Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Central Bedfordshire Council
Monks Walk, Chicksands
SHEFFORD
SG175TQ
Contact
Alec Edgar
Alec.Edgar@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 3003006182
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH25 - Central Bedfordshire
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.centralbedfordshire.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
UK Shared Prosperity (UKSPF) & Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) Supporting Local Business
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79411100 - Business development consultancy services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) was launched by the government in 2022 and is central to its 'levelling up' agenda, with £2.6 billion of funding set aside nationally for local investment by March 2025. The Government's aim of the fund is to invest in domestic priorities by targeting funding where it is needed most - building pride in place - supporting high-quality skills, training and pay and investing in employment opportunities, innovation and productivity.
Central Bedfordshire Council was allocated funding through both UKSPF and also the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) through an addendum to deliver projects in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
The Council has committed some of this funding to the Supporting Local business theme, which aims to create jobs and boost community cohesion through investment in existing industries and institutions, support for those starting businesses, sharing knowledge and expertise, improvement in retail, hospitality and leisure facilities, networking and collaboration and stimulating innovation and growth
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: £2,063,575
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH25 - Central Bedfordshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Delivery of the following 5 Supporting Local Businesses interventions:
Summary of each intervention Project:
E21: Business Innovation - Engagement and provision of innovation and technological support to Central Bedfordshire Businesses with the intention of improving their performance. Enterprises will receive expert business advice, guidance, training and mentoring to support them with improved productivity, and assistance to adopt new or improved products or services.
E24A: Business Start Up & Entrepreneurship (including support for Social Enterprises) - This intervention is to support Entrepreneurship (those in the process of starting up) & Start Up businesses (including social enterprises). Delivery will be aimed at assisting potential entrepreneurs to be business ready/self-employment and resulting in businesses being set up as a result of support received as well as newly established businesses
E24B: Business Growth - Scale up & Resilience - Supporting established businesses with growth potential through the adoption of new or improved products or services
E28: Export Support with Grants - Delivery of export-readiness activity as a result of UKSPF support, resulting in local businesses engaged in new markets following support.
Export Grants to support Businesses to grow their overseas trading, supporting local employment
Support for businesses in developing their export strategy
E29: Local Business De-carbonisation - Delivery Supporting decarbonisation, net zero initiatives and improving the natural environment whilst growing the local economy through direct advice, guidance, mentoring and training resulting in a new or improved de-carbonisation/net zero plan.
Overall - All Supporting local business Interventions to be underpinned by: Direct business support, advice, guidance, mentoring and training
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
The procurement involves the provision of highly specialised professional services.
The aim is to partner with experienced, specialised local business support intermediaries who understand the local geography, have existing relationships with the local SME community and who are best placed to engage with eligible businesses at pace, deliver high quality support across the 5 interventions (innovation, entrepreneurship, business growth, exporting and decarbonisation) alongside capital grant delivery to enhance the tangible impacts.
There is a significant possibility that any underspend from the current financial year may not be carried forwarded to next year, based on current guidance from Government. This could result in a substantial loss of funding and much needed support for our business community. By enabling partnership with local organisations, we are maximising spend in 2023/24 and reducing the risk of losing funding from Government.
Within Central Bedfordshire, we have existing, highly specialised business support intermediaries who have significant relationships with our business community and understand the local geography and SME ecosystem to enable them to deliver at pace.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract
Title
Business Innovation
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
12 October 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
University of Bedfordshire
Luton
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH21 - Luton
UK Register of Learning Providers (UKPRN number)
10007152
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £461,450.54
Total value of the contract/lot: £461,450.54
Section five. Award of contract
Title
Export support
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
12 October 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
Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce
Luton
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH21 - Luton
Companies House
00153360
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £178,931.04
Total value of the contract/lot: £178,931.04
Section five. Award of contract
Title
Business Entrepreneurship and Start Up
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
12 October 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
WENTA
Enfield
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH23 - Hertfordshire
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £495,159.84
Total value of the contract/lot: £495,159.84
Section five. Award of contract
Title
Business Scale Up & Resilience
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
12 October 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
Cranfield University
Bedford
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH24 - Bedford
UK Register of Learning Providers (UKPRN number)
10007822
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £495,159.84
Total value of the contract/lot: £495,159.84
Section five. Award of contract
Title
Local Business Decarbonisation
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
12 October 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
Cranfield University
Bedford
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH24 - Bedford
UK Register of Learning Providers (UKPRN number)
10007822
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £432,874.08
Total value of the contract/lot: £432,874.08
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Central Bedfordshire Council
Shefford
procurement@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom