Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Welsh Government
Entrepreneurship and Delivery
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
UK
Contact person: Matthew Collins
Telephone: +44 3000615991
E-mail: matthew.collins@gov.wales
NUTS: UKL
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://gov.wales/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0007
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Business Wales Delivery 2023-2029
Reference number: C079/2021/2022.
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Through Business Wales, the Welsh Government offers business support services to inspire entrepreneurs and help start, sustain, and grow businesses in Wales. The Business Wales service encompasses a range of products and services offering information, advice, and support online, via phone, virtually or in person in English and Welsh. Business Wales is delivered through a blend of external suppliers, grant awards (third party providers) and ‘in-house’ Welsh Government teams. The service supports all sectors and is available across the whole of Wales.
Business Wales aims to provide a one stop shop of information, support, advice, and referral under three overarching aims:
i. To build confidence and inspire individuals, entrepreneurs, and micro business to reach their full potential. To work with key stakeholders to develop a cohesive ecosystem that is visible, simple, and connected to ensure Wales is a great place to start and grow a business in the foundation or growth economies.
ii. To address a key gap by creating the conditions for businesses to start, sustain and grow through in inclusive and sustainable ways.
iii. To support the productivity, resilience, growth, decarbonising and sustainability of micro and SMEs. To secure their long-term future ownership within Wales and their continued contribution to the Welsh economy.
The Contracting Authority is seeking to procure up to four (4) suitably qualified Suppliers to deliver the Services.
The Services consist of four separate Lots.
Lot 1 - Business Wales: Supporting Entrepreneurs and Business Start Up
Lot 2 – Business Wales: Development & Advisory Support
Lot 3 – Business Wales: Accelerated Growth Programme
Lot 4 – Business Wales: Brand & Marketing Communications
The proposed duration of each the Services' contracts is for a period of up to 6 years (an initial 2-year period, with an option to extend - at the sole discretion of the Contracting Authority - for a further 4 years (in 12-month increments). The combined total estimated value for the four (4) Lots is GBP 11.5 million (+ VAT) per annum but this could be higher subject to budget availability.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
99 842 400.00
GBP
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Business Wales Supporting Entrepreneurs and Business Start-Up
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This element of the service will inspire and develop the capability of entrepreneurs by developing a culture of entrepreneurship and business start-up in Wales focussing on three main groups: young people under 25 years, all age adults who are considering becoming self-employed or starting their own business, and targeted outreach for individuals underrepresented in business start-up and society.
The aims of the Business Wales: Supporting Entrepreneurs and Business Start-Up are to:
- Develop a culture of entrepreneurship and business start-up in Wales. Inspire and educate future generations of young people in Wales to consider entrepreneurship as part of their career aspirations, to develop their entrepreneurial potential and develop their business capability.
- Address under-representation in business start-up, build confidence and inspire individuals from all communities across Wales to reach their entrepreneurial potential.
- Support the creation and sustainability of new start businesses across the economy. Provide business support to build the business knowledge and capability of emergent and new entrepreneurs, strengthen the viability of their business proposition, enhance their business skills, enable them to seize opportunities for business growth and improve their chances of business survival.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Technical
/ Weighting: 90
Price
/ Weighting:
10
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Business Wales Development and Advisory Support
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This element of the service will build the confidence and resilience of the business community in Wales through the provision of dedicated advice, support and focussed relationship management, helping businesses create opportunities for employment, stimulate sustainable and inclusive growth, and improve business practice and their productivity.
The aims of the Business Wales Development & Advisory Support are to:
- Provide information, motivation, and quality business advice to support new and existing micro and SME businesses to improve productivity, stimulate job creation and sustainable and inclusive business growth.
- Improve participation in order to build resilience and capability of businesses to create quality opportunities for themselves and others, improving business practice to ensure the medium to long term growth and security of businesses owned by people in Wales.
- Provide relationship managers for selected priority businesses based on importance to region and place.
- Deliver services that enable Welsh Government to achieve policy priorities to build a stronger, greener, and fairer Wales.
- Work with partners, our business communities and stakeholders representing academia, entrepreneurs, corporates, government, and risk capital to stimulate innovation-driven enterprises and improve connectivity for Welsh businesses.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Technical
/ Weighting: 90
Price
/ Weighting:
10
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 3
II.2.1) Title
Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This element of the service will provide tailored business support, relationship management and specialist coaching for selected pre-revenue and established businesses that can demonstrate the aspiration and potential to achieve high growth.
The aims of the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme are to:
- Provide specialist tailored support and relationship management to help ambitious entrepreneurs (pre revenue) and rapid high growth businesses (SMEs) in Wales unlock their high growth potential.
- Be a major player in the delivery of high growth support to businesses in Wales building Wales's reputation for exciting innovation driven enterprises.
- Deliver a high growth support service able to deliver nationally with a clear regional focus and ability to report on a regional basis.
