Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Kent County Council
County Hall
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
UK
Contact person: Mrs Kelly Roberts
Telephone: +44 3000416617
E-mail: kelly.roberts@kent.gov.uk
NUTS: UKJ4
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.kent.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: http://www.kent.gov.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
SC20032 South East Business Boost II
Reference number: DN508876
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79400000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Growth Hubs are locally based, Government-backed services linked to the national business support helpline.
They enable businesses to access local and national business support. Government funding for Growth Hubs is made available via the 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). The South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) covers Kent and Medway, Essex, Southend, Thurrock and East Sussex. It is the largest LEP in England. The SELEP (via Essex County Council as its accountable body) receives funding from Government for a Growth Hub. The SELEP operates a federal model, with local partnerships for each economic area within the LEP. For Kent and Medway, this is the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership (KMEP). The Growth Hub
For the SELEP area reflects this federal model, with separately procured and managed services in Kent and Medway, Essex and East Sussex.
The current Kent and Medway Growth Hub service can be accessed at www.kentandmedwaygrowthhub.org.uk
The core Growth Hub service is enhanced through a SELEP-wide South East Business Boost (SEBB) ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) programme, led by Southend Borough Council the lead accountable body. This service provides additional activities beyond what can be provided through the BEIS funding and delivers an offer that compliments and enhances the existing ‘core’ Growth Hub programme.
Kent County Council procured a SEBBII service which will provide of one to one and one to many interactions that create growth and facilitate innovation within local companies. The programmes are aimed at pre-start, start-up and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) who wish to scale up production to increase turnover. The service also offers ‘Growth Grant’ programme designed to facilitate growth and increase productivity within local companies.
The contract duration is for 23 months, from June 2021 to engage and support 262 SMEs to enable them to increase turnover, improve productivity, generate new products /services, and create jobs.
Key activities include:
• marketing and engagement of the service to eligible businesses;
• productivity and competitiveness direct one to one business support for high potential businesses;
• enterprise and entrepreneurship support for start-ups and new businesses;
• promotion and management of business grants programme with eligible businesses;
• development of strategic partnerships and robust referral networks;
• data collection, verification and reporting in line with ERDF requirements.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
665 902.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKJ4
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The scope of the SEBBII service is to provide of one to one and one to many interactions that create growth and facilitate innovation within local companies. The programmes are aimed at pre-start, start-up and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) who wish to scale up production to increase turnover. The service also offers ‘Growth Grant’ programme designed to facilitate growth and increase productivity within local companies.
The contract duration will be from June 2021 for 23 months to engage and support 262
SMEs to enable them to increase turnover, improve productivity, generate new products /services, and create jobs.
Key activities include:
• marketing and engagement of the service to eligible businesses;
• productivity and competitiveness direct one to one business support for high potential businesses;
• enterprise and entrepreneurship support for start-ups and new businesses;
• promotion and management of business grants programme with eligible businesses;
• development of strategic partnerships and robust referral networks;
• data collection, verification and reporting in line with ERDF requirements.
In the event that additional funding for this service is granted to the Council to continue to deliver the SEBB Services consisting of the repetition of similar services entrusted to the Supplier under this Contract after 31 March 2023, the Council reserves the right to procure the new services via the negotiated procedure without prior publication in accordance with Regulation 32(9) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, the conditions for which will be as per the conditions of the grant funding.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Quality = lowest price per quality point score (i.e. Cost divided by quality score)
/ Weighting: 100
Cost criterion: Cost = = lowest price per quality point score (i.e. Cost divided by quality score)
/ Weighting: 100
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:
Yes
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Competitive procedure with negotiation
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:
2020/S 220-541874
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: 1
Title: South East Business Boost II
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
09/04/2021
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 3
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce Industry and Enterprise Ltd
Ashford Business Point, Waterbrook Avenue, Sevington
Ashford
TN24 0LH
UK
NUTS: UKJ4
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:
: 665 902.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Kent County Council
County Road
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
04/06/2021