Warwickshire County Council is looking to enter into a single-supplier contract with a specialist organisation to deliver business start-up support services across Warwickshire. The service should provide support to individuals who have ambitions to start a business and support to start-up businesses in their first 24 months of trading.
The service will be part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, with this funding being matched by contributions from the Council, North Warwickshire Borough Council, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Rugby Borough Council, Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Warwick District Council. As a result the Contracting Authority and the successful supplier will need to work together to ensure ERDF reporting obligations are maintained outcomes are attained.
The initial 26 month term is build around current ERDF funding commitments and any extension periods will follow similar justification.
The procurement is to follow an open procedure. Bidders who fulfil the requirements of the supplier questionnaire may have their award stage assessment evaluated. Following this some bidders may be requested to attend clarification meetings with the evaluation panel.
The aim of the procurement process is to award a contract to a single supplier who has the capacity to deliver the specified services to the whole County and is capable of meeting and surpassing the obligations set by ERDF and the Council.
Contract value — The ‘Estimated value’ provided in this notice is a potential total value for the entire 74 month term. The value is set at a high level to accommodate for currently unknown factors including future ERDF funding and possible collaboration opportunities.
The known contract value — The initial 26 month term contract has committed funding of 668 210 GBP to be available for this time period.
Following this term, extension periods will be possible subject to funding being committed from ERDF or the Government based equivalent following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. For the purposes of this notice, the level of funding is predicted to be the same for the following 4 years.
During the contract's term, performance may become required within Warwickshire's neighbouring local authority, Coventry City. The Authority currently has its their own contracted arrangements. However, the Council — in line with our Sub-Regional Procurement Strategy — is giving Coventry City Council (as well as Warwickshire's District and Borough Councils) the potential opportunity to make use of this contract rather than re-tendering their own provision. For the purposes of this notice, Coventry City Council have a current contract which is valued at approximately 200 000 GBP per annum.
Considering the above, the Estimated Contract value on this procurement has been raised to cover a situation where all this spend combines, although the potential of it occurring is unknown.