Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Belfast City Council
9 Adelaide Street
Belfast
BT2 8DJ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKN06 - Belfast
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.belfastcity.gov.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
T2407b - Northern Ireland Enterprise Support Service ‘NIESS’ Framework A (preferred Contractors) Engage and Foundation
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
The Local Authorities in Northern Ireland have developed a new enterprise support service ‘ESS’ which aims to put in place a more ambitious approach to the delivery of start-up and growth support which seeks to revamp the current offer and increase the number, survival and growth rates of new businesses across the region. The service aims to provide a set of connected ESS where individuals, entrepreneurs or businesses can access a continuum of support to meet their needs, aligned with the relevant stage of their business.
Given the varying needs of the individuals, entrepreneurs and businesses that will likely engage with this service across the business lifecycle, the Local Authorities have identified a need to put in place a framework which will:
• Be proactive and flexible to address market needs.
• Incentivise market development activity.
• Provide a core programme of service delivery across the region.
• Provide access to specialists in certain sectors / target groups.
• Be flexible in responding to future variability in demand and funding.
• Provide quality services that meet user needs; and
• Support the Local Authorities strategic ambitions aligned with The Northern Ireland Draft Programme for Government, 10x Economy – Northern Ireland’s Decade of Innovation, Economy 2030, draft Green Growth Strategy for Northern Ireland, Invest NI’s forward business plans, the City/Growth deals, and inclusive growth focus of the individual Council community plans.
The NIESS is comprised of the following three frameworks/ contracts which have been procured separately:
i. NIESS Framework A (preferred Contractors) – Growth and Scaling;
ii. NIESS Framework A (preferred Contractors) – Engage and Foundation; and
iii. NIESS Framework B (Subject Matter Experts and Sector Experts);
This procurement relates to the award of a contract to a Contractor for the regional delivery of the NIESS Framework A (preferred Contractors) covering the Engage and Foundation requirement.
The other 10 Local Authorities (Contract Users) included are:
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
Ards and North Down Borough Council
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
Derry City and Strabane District Council
Fermanagh and Omagh District Council - Enniskillen Office
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council
Mid Ulster District Council - Dungannon
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £12,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKN - Northern Ireland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This relates to the procurement for a contractor to deliver enterprise support services across Northern Ireland – with a focus on activities related to the “Engage” and “Foundation” stages. The core services to be delivered include recruitment of eligible businesses and individuals interested in starting a business, support with the development of start-up business plans and delivery of a package of support to include one-to-one coaching/advice sessions, one to many masterclasses and establishment of peer support networks. All activities are underpinned by robust management and reporting mechanisms to comply with funding requirements.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality criteria - Market Development, Programme Planning, Partnership Development and Resource Management / Weighting: 18
Quality criterion - Name: Quality criteria - Participant Recruitment, Diagnostic Services and Operational Delivery / Weighting: 25
Quality criterion - Name: Quality criteria - Resource Plan / Weighting: 14
Quality criterion - Name: Quality criteria - Performance, Management and Reporting / Weighting: 8
Quality criterion - Name: Cost / Weighting: 20
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 15
Price - Weighting: 20
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The Contract shall be effective from the date of award for an initial period up to 31st March 2025 (approx. 18 months based on contract start date of 1st October 2023).
The Council reserves the right to extend/renew the Contract up to a further 30 months (1 year + 1 year + 6 months). Total Contract Period including all extension options is 4 years (48 months).
Any extension may be subject to further approval by the Council (including other Local Authorities) and funders, availability of funding and satisfactory performance of the Contractor.
Funding has been secured for service activity up to 31 March 2025 initially. Any activity following this date will be subject to securing additional funding.
The appointed Bidder must have the potential to scale up or down to meet demand and availability of future funding.
As such there is no guarantee of any delivery post the 31st March 2025 until funding has been secured.
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
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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2022/S 000-035769
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
T2407b
Title
Northern Ireland Enterprise Support Service ‘NIESS’ Framework A (preferred Contractors) Engage and Foundation
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
18 September 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Enterprise Northern Ireland
Limavady
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKN - Northern Ireland
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £12,000,000
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract is likely to be subcontracted
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Royal Courts of Justice
Belfast
BT1 3JF
Country
United Kingdom