- Deliver a range of high growth support interventions, via a relationship management delivery model, to stimulate high growth job creation, support sustainable green business growth, strengthen positive employment practices while improving workplace equality and promoting Fair Work across high growth businesses.
- Recruit and nurture high growth potential through specialist, tailored support, and ongoing assessment throughout the business high growth lifestyle.
- Increase the turnover, employment and profits of the high growth businesses supported on the BW AGP.
- Increase the international export sales of businesses supported on the programme.
- Increase the number of gross jobs in Wales with a focus on high quality jobs and new green jobs.
- Introduce and embed the Welsh Government Economic Contract to all businesses registered onto the programme.
- Deliver a fully accessible and inclusive high growth support service to entrepreneurs and businesses in Wales whilst addressing under-representation and inspiring high-growth entrepreneurs, and business owners from all communities to build the confidence, skills, and resilience to develop their businesses.
- Work closely with the wider Welsh Government suite of business support, Business Wales family, entrepreneurial ecosystem across academia (including MIT's ILP), private, public and third sector, financial sector organisations to complement services and support high growth development in Wales.
- Introduce a client fee paying model of support to generate income to enable added value delivery within the life of the contract.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Technical
/ Weighting: 90
Price
/ Weighting:
10
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 4
II.2.1) Title
Business Wales Brand & Marketing Communications
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79340000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
This element of the service will deliver the national brand awareness for the whole Business Wales service, along with specific marketing campaign activities to support Business Wales digital services, and the Services set out in Lot 1, Lot 2, and Lot 3 of the ITT.
The aims of the Business Wales Brand & Marketing Communications are to:
- Position Business Wales as a compelling brand and trusted “go to” service that offers easily accessible business support services to inspire entrepreneurs to help start, sustain, and grow businesses in Wales.
- Raise awareness of, and positive engagement with, the service by delivering exceptional brand and marketing communications that work effectively across different media and channels.
- Develop and enhance market and customer insight identifying valuable evidence and knowledge that can be implemented to improve future marketing activity.
- Align, build, and deliver an integrated marketing communications approach (built on deep market and customer insight), that is aligned to Business Wales credentials as the gateway to a leading, comprehensive, open, and inclusive business support service for people who want to start, sustain, or grow and their business to become more competitive in an ever changing and challenging marketplace.
- Enhance and develop a strong, consistent, and cohesive Business Wales brand marketing approach to achieve improved cut-through for the Business Wales service and reach all the audiences that the service is intended for.
- Develop creative approaches to engage new and existing audiences.
- Develop market perception so that the Service is seen as the most open, inclusive, and comprehensive business support service in Wales.
- Innovate in the development and delivery of brand and marketing communications to deliver continuous improvement in results.
- Proactively engage local and national stakeholders to drive forward the entrepreneurial culture in Wales.
- Proactively engage under-representation in Welsh businesses.
- Ensure planned activity is balanced and aligned with Welsh Government policies and action plans.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Technical
/ Weighting: 90
Price
/ Weighting:
10
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2022/S 000-030762
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 1
Title: Business Wales Supporting Entrepreneurs and Business Start-Up
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
05/04/2023
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Business In Focus
15 Old Field Road, Pencoed
Bridgend
CF355LJ
UK
NUTS: UKL17
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 23 552 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 2
Title: Business Wales Development and Advisory Support
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
05/04/2023
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 3
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 2
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 3
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Business In Focus
15 Old Field Road, Pencoed
Bridgend
CF355LJ
UK
NUTS: UKL17
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 24 222 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 3
Title: Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme
A contract/lot is awarded:
No
V.1 Information on non-award
The contract/lot is not awarded
Other reasons (discontinuation of procedure)
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 4
Title: Business Wales Brand & Marketing Communications
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
05/04/2023
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 5
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 5
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 5
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
SBW Advertising
Cambrian Buildings, Ground Floor, Mount Stuart Square
Cardiff
CF105FL
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 2 147 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
The total cost of the service provision for lots 1, 2 and 4 following the tendering exercise was GBP 49,921,200. However, the maximum total value of the contract for lots 1, 2 and 4 is up to GBP 99,842,400. This is in line with the following stipulation within the tender documents:
The scope of the contract spend value provides for additional services (if required) of up to a further GBP 11.5million + VAT per annum. These activities will be aligned to emerging Welsh Government priorities that may occur during the life of the contract. There is no obligation placed on the Contracting Authority to utilise the additional spend value and the additional services may or may not occur during the contract period.
In relation to Lot 3 only; the Welsh Ministers have exercised their discretion to abandon the procurement process and to choose not to award a contract for Lot 3. The Welsh Ministers are further re-considering their requirements for Lot 3, and a new procurement for these services (in whole or in part) will be issued in due course. The value of this lot has been removed from the original budget allocation.
(WA Ref:130964)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
Telephone: +44 2079477501
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
23/05/2023