Modification notice
Modification of a contract/concession during its term
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Welsh Government
Corporate Procurement Services, Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
UK
Telephone: +44 3000625264
E-mail: CPSProcurementAdvice@gov.wales
NUTS: UKL
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0007
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0007
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme
Reference number: C36/2014/2015
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79900000
79400000
79411100
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Welsh Ministers are seeking to engage with quality providers to deliver a key segment of their support to start-up businesses and Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs), typically trading up to 7 years (exceptions will be considered beyond this limit), that have high growth aspirations and potential.
The successful contractor will be expected to work with a range of start ups and existing SMEs within Wales. The ratio of start ups to existing SMEs supported will be in the region of 30/70. Welsh Government business support will be capped (amount to be confirmed) and support over and above this level will attract a fee. Tenderers will need to evidence how this will be achieved.
The Accelerated Growth Programme will be delivered through one lead contractor on a pan Wales basis, who will need to demonstrate that they have the skill sets and resources required to support high growth SMEs and start-ups in all sectors. It is intended that the contract period will run from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2020. Annual break clauses will be included in the contract which may be exercised for non contractual compliance, reduction in Welsh Government budgetary allocation, change in service direction/policy or any other reason deemed appropriate by the Welsh Ministers to exercise the break clause.
Please note that consortia bids are encouraged for this tender exercise. Please refer to www.wales.gov.uk/jointbidding for advice and assistance on joint bidding. Furthermore, it is the intention of Welsh Government to host a workshop to provide support and guidance to potential tenderers on joint bidding opportunities. Support for potential consortium members will be provided by the Wales Cooperative Centre.
Please note that this project is subject to European Funding approval. Funding has therefore only been approved for the first year of the contract term.
Please also note that the value is indicative only and is dependant on demand for the service which cannot be guaranteed.
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession
Duration in months: 84
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
Yes
Section IV: Procedure
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2015/S 067-120206
Section V: Award of contract/concession
Contract No: C36/2014/2015
Title: Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme
V.2 Award of contract/concession
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession
23/03/2015
V.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Winning Pitch
The Maltings, East Tyndall Street
Cardiff
CF245EA
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
/concession: 16 666 667.00
GBP
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
Need for modification brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority/entity could not foresee Description of the circumstances which rendered the modification necessary and explanation of the unforeseen nature of these circumstances:
In order to provide a replacement service, the Welsh Ministers would need to commence procurements proceedings imminently. Welsh Government staff in the Department of Economy, Skills and Natural Resources (where the oversight for this service sits) have been largely re-deployed to manage the Welsh Ministers' response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This is in addition to any sickness in the department or employees being away from work due to any shielding obligations or family commitments. These conditions have perpetuated and although it appears that there will be no further lockdowns and business is getting back on track, Welsh Government employees have to be redeployed back to their usual work and the procurement must be planned. There is insufficient time to properly scope and re-design the service in time for a new procurement to be launched and a new contract awarded by September 2022. There is also insufficient time to allow for orderly exit and implementation periods as the new service transitions. These circumstances were completely unforseen by the Welsh Ministers and the extension is being put in place to allow capacity levels within the relevant departments to return to normal and commence a procurement.
To ensure a timely response please forward a copy of any questions or enquiries to BusinessDivision@gov.wales
(WA Ref:116881)
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
23/12/2021
Section VII: Modifications to the contract/concession
VII.1) Description of the procurement after the modifications
VII.1.1) Main CPV code
79000000
VII.1.2) Additional CPV code(s)
VII.1.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL
VII.1.4) Description of the procurement
To deliver accelerated growth support to start-up businesses and Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) (typically trading up to 7 years) that have high growth aspirations and potential.
It is essential that accelerated growth support is delivered as an integrated part of the wider package of support on offer to SMEs and entrepreneurs. Accelerated growth support will align to mainstream business support provision but will operate within a smaller and more segmented market place delivering bespoke support. It is important that the client journey is clear and that opportunity is open to all businesses meeting the eligibility criteria. Prospective accelerated growth clients should be both proactively sought from within the wider business support network and via suppliers’ networks.
One contract is available to deliver high growth support pan Wales.
The programme will support a minimum of 1 000 high growth SMEs/start ups over the duration of the contract (up to December 2020). It is anticipated that 25-30 % of these businesses will be at pre-start stage with the remaining being post start Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs). The outputs highlighted in the tender should be viewed as a minimum and tenderers were required to demonstrate and evidence how they can maximise private sector investment to increase the number of pre and post start SMEs supported on the programme.
The contract is being extended to September 2023 together with an uplift in the budget in order to fund the extension.
VII.1.5) Duration of the contract, framework agreement, dynamic purchasing system or concession
Duration in months: 102
VII.1.6) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the procurement: 25 000 000.00 GBP
The contract/concession has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
VII.1.7) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Winning Pitch
The Maltings, East Tyndall Street
Cardiff
CF245EA
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME:
Yes
VII.2) Information about modifications
VII.2.1) Description of the modifications
The contract is being extended for a further 12 months until 30 September 2023 with appropriate break clauses after 6 months. In addition the contract will see an increase to the original value equal to 10% of the originally advertised contract.
VII.2.2) Reasons for modification
Need for modification brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority/entity could not foresee
Description of the circumstances which rendered the modification necessary and explanation of the unforeseen nature of these circumstances:
There is insufficient time to allow for orderly exit and implementation periods as the new service transitions. These circumstances were completely unforseen by the Welsh Ministers and the extension is being put in place to allow capacity levels within the relevant departments to return to normal and commence a procurement.
VII.2.3) Increase in price
Updated total contract value before the modifications (taking into account possible earlier contract modifications and price adaptions and, in the case of Directive 2014/23/EU, average inflation in the Member State concerned)
Value excluding VAT: 23 333 333.00 Currency: GBP
Total contract value after the modifications
Value excluding VAT: 25 000 000.00 Currency: GBP