Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Essex County Council
County Hall, Market Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1QH
UK
Contact person: Mr Craig Johnson
Telephone: +44 333
E-mail: craig.johnson@essex.gov.uk
NUTS: UKH3
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://procontract.due-north.com/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.essex.gov.uk/
I.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
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
Soft Market Testing for Growth Hub Service a Business Support Service
Reference number: DN712967
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79400000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Essex County Council (ECC) intends to procure a specialist provider to provide Growth Hub support. Growth Hubs are an established business support service, which provide free and impartial signposting, information, and advice to all businesses looking to succeed, helping them to navigate the national and local support landscape. It is Government grant funded annually by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and provides a one stop shop for business support services that offers:
• Information, navigation, and signposting via a coordinated, multi-channel service
• One-to-one structured support to small and medium enterprises, incorporating a diagnostic assessment of business needs and advice and guidance.
The existing contract expires on 30th June 2024. ECC would like to gauge the interest for a contract that would start on the 1 July 2024 and expire on 31 March 2025. Bids can be from a single organisation, a consortium or a lead entity with sub-contracting; this will be at the supplier’s discretion but is subject to agreement from Essex County Council. The estimated budget for this service is £100,000. The budget is based on previously received grants for the same service, however the exact budget is dependent on the value of the grant received from the DBT. To confirm your interest in the opportunity please email Daniel.Gaimster@essex.gov.uk.
Responses should be submitted by 5pm 3 April 2024. Please note this PIN/Early Engagement/Request for Information is not intended as a call for competition.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
100 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKH3
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Essex County Council (ECC) intends to procure a specialist provider to provide Growth Hub support. Growth Hubs are an established business support service, which provide free and impartial signposting, information, and advice to all businesses looking to succeed, helping them to navigate the national and local support landscape. It is Government grant funded annually by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and provides a one stop shop for business support services that offers:
• Information, navigation, and signposting via a coordinated, multi-channel service
• One-to-one structured support to small and medium enterprises, incorporating a diagnostic assessment of business needs and advice and guidance.
The existing contract expires on 30th June 2024. ECC would like to gauge the interest for a contract that would start on the 1 July 2024 and expire on 31 March 2025. Bids can be from a single organisation, a consortium or a lead entity with sub-contracting; this will be at the supplier’s discretion but is subject to agreement from Essex County Council. The estimated budget for this service is £100,000. The budget is based on previously received grants for the same service, however the exact budget is dependent on the value of the grant received from the DBT. To confirm your interest in the opportunity please email Daniel.Gaimster@essex.gov.uk.
Responses should be submitted by 5pm 3 April 2024. Please note this PIN/Early Engagement/Request for Information is not intended as a call for competition.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
20/03/2024
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
20/03/2024