Planning

Professional Services CSConnected Srength In Places Fund (SIPF)

  • Cardiff University

F01: Prior information notice (reducing time limits for receipt of tenders)

Notice identifier: 2022/S 000-035569

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0391a7

Published 15 December 2022, 5:03pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Cardiff University

Procurement Services, McKenzie House, 30-36 Newport Road

Cardiff

CF24 0DE

Email

oliverj6@cardiff.ac.uk

Telephone

+44 2920879648

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKL - Wales

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/business/why-work-with-us/for-suppliers

Buyer's address

https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0258

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.3) Communication

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/cardiffuniversity/

Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/cardiffuniversity/

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

Education


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Professional Services CSConnected Srength In Places Fund (SIPF)

Reference number

CU.1226.JO

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The CSconnected Strength in Places Fund project (‘CSconnected SIPF’) is seeking a Provider to deliver a range of professional services that will support the South Wales semiconductor community in its next stages of evolution and growth.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £3,200,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
  • 31711000 - Electronic supplies
  • 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKL22 - Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Main site or place of performance

South Wales

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The CSconnected Strength in Places Fund project (‘CSconnected SIPF’) is seeking a Provider to deliver a range of professional services that will support the South Wales semiconductor community in its next stages of evolution and growth.

CSconnected SIPF is a large-scale project part-funded under the UK Research and Innovation’s Strength in Places Fund (SIPF). The project consortium consists of 12 Partners across; Higher Education Institutions, Research Technology Organisations, Industry Partners and Civic Bodies.

Cardiff University (lead partner), Swansea University, Compound Semiconductor Centre, Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult, IQE Plc, Nexperia Newport, SPTS Technologies, Microchip Technologies Caldicot, Rockley Photonics, Microlink Devices UK, Cardiff Capital Region City Deal and Welsh Government.

Key long-term objectives of the CSconnected SIPF investment are to encourage exploitation of compound semiconductor research and development, and innovation in technologies and know-how in South Wales, and to support high-quality, sustainable skills and job creation in South Wales to underpin regional economic growth.

We are seeking to appoint an organisation to independently represent and develop the South Wales compound semiconductor community, professionally promoting the interests and capabilities of organisations within this community to UK and global audiences.

This Services contract is intended to pump-prime an organisation to position itself as a self-sustaining entity to maintain ‘CSconnected’ beyond the end of the SIPF project. The end of this period is anticipated to be 31 May 2025.

Core services required include extensive relationship management (coordinating activities and strategy, offering a “collective voice of the community”), a comprehensive marketing and communication function, alongside events management, and skills development and outreach activities.

These functions should be co-located in Cardiff Capital Region of South Wales, open to Partners and visitors. Services should operate effectively to support the virtual and physical connection of multiple, distributed Partner sites under a coherent ‘cluster’ brand and operational model.

The appointed Provider must have experience of working in the semiconductor sector and be capable of delivering well-informed and credible support to a diverse stakeholder base.

A strong foundation the of services described has been developed through contributions of staff (particularly at IQE plc) and more recently by a small team of staff employed at Cardiff University with SIPF funds. It should therefore be noted that TUPE may apply to this services contract.

This PIN is not a call for competition. By publishing this PIN, Cardiff University may avail itself of the opportunity to reduce the submission period from 30 days (with electronic submission) to 15 days (if the PIN has been published for at least 35 days and no longer than 12 months).

All procurement documents will be available free of charge via the University's e-tendering portal: In-Tend

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/cardiffuniversity/

DOCUMENTS ONCE RELEASED; MUST BE ACCESSED AND SUBMISSIONS MADE VIA THIS PORTAL.

Interested organisations are encouraged to register on the In-Tend system in advance so they are alerted to the release of the documents without delay.

The University is not inviting any formal response to this early opportunity notice. Please await the release of the procurement documentation. However, if you have any feedback on the proposed tender method which you consider imperative to your company's bid/no bid decision please contact the buyer via In-Tend.

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £3,200,000

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No

two.2.14) Additional information

Link to further information relating to CSconnected SIPF; https://csconnected.com/projects/projects/csconnected-sipf/

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

23 January 2023


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.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.5) Scheduled date for start of award procedures

17 February 2023


Section six. Complementary information

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

(WA Ref:127507)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

High Court

Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Telephone

+44 2079477501

Country

United Kingdom