Procurement Opportunity to deliver Innovation Assessments

Description

As part of the UK government Levelling Up Agenda, the East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) has been allocated funds through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to support us in the development of our communities, local businesses and personal skills, training, and professional development. 

Through supporting local businesses our priority aims are, to:
•	Create jobs and boost community cohesion by supporting local businesses
•	Promote networking and collaboration
•	Stimulate innovation and growth
•	Help and support businesses to grow

East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) Business Support Team wishes to procure a company / companies to work alongside us to deliver a programme of support to help our business community to recognise and maximise opportunities for innovation within the workplace.

This support will be provided directly to East Riding businesses to help them at any stage of their journey to identify where they are on the technology readiness level scale (TRL), through reviewing  the progress made up to the point of consultation to help the business to understand what the next steps might be and compile a future plan on what further actions are required to commercialise the product / service ideas, and accelerate the path to market.

The engagement with these businesses could come in from two different approaches: from support received by the ERYC Business support team and therefore be referred in via the team, or it is anticipated that the majority of business opportunities funnelled through our successful company will be generated through their own client services network/portfolio, as the focus on innovation in this arena will be expected with the skills and attributes to further support this.  

Given the geography of East Riding, it is important that the support provided is flexible and responsive across the range of business sizes from micro, small, and medium sized SMEs. We are wanting to work with a responsive, adaptable partner organisation(s) or individual(s) to deliver this support on our behalf. 

The innovation support programme will therefore need to be flexible with a clear project management plan in place to ensure effective working and communication with the ERYC Business Support Team to enable the programme to be responsive in terms of the needs of our business community, providing clarity of business progress at every stage of the journey. 

Questions about the specification should be directed to Josh Elliott-Shircore via email [email protected] by noon Thursday 23rd May 2024.
If you are interested in this opportunity responses should be sent to Josh Elliott-Shircore via email [email protected] by 5PM Tuesday 4th June 2024.

Additional information: Proposal Requirements 

Response should include as a minimum: 

Knowledge & experience
•	Details of up-to-date experience of business/individual/agency, that substantiate you meet the requirements of the opportunity
•	Name of key developers/deliverer/s and Curriculum Vitae/s of identified parties.  Please note, sub-contractors will be accepted and should be identified where available within the tender response. Please provide the hourly rate per intervention.
•	Evidence to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the subject matter and how you maintain a consistent and up to date knowledge base.
•	Proposed initial assessment outline, style of delivery with key practical actions for the business to undertake during or following the appraisal.
•	Examples of previous delivery of similar work.
Project Management skills
•	Explain how you will maintain consistent and relevant delivery of information 
•	Evidence of how you would manage the portfolio of work within timescales and need for flexibility of delivery
•	Availability of time for the undertaking of this contract.
•	Explanation of your own present assessment process and associated paperwork

Price

Clear cost breakdown either hourly rate/s to be applied or cost per business supported.

The maximum value of the contract is £30,000 + VAT to include any additional costs including travel and other expenses.  These costs should be factored into your submission. 

Marketing of the project

ERYC will undertake marketing activities aimed at promoting the programme and it is expected that the successful bidder will also undertake their own marketing activity to their current database of clients and networks.  

ERYC will develop marketing collateral as needed.

Where businesses are identified by ERYC these will be forwarded to the successful bidder for consideration for support through the programme.

Timescales:
1.	Tender advertised	Tuesday 14th May 2024
2.	Final submission of queries and questions regarding tender	Noon Thursday 23rd May 2024
3.	Closing date for submissions	5pm Tuesday 4th June 2024
4.	Scoring of initial submissions 	Wednesday 5th June 2024
5.	Potential face to face interviews by shortlisted applicants (if applicable)  Thursday 6th June 2024
6.	Notification of successful applicants 	Monday 10th June 2024
7.	Inception meetings and agreement of approach	w/c Monday 10th June 2024
8.	Delivery of contract Between 10th June 2024 - 28th February 2025

Attachments 
Tender Brief  - Appendix 1 & 2: Award criteria & Scoring criteria 
Appendix 3: ERYC terms and conditions