The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Marketing
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79342000
79413000
79000000
79340000
79400000
79411100
79900000
79996000
80510000
80522000
80532000
80000000
80500000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
Main site or place of performance:
Argyll and Bute
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 1 - Marketing – developing a marketing plan, competitor and market analysis, customer profiling and segmentation, develeoping the marketing mix, reviewing and improving current marketing activity, branding and brand development, implementing offline marketing activity, choosing and briefing marketing contractors.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 80
Price
/ Weighting:
20
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.
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:
Yes
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
PR
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79416000
79416100
79416200
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
Main site or place of performance:
Argyll and Bute
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 2 - PR – planning and delivering PR, storytelling and practical techniques for writing content (marketing literature, press releases, blogging), managing negative PR, reviewing and improving current PR activity choosing and briefing PR contractors.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 80
Price
/ Weighting:
20
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.
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:
Yes
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
Digital (including DigitalBoost)
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
72222300
72223000
79900000
79996000
80510000
80522000
80532000
92312212
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
Main site or place of performance:
Argyll and Bute
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 3 - Digital (including DigitalBoost) – content management tools, website building, development and review, using social media for business, online trading. Planning digital marketing, social media platforms, improving website performance, SEO, digital and video content creation, app development and usage, new technologies. IT connectivity, cyber security, infrastructure and communication equipment, choosing and briefing contractors.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 80
Price
/ Weighting:
20
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.
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:
Yes
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
Finance and Funding
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80522000
80532000
79400000
79411100
79900000
79996000
80510000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
Main site or place of performance:
Argyll and Bute
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 4 - Finance and Funding – understanding book-keeping requirements and management accounts, financial analysis, mergers and acquisitions, financial business planning. Funding support - identifying the funding needed, different types of funding (traditional lending, public sector, venture capital, new funding models such as crowdfunding), supporting the preparation of a proposal/application. Tax obligations for SMEs, including self-assessment. Profit analysis, debt and winding up procedures.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 80
Price
/ Weighting:
20
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.
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:
Yes
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: 5
II.2.1) Title
HR
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79414000
80000000
80500000
80510000
80532000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
Main site or place of performance:
Argyll and Bute
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 5 - HR – becoming an employer, managing staff, legislation, leadership, managing change, performance management, redundancy.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 80
Price
/ Weighting:
20
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.
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:
Yes
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: 6
II.2.1) Title
Business Strategy - Growth & Resilience
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
72221000
79000000
79400000
79410000
79411100
79900000
79996000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
Main site or place of performance:
Argyll and Bute
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 6 - Business Strategy – Growth & Resilience – setting objectives and organisational goals, evaluating current performance, identifying and assessing opportunities, defining priorities, creating action plans to achieve growth and resiience and identifying the resources required.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 80
Price
/ Weighting:
20
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.
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:
Yes
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: 7
II.2.1) Title
Internationalisation
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
72221000
79000000
79400000
79410000
79411100
79900000
79990000
79996000
80500000
80510000
80532000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
Main site or place of performance:
Argyll and Bute
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 7 - Internationalisation – preparing for export, choosing markets, identifying opportunities, international sales online, finding agents, distributors and suppliers, legislative requirements, importing.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 80
Price
/ Weighting:
20
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.
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:
Yes
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: 8
II.2.1) Title
Tendering and Supply Chain
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79000000
79400000
79410000
79411100
79900000
79990000
79996000
80500000
80510000
80532000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
Main site or place of performance:
Argyll and Bute
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 8 - Tendering and Supply Chain – understanding and preparing for the tender process (private & public sector), creating tender documents, analysis of tender feedback and improving bids, managing supply chains, expenditure analysis, sourcing suppliers, contracts and agreements, added value and community benefits.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 80
Price
/ Weighting:
20
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.
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:
Yes
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: 9
II.2.1) Title
Intensive Growth Programme
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
72221000
79000000
79400000
79410000
79411100
79900000
79990000
79996000
80500000
80510000
80532000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM
Main site or place of performance:
Argyll and Bute
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 9 - Intensive Growth and Resilience Programme – to help business owners achieve a step change in their approach through a short, structured, intensive programme of support. It should be aimed at businesses looking to increase their ability to cope with a changing business environment, including rising costs, and identify the right opportunities to develop to grow the business.
The programme should combine using a range of tools and techniques with expert support, and be tailored to participants, facilitating them to create a practical and deliverable approach to driving growth and sustainability in their business.
The programme should include the following key stages: exploration of current performance and evaluation of opportunities, identification of development priorities for selected opportunities, scoping requirement, confirming strategy and identification of further support for development
By the end of the programme participants should have defined the capabilities, capacity and resources needed to develop opportunities and build resilience, and be clear on their next steps to deliver. This will be supported by a 3-month review of progress and ongoing Business Gateway adviser support.
Where a requirement for additional expert advice of more than half a day on a topic covered by this framework is identified during the Intensive Growth Programme, a referral should be made via Business Gateway to the appointed supplier on the framework for that topic.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 80
Price
/ Weighting:
20
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 24
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.
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:
Yes
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
Contract will be subject to extensions in 2025-26 and renewal in 2027.
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=721906.
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.
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
The supplier must provide the following relevant Community Benefit information within 7 days of any request by the Council:
Community Benefit Requirements Non Evaluated community benefit information which are being provided to include the nature of the community benefit, the relevant response to the technical/quality question together with any relevant information on delivery or related timetable.
Delivery of community benefits will be monitored as agreed between the Council and the Supplier. The Council will seek evidence of delivery by an agreed method to allow the Council to report of those wider social and economic benefits.
Failure by the Supplier to deliver the outputs agreed may result in the Council imposing a penalty equivalent to the value of the Community Benefits that should have been delivered. This shall be invoiced to the successful supplier quarterly from the date of commencement and then every quarter until the end of the contract duration.