Tender

Professional Services CSConnected Srength In Places Fund (SIPF)

  • Cardiff University

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-036215

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

Published 8 December 2023, 1:21pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Cardiff University

Procurement Services, McKenzie House, 30-36 Newport Road

Cardiff

CF24 0DE

Email

procurement@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

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

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

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/aspx/Home

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. Initial Funding is until 30 April 2025 and is circa GBP1.8m. Estimated value includes all contract options.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £5,700,000

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.

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 30 April 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.

Estimated Value is based upon all options to extend, current funding is for initial duration and is circa GBP1.8m.

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.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 80

Price - Weighting: 20

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £5,700,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Start date

1 May 2024

End date

30 April 2025

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Possibly Extension to 30 April 2027, see ITT Documentation for further information.

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

two.2.14) Additional information

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


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.1.1) 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 000-035569

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date

17 January 2024

Local time

12:00pm

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English, Welsh

four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

17 January 2024

Local time

12:00pm

Place

E-Tendering portal


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

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=137146.

Under the terms of this contract the successful supplier(s) will be required to deliver Community Benefits in support of the authority’s economic and social objectives. Accordingly, contract performance conditions may relate in particular to social and environmental considerations. The Community Benefits included in this contract are:

Social Value & Community Benefits

Theme 2: Tackling economic inequality

(WA Ref:137146)

The buyer considers that this contract is suitable for consortia.

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