Contract

Cash First Learning and Evaluation

  • Scottish Government

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-035922

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03f917

Published 6 December 2023, 12:27pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Scottish Government

Victoria Quay, Leith

Edinburgh

EH6 6QQ

Contact

Marc Jones

Email

marc.jones@gov.scot

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKM - Scotland

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.scotland.gov.uk

Buyer's address

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10482

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Cash First Learning and Evaluation

Reference number

Case/664541

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 73110000 - Research services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Scottish Government wants to work with local partners towards our shared ambition of ending the need for food banks in Scotland, as set out in our recently published Cash-First Plan.

Our two-year Cash-First Programme (‘the Programme’) will provide funding and practical assistance for up to eight local Partnerships to collaborate and deliver activities that improve urgent access to cash in a crisis, generating evidence that can be shared to inform future policy and practice.

The Scottish Government intends to utilise a lotted approach. Splitting this requirement into two lots, whilst limiting suppliers to only tender for one lot to ensure the integrity of the lots, specifically lot two relating to the Independent Evaluation.

The Scottish Government is seeking to procure the services of a Learning Partner for this Programme. The Learning Partner will provide each Partnership with advice to inform and refine their approach and will facilitate peer-learning across the Partnership cohort. The overall aim of the role is to establish an enabling environment for cash-first activities and to provide the Scottish Government with timely, robust information on the Programme.

The Scottish Government is seeking to procure the services of an organisation to undertake an independent evaluation of this Programme. The Evaluator will assess the implementation of cash-first activities by Partnerships, the role of the Learning Partner, and the impact of the Programme as a whole.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: Yes

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £99,200

two.2) Description

two.2.1) Title

Cash First Learning and Evaluation - Lot 1 - Learning Partner

Lot No

1

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 73110000 - Research services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKM - Scotland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Scottish Government wants to work with local partners towards our shared ambition of ending the need for food banks in Scotland, as set out in our recently published Cash-First Plan.

Our two-year Cash-First Programme (‘the Programme’) will provide funding and practical assistance for up to eight local Partnerships to collaborate and deliver activities that improve urgent access to cash in a crisis, generating evidence that can be shared to inform future policy and practice.

The Scottish Government is seeking to procure the services of a Learning Partner for this Programme. The Learning Partner will provide each Partnership with advice to inform and refine their approach and will facilitate peer-learning across the Partnership cohort. The overall aim of the role is to establish an enabling environment for cash-first activities and to provide the Scottish Government with timely, robust information on the Programme.

This specification sets out what is required, provides background information on the Programme and further outlines the rationale for the procurement. The specification makes suggestions on method, but bidders are encouraged to propose alternative methods for carrying out this work within the available budget and timescale.

The Scottish Government is also seeking to appoint an organisation to undertake an independent evaluation of the Programme. The evaluation services required are set out in the ‘Schedule 1B - Lot 2 - Specification’ document. Tenderers should submit bids for lot 1 or lot 2 only, to maintain the independence of the evaluation.

It should be noted that successful bidders across the two contracts will be expected to share some data and resources in order to effectively fulfil the Programme objectives. Specifically, the Learning Partner will be expected to contribute to the development of the evaluation framework, develop a joint Data Sharing Agreement and regularly provide evidence on the activities delivered to the evaluation team, and to engage in research conducted by the Evaluator.

The specific remit of the Learning Partner is to provide advice and facilitate learning that helps to maximise the effectiveness of cash-first interventions. The activities and approach to this work are detailed below:

Role: to drive improvement by (1) providing tailored advice to each Partnership

(2) delivering a series of peer-learning events between the Partnership cohort, and (3) gathering evidence for the Programme evaluation.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70

Price - Weighting: 30

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 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: 2023/S 000-025839


Section five. Award of contract

Lot No

1

Title

Cash First Learning and Evaluation - Lot 1 - Learning Partner

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

7 November 2023

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 1

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

Nourish Scotland

54 Manor Place

Edinburgh

eh37eh

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKM - Scotland
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: £100,000

Total value of the contract/lot: £99,200


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

(SC Ref:752496)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court

27 Chambers Street

Edinburgh

EH1 1LB

Country

United Kingdom