Official UK procurement notice
Business Support and Expert Help Services 2023 – 2025
Authority: North Lanarkshire Council (Local council)·Consortium: 2 public authorities
What is being bought9 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionNorth Lanarkshire Council and South Lanarkshire Council have secured funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to provide Business Support and Expert Help Services that supplement existing services through Business Gateway Lanarkshire.
Services required include business support and expert help to businesses within Lanarkshire covering themes such as:
-Financial Management;
-Human Resources Leadership and Skills;
-Procurement;
-Marketing;
-Information and Digital Technology;
-Legal Support;
-Energy Efficiencies and Net Zero;
-Business Development; and
-New Market Opportunities and Internationalisation
This opportunity is being presented as a multi-lot framework agreement.
The main purpose of the framework agreement is to support Lanarkshire businesses to grow; thus providing employment opportunities, growth in key sectors and inclusive growth. This will be achieved by providing support to businesses on specific topics which will help their understanding, skills and capabilities; highlight potential areas for improvement; signposting service users to further support that helps and agree an action plan with some identified next steps to implement to help the business meet their objectives.
The Framework Agreement of expert help consultancy support shall allow SMEs to receive between one (1) day (7 hours) and five (5) days (35 hours) of fully funded consultancy support. The main aim of the expert help is to ensure that suitably qualified consultants provide businesses with bespoke advice and support, focusing on sustainability and growth areas such as:
-reviewing existing processes, strategies, policies or plans;
-supporting businesses to improve these accordingly or to introduce new -processes, strategies, policies or plans as required;
-Introduce new products or services; and
-Reach new markets
Full details of the framework agreement structure and the services required can be found within the ITT Document located in the PCS-Tender system.
- Recurrence: The framework agreement will be awarded for a total of circa 21 months. Following expiry of the framework agreement, the Council may elect to re-tender requirements.
CPV: Advertising and marketing services · Advertising consultancy services · Advertising management services · Advertising services · Business and management consultancy and related services · Business and management consultancy services · Business development consultancy services · Business organisation services · Computer support and consultancy services · Computer-related services · Consulting services for water-supply and waste consultancy · Copyright consultancy services · +26 more
How this framework works
From the published notice- Places
- up to 36 suppliers · 14 bids on the busiest of 8 lots (0.4 per place) · 24 appointed
Lots and requirements (9)Procurement structure
9 lots · no lot values published · a supplier may bid for at most 2 and win at most 2 of them · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Financial ManagementAwardedRenewal
The Business Financial Management Lot will provide support across a range of areas focussed on the efficient and effective management of business funds. Support will help to equip businesses with the financial skills and knowledge to meet their objectives.
Examples of some topics that are offered under Business Financial Management are:
-Support on how to plan, organise direct and control financial activities;
-Helping businesses to prepare and source funding;
-Support and Advice on how to improve the financial health of a business including debt Management and mitigating rising costs;
-Company Valuation; and
-Taxation including R&D Tax Credits
Lot #2Business DevelopmentAwardedRenewal
The Business Development and Strategy Lot will provide support to help Service Users assess their business, identify areas of improvement, and support the formulation of a plan to help the business reach their strategic goals and objectives. It will of offer support to help the development of new processes, products and/or services to affect positive change, increase sales, enter new markets and/or improve productivity.
Examples of some topics that are offered under Business Development and Strategy are:
-Strategic review and forward planning;
-Change management support;
-Support to develop new and/or improved processes, services and/or products and integrate these into the business;
-Support to increase productivity; and
-Business viability and resilience planning
Lot #3Human Resources, Leadership and SkillsAwardedRenewal
The Human Resources, Leadership and Skills Lot will provide a range of support on human resource matters, leadership, and management. It will help to provide advice on existing human resource policies and requirements, support leadership development processes and equip businesses with the tools to promote a positive and productive working environment.
Examples of some topics that are offered under Human Resources, Leadership and Skills are:
-Support and advice on employment policies and benefits, fair work practices and other HR related queries;
-Support and advice for staff recruitment;
-Leadership, management and organisational development support;
-Training analysis and training procedures; and
-Workplace Innovation including but not limited to culture, communications, productivity and fair work practices.
Lot #4ProcurementAwardedRenewal
The Procurement Lot will provide a range of support to help businesses navigate the procurement process.
Examples of some topics that are offered under Procurement are:
-Bid / Tender support;
-Procurement regulations and legal advice;
-Contract supplier management support;
-Market analysis and understanding; and
-Staff training on procurement (multiple attendees)
Lot #5MarketingAwardedRenewal
The Marketing Lot will provide support to help businesses to undertake market research and formulate a plan to support the business in promoting and selling their products and/or services with a view to increasing sales.
