Invitation to tender for Specialist Business Support Services

Invitation to tender for Specialist Business Support Services

Background The University of Brighton s Green Growth Platform wishes to appoint a number of service providers to enter into a Framework Agreement for the delivery of specialist business support advice and coaching to environmental sector SME s ** in Sussex with high growth aspirations. The Green Growth Platform is a 5 year programme funded by HEFCE which aims to drive growth in environmental sectors across Sussex. As a catalyst for growth and innovation, the project will deliver a demand-driven range of services to small to medium sized enterprises including 1-2-1 business coaching, innovation and R&D support, product and service development, tailored training, intern and graduate recruitment, funding support and a calendar of business networking events Project outputs include; Attracting 1,000 business into the network Creating 250 jobs Providing intensive support to 90 SMEs Carrying out 100 innovation / R&D projects Developing 25 new products or services Developing 15 new environmental modules or courses at universities or colleges Placing 50 interns or apprentices with companies More information can be found on the Green Growth Platform website. We are seeking experienced Business Coaches, Consultants and Professionals with specialist knowledge and experience of working with high-growth businesses and/ or experience of working with Low Carbon, