August 2021
Local time
11:00am
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.3) Additional information
This procurement will be managed electronically via the Council`s e-procurement system. To participate in this procurement, applicants must first be registered on the system at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc. Full instructions for registration and use of the system can be found at https://in-tendhost.co.uk/norfolkcc/aspx/BuyerProfiles. Once registered you will be able to see the procurement project under the `tenders` section and `express an interest`. If you encounter any difficulties whilst using the system you can contact the In-tend support team by phoning +44 8442728810 or e-mailing support@in-tend.co.uk.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Norfolk County Council
Norwich
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Proceedings must be brought within 30 days from the date of knowledge (the date on which the economic operator first knew or ought to have known that grounds for starting the proceedings had arisen) unless the Court considers that there is good reason for extending the period within which proceedings maybe brought, in which case the Court may extend that period up to a maximum of 3 months from the date of knowledge.