Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
An Lòchran, 10 Inverness Campus
Inverness
IV2 5NA
UK
Telephone: +44 1463245245
E-mail: hieprocurement@Hient.co.uk
NUTS: UKM6
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.hie.co.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00313
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local agency/office
I.5) Main activity
Economic and financial affairs
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
FTS047 Pathways to Start - Lot 2 Moray
Reference number: FTS047 - Lot 2
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
THIS IS THE CONTRACT NOTICE FOR LOT 2 MORAY.
HIE is looking to procure a supplier to deliver a programme to support underrepresented groups in entrepreneurship. The programme will inspire participants to increase their ambition, confidence and capability to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and enter pathways for starting a business through a programme of entrepreneurial training and mentoring tailored towards underrepresented groups/individuals specific learning needs.
HIE’s current requirements are divided into two geographical Lots:
- Lot 1: Argyll and Bute, covering HIE areas only
- Lot 2: Moray
Note, Lot 1 covers Argyll and Bute geographical area i.e. excluding Arran, Cumbrae, and Helensburgh and Lomond.
There are two separate contract notices: bidders who are interested in bidding for the other contract can do so by locating the respective PCS notices, which were all published on the same date with ‘Pathways to Start’ in the contract description.
The services will be required from 20 October 2025 until 31 March 2026, unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Contract.
The delivery of the services, submission of all invoices and completion of all reports must be complete by 20 March 2026.
The budget available to deliver this service is between GBP187,500 and GBP220,000 (excluding VAT) PER LOT. The budget includes all costs related to delivering the services are not limited to, venue hire, catering, training materials/tools, fees, day rates and include provision for recovery of any other expenses, including but not limited to, travel and subsistence – all costs to be included in the Pricing Schedule. The contract value stated in the Contract Notice is GBP240,000 (ex VAT) per lot. This includes GBP20,000 contingency per lot which may be used e.g. if more than 45 participants could be recruited for the lot.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
240 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80400000
80500000
80570000
80521000
80522000
80532000
72224000
79400000
79410000
79411100
79411000
80210000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM62
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Key tasks are:
1. Programme design
2. Outreach, stakeholder engagement and participant recruitment
3. Training delivery
4. Programme administration and monitoring.
Please refer to the Scope of Requirement and Guidance document for full details.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Q1 Prompt Payment Standard Clause
/ Weighting: pass/fail
Quality criterion: Q2 Cyber Security
/ Weighting: pass/fail
Quality criterion: Q3 Payment of the Real Living Wage
/ Weighting: pass/fail
Quality criterion: Q4 UK Data Centres
/ Weighting: pass/fail
Quality criterion: Q5 Management and Delivery Methodology
/ Weighting: 20%
Quality criterion: Q6 Delivery Methodology – Inclusivity
/ Weighting: 15%
Quality criterion: Q7 Management and Delivery Team
/ Weighting: 20%
Quality criterion: Q8 Fair Work First
/ Weighting: 5%
Price
/ Weighting:
40%
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
240 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
20/10/2025
End:
31/03/2026
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
HIE reserves the right, on giving reasonable written notice from time to time, to require changes to the Services (whether by way of the removal of Services, the addition of new Services, or increasing or decreasing the Services or specifying the order in which the Services are to be performed or the locations where the Services are to be provided). HIE shall not require any such change other than where it is permitted by Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Examples of contract modifications are but not limited to:
-Additional funding is obtained (beyond the GBP20,000 contingency included in the total contract value of each lot) and used e.g. to increase the number of participants. Tendered rates will apply to any increases.
-Envisaged number of participants could not be recruited, resulting in reduced service requirements/volumes.
-Less than 16 participants could be recruited for the programme – HIE reserves the right not to proceed with the programme and terminate the contract.
-Recruited participant numbers exceed 45 for the lot. In this case (some of) the allowance of GBP20,000 will be utilised to provide services to further participants, as per tendered rates per participant.
-Where HIE determines (at our sole discretion) that demand for the programme under a lot is lower than expected, HIE reserves the right to re-allocate the budget for that Lot to the other Lot subject to the maximum total budget of GBP480,000 (i.e. the maximum total of the two lots).
-If Special Category Personal Data and/or other sensitive personal information requires further/different procedures, the supplier will be required to comply with these.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
4A2 Bidders must confirm individuals involved in the delivery of the training programme are/will be registered with Disclosure Scotland’s Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme in circumstances where individuals will be required to work with children and/or protected adults. Such registration must be in place prior to commencing training delivery to such individuals and/or cohorts including such individuals.
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
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:
4B5a Professional Risk Indemnity – minimum GBP1m in aggregate
4B5b Employers (compulsory) Liability – minimum GBP5m for each and every claim. See http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/hse40.pdf for more information
4B5c Public Liability – minimum GBP1m in aggregate
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria:
4C4 If bidders intend to use a supply chain to deliver the requirements detailed in 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. Please refer to Scope of Requirements for full requirements. If bidders do not pay at least 95% of valid invoices on time and are unable to provide a proportionate and timely improvement plan, their organisation will not be selected to participate further in this procurement.(pass/fail)
4C10 Bidders will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract and, if so, for what proportion of the contract. (for info)
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Refer to the Scope of Requirements and Guidance document.
III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
08/09/2025
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
08/09/2025
Local time: 12:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
Tenders must be submitted via the PCS postbox and must be received by the published deadline. Late tenders will not be accepted and HIE will reject any submissions received after the deadline. Email or hard copy responses will not be accepted.
It is estimated that the total value of the contract for this lot will be GBP 240,000 (excluding VAT). This is the figure which has been used in II.1.5 & II.2.6.
Where bidders rely on the capacity of other entities in order to meet selection criteria they are required to provide information relating to these entities with the relevant supporting SPD documentation being submitted.
SPD 3D.12 Bidders should refer to the "Conflict of Interest" Section within the Scope of Requirements when completing this question.
The Award criteria Questions 5-8 will be marked according to the following criteria - refer to the tender documents for the evaluation criteria for Questions 1-4 including the minimum threshold for Qs 5-7.
0 - Unacceptable - Nil or inadequate response which fails to demonstrate an ability to meet the requirement.
1 - Poor - Response is partially relevant but generally poor. It addresses some elements of the requirement but contains insufficient/limited detail or explanation to demonstrate how the requirement will be fulfilled.
2 - Acceptable - Response is relevant and acceptable. It addresses a broad understanding of the requirement but may lack details on how the requirement will be fulfilled in certain areas.
3 - Good - Response is relevant and good. It is sufficiently detailed to demonstrate a good understanding and provides details on how the requirements will be fulfilled.
4 - Excellent - Response is completely relevant and excellent overall. It is comprehensive, unambiguous and demonstrate a thorough understanding of the requirement and provides details of how the requirement will be met in full.
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=806268.
The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.
Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.
(SC Ref:806268)
Download the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=806268
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Inverness Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
The Inverness Justice Centre, Longman Road
Inverness
IV1 1AH
UK
Telephone: +44 1463230782
E-mail: inverness@scotcourts.gov.uk
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/court-locations/inverness-sheriff-court-and-justice-of-the-peace-court
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
05/08/2025