Examples of some topics that are covered under Marketing are:
-Market analysis and identification of key customers;
-Support to develop a sales and marketing strategy;
-Support with digital marketing including advice on how to market and retail online. This may cover topics such as social media platforms, website content and design, data analytics and search engine optimisation;
-Branding, advertising and promotion; and
-Content support and copy writing.
Lot #6Information and Digital TechnologyAwardedRenewal
The Information and Digital Technology Lot will provide support for digital projects, building skills and capabilities that increase digital knowledge and help businesses to reach their business goals and objectives.
Examples of topics that are offered under Information and Digital Technology are:
-Analysis of the Digital Capabilities of a business and identification of improvements in efficiency and productivity;
-IT systems and process advice;
-Support to increase productivity and efficiencies through automation and artificial intelligence;
-Website and app development; and
-Cyber security.
Lot #7Legal SupportCancelledRenewal
The Legal Support Lot will provide comprehensive support on Legal factors that may affect a business. Support shall allow businesses to understand and navigate these factors and achieve business objectives.
Examples of topics covered under Legal Support are:
-Business Law and Business Contracts;
-Intellectual Property (IP);
-Franchising;
-Mergers and Acquisitions; and
-Legal Future Business Planning including, Employee Ownership and Succession Planning
Lot #8Energy Efficiencies and Net ZeroAwardedRenewal
The Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development Lot will support businesses to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Examples of topics covered under Low Carbon Support are:
-Energy Audits and action plans, including recommendations on Control and Efficiencies;
-Low Energy / Sustainable Production Processes;
-Waste Management;
-Reviews and Planning; and
-Net Zero Carbon Targets
Lot #9New Market Opportunities and InternationalisationAwardedRenewal
The Internationalisation Lot will support businesses to access overseas markets, supporting the opportunity to reach a wider customer base and increase sales.
Examples of topics covered under Internationalisation are:
-Support for Exporting (out with the UK);
-Market Analysis and Development;
-Structuring for Internationalisation; and
-Documentation advice for exporting
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (5)
- Accessibility and Delivery: 18%
- Community Benefits Methodology: 2%
- Community Benefit Offering: 2%
- Quality of Service, Skills, and Knowledge: 38%
- price: 40%
Published award criteria (5)
- Accessibility and Delivery: 18
- Community Benefits Methodology: 2
- Community Benefit Offering: 2
- Quality of Service, Skills, and Knowledge: 38
- Price: 40
- Economic & financial standing
SPD (Scotland) 4B.5 - It is a requirement of this contract that bidders hold, or can commit to obtain prior to the commencement of any subsequently awarded contract, the types and levels of insurance indicated below:
- Professional Indemnity – minimum 2m GBP (TWO MILLION POUNDS STERLING) in the aggregate
- Employer’s (Compulsory) Liability Insurance - minimum 10m GBP (TEN MILLION POUNDS STERLING) for each and every claim
Bidders exempt from requiring the minimum levels of Employer’s (Compulsory) Liability Insurance should declare this within their tender and provide the reasons why.
Minimum: SPD (Scotland) 4B.5 - Within the Qualification Envelope, bidder’s should confirm whether or not they: -have the required minimum levels of insurance, -do not have the required minimum levels of insurance but commit to obtaining required levels of insurance if successful in being … - Technical & professional ability
SPD (Scotland) 4C.1.2 - Bidders will be required to provide examples that demonstrate that they have the relevant experience to deliver the services/supplies as described in part II.2.4 of the Find a Tender Service Contract Notice or the relevant section of the Site Notice.
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SPD (Scotland) 4C.4 - Should bidders intend to use a supply chain to deliver part or all of the requirements detailed within the Contract Notice, they should confirm they have (or have access to) the relevant supply chain management and tracking systems to ensure a resilient and sustainable supply chain.
This will include confirmation that they have the systems in place to pay subcontractors through their supply chain promptly and effectively, and provide evidence when requested of:
a) their standard payment terms
b) ≥95% of all supply chain invoices being paid on time (in accordance with the terms of contract) in the last financial year.
Where the bidder is unable to confirm (b) they must provide an improvement plan, signed by their Director, which demonstrates how they will improve their payment performance
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SPD (Scotland) 4C.10 - Bidders will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract and, if so, for what proportion of the contract.
Minimum: SPD (Scotland) 4C.1.2 - For each Lot they are bidding for, bidders should provide a minimum of two (2) examples of contractual arrangements they have held over the past three (3) years which best demonstrates their relevant experience to deliver requirements within the framework…
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Business Support and Expert Help Services 2023 – 2025” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 36 suppliers, not a single contract.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
Yes · The framework agreement will be awarded for a total of circa 21 months. Following expiry of the framework agreement, the Council may elect
to re-tender requirements.
- First published
- 6 Feb 2023, 09:18 GMT
- Last source update
- 23 Jun 2023, 11:40 BST
- Award evaluation window
- 10 Mar 2023 – …
- Authority reference
NLC-CPT-22-146- FTS notice number
2023/S 000-017912- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-03a307Find a Tender
- Electronic trading
- e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
- Performance terms
Further information on contract performance conditions is located within Annex 7 of the ITT document within the PCS-Tender System.
- Review procedure
An economic operator that suffers, or is at risk of suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Cours or the Court of Session.
Publisher note: (SC Ref:736258)
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 10 Mar 2023, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bid validity
- 120 days from the deadline
- Bids opened
- 10 Mar 2023, 12:00 GMT
Timeline
10 Mar 2023 → 23 Jun 2023 · 3 dates- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown10 Mar 2023, 12:00 GMT
- Bids opened10 Mar 2023, 12:00 GMT
- Notice published23 Jun 2023, 11:40 BST
Notice history
1 event · 2 releases on Find a Tender- Status changed to complete23 Jun 2023, 11:40 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast8 suppliers are admitted to this framework without individual award values or dates, see the supplier list below.
Contracts
All 3 of these contracts carry the same published figure, £70,000, the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each contract's own value. They are not eleven separate sums.
Financial Management
- Signed
- 15 Jun 2023
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Business Development
- Signed
- 15 Jun 2023
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Human Resources, Leadership and Skills
- Signed
- 15 Jun 2023
- Value
- £40,000
- Status
- active
Procurement
- Signed
- 15 Jun 2023
- Value
- £50,000
- Status
- active
Marketing
- Signed
- 15 Jun 2023
- Value
- £100,000
- Status
- active
Information and Digital Technology
- Signed
- 15 Jun 2023
- Value
- ceiling above
- Status
- active
Energy Efficiencies and Net Zero
- Signed
- 15 Jun 2023
- Value
- £40,000
- Status
- active
New Market Opportunities and Internationalisation
- Signed
- 15 Jun 2023
- Value
- £20,000
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Financial Management | 3bids · 3 electronic · 3 from abroad | 3 | — | — |
| 2 · Business Development | 9bids · 9 electronic · 9 from abroad | 9 | — | — |
| 3 · Human Resources, Leadership and Skills | 1bids · 1 electronic · 1 from abroad | 1 | — | — |
| 4 · Procurement | 4bids · 4 electronic · 4 from abroad | 4 | — | — |
| 5 · Marketing | 14bids · 14 electronic · 14 from abroad | 14 | — | — |
| 6 · Information and Digital Technology | 7bids · 7 electronic · 7 from abroad | 7 | — | — |
| 8 · Energy Efficiencies and Net Zero | 4bids · 4 electronic · 4 from abroad | 3 | — | — |
| 9 · New Market Opportunities and Internationalisation | 8bids · 8 electronic · 8 from abroad | 8 | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeConsortium members and other public bodies
- South Lanarkshire CouncilContracting authority
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Scottish CourtsReview body
Framework contractors & participating bidders
24 commercial parties on the notice- Become Interactive LtdFramework contractor
- Brett Nicholls AssociatesFramework contractor
- BrexEasy - TheMacDogFactoryFramework contractor
- CJM Project Financial Management LtdFramework contractor
- Concept HR SolutionsFramework contractor
- GAP CommunicationsFramework contractor
- Glasgow Chamber of CommerceFramework contractor
- Inspirent LtdFramework contractor
- Intend Business Development LtdFramework contractor
- J&G3 LtdFramework contractor
Show 14 more suppliers
- KL BUSINESS CONSULTING LTDFramework contractor
- MJM Associates (Scotland) Ltd.Framework contractor
- MabbettFramework contractor
- Managed IT Experts Ltd.Framework contractor
- Morrow Associates LtdFramework contractor
- NSDesign LtdFramework contractor
- Optimum Business Growth LimitedFramework contractor
- Russell McLeod LimitedFramework contractor
- SBP CreativeFramework contractor
- Secure Business AdvisorsFramework contractor
- Solutions on Demand LtdFramework contractor
- Tinto ProcurementFramework contractor
- Where Now Consulting LtdFramework contractor
- Zoe StirtonFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.