Description of the goods or services required
Business Wales provides a first class business support service to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Wales on behalf of the Welsh Government and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The service is delivered by Growth Partnership Wales, a partnership of Business in Focus, Antur Teifi and Serco Regional Service Ltd.
Delivered by Serco Regional Services Ltd the Superfast Business Wales is a service element of Business Wales, which started in January 2016. It supports eligible businesses across Wales to understand, adopt and exploit the benefits of Superfast Broadband.
The successful supplier will be required to work in partnership with the in-house marketing team to update, edit and redesign the current SFBW Software Essentials directory that is hosted on our website. Click here to view.
Requirement
Serco Enterprise is seeking a formal costed quote from an experienced marketing and creative agency, with proven journalistic abilities to edit, update and design the SFBW Software Essentials directory.
It is currently formatted in a 92 page PDF document and requires a simple format that allows small to medium businesses to access the information they require easily and quickly. The recommended software needs to be up to date and relevant to our target audience* and the subsequent links need to drive the user to the appropriate page of the software or technology provider’s website.
The guide will be made available online and through traditional print.
*Superfast Business Wales Demographic
- SFBW supports Welsh small and medium sized businesses across 22 local authorities (fewer than 250 employees with less than 40m GBP turnover). To date 83% employ between 0-9 employees with the remaining 17% 10-250 employees.
The Guide Specification
- The supplier will be required to research and provide a shortlist of examples of market leading software solutions or hardware products per function. And when applicable, include open source and proprietary software (free or licenced) that is suitable for micro and small and medium sized businesses
- We are required to signpost to software houses and technology manufacturers rather than resellers; each must be compliant with country specific regulations including GDPR.
- Only signpost to market leading technology solutions and avoid:
i) products and services that are unlikely to exist during the guide’s life expectancy
ii) solutions that are not market leading as they tend not to have sufficient investment and development
iii) legacy products and products or solutions that are coming to end of life
- All recommendations must be fair and transparent, not biased towards particular brands, and include a mix of solutions and products.
The successful supplier will be required to provide the following activities:
- Work with the in-house marketing team to produce an engaging and unbiased software guide that will inform businesses of the market leading technologies they should use to remain competitive (to include hardware, software, on premise and cloud based solutions)
- Provide editorial guidance on the style, format, content, and imagery you will use to breathe a new lease of life into the guide and position it as valuable and easily shareable content
- Build in editorial checks to ensure the guide is accurate, informative and appeals to Welsh SMEs
- The guide needs to be fit for purpose, both as an online resource and in traditional print, so this needs to be considered at the design stage
- All content is required to be produced in both Welsh and English so the ability to translate Welsh would be an advantage, although we are able to provide translated copy if required
- All publicity needs to adhere to the guidelines for European funded programmes and meet the branding guidelines for Business Wales (please see copy of brand guidelines attached)
- Upon contract award the supplier will be expected to provide a first draft of the updated design and editorial content within six weeks and deliver the final version within a four week window of being commissioned.
Supplier Profile
As the guide advises businesses on the best software choices to meet their needs, the successful quoting organisation will need to demonstrate:
- A strong background in communicating the benefits of technology for small and medium sized businesses in plain English
- Experience in reviewing and comparing technology products for SMEs/micro-businesses (without using jargon)
- Editorial (or PR) and publishing and design experience would be a distinct advantage
- Proven experience of writing long tail content for a business audience; including guides, white papers, research documents, and statistic led analysis would be highly beneficial
- Strong systems and processes for managing the timely delivery of quality of materials, including fail-proof checks for professional and accurate copy and sign-posting, as well as adherence to branding guidelines
- Robust systems and processes to manage version control particularly with bilingual materials
- Proven ability of creativity and the ability to deliver alternative solutions that still meet requirements
- The ability to work with Serco to ensure the development of accurate briefs that meet requirements and a collaborative approach in partnering the Serco in-house marketing team
- Tight budget and time management controls as well as the ability to work on a range of projects with a range of contacts in the team simultaneously managing workloads and meeting deadlines
Contract Award
The successful organisation will be awarded a Contract, which is expected to commence in January 2022 through to the conclusion of the Superfast Business Wales service in September 2022, subject to performance reviews and availability of funding.
The indicative budget for the services mentioned above will be 5,000 GBP (plus VAT) for delivery of the update in January 2022. Any printing costs will be covered separately by Serco Regional Services using existing suppliers.
The initial contract may be extended subject to successful performance, availability of funding and on basis that it will not infringe Serco Procurement requirements.
This activity is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.
Quote Process
Please provide brief responses to the following questions. Only provide references and examples of work that pertain to you/your organisation.
Name of Organisation:
E1. Please outline your industry experience, particularly your ability to review and compare technology products and software for the micro and small business market (500-word limit).
E2. Please outline how you will research and validate the nine products you will recommend so we can choose the final five to seven (please list the supporting information that will make this possible) (500-word limit).
E3. Please map out your systems and processes that enable you to deliver at every stage of the project, ensuring a final version requiring minimal changes (500-word limit).
E4. Please indicate the budget and timeline you feel is necessary for the delivery of the refreshed software directory, and the subsequent annual updates and explain your reasoning (500 word limit).
E5. If any, what added value can you offer? Outline examples of other work you could deliver, especially long tail, high value content (500 word limit).
E6. Please give a breakdown of the team/resources and ability to upscale within reason should the project require (500 word limit)?
E7. Please provide two recent references or examples of work. If you are successful with your tender submission, Serco may contact these referees. The information should include:
Company Name and Address, Contact name and Job Title, Contact Number and Email Address. (250-word limit each)
Please ensure all responses are limited to 500 words per question.
Submission
Interested organisations will be required to submit a Response to the 7 Questions listed above. The documentation is available on the Sell2Wales website. You do not need to be registered with Sell2Wales to search and view Serco Regional Services notices; however, registration is required to record interest and access any additional documents and to submit the Response.
Current Serco Regional Services notices are available here:
https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA26984
Supplier registration is free on Sell2Wales and can be completed by following this link:
https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Register_V2/Supplier_Register.aspx
Please note that a supplier must be registered before they can note an interest in an opportunity.
The Response must be submitted (in accordance with the details on the Contract Notice) to the Sell2Wales website by 15:00 on 5 January 2022.
Preferred Supplier List
If your bid is not successful, Serco may still consider your organisation suitable for including in a Preferred Supplier List for future opportunities. We will inform you prior to doing this.
Please note that the winning organisation will be required to sign up against the Terms and Conditions and Code of Conduct which are both shown on the Procurement section of the Serco Enterprise website.
Please note that Serco Regional Services reserves the right to withdraw from the procurement at any point in time during the procurement process.
Serco Regional Services is committed to creating an environment where there is mutual respect and equality of opportunity for all. We expect suppliers to share and demonstrate this commitment in their policies and practices.
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=116656.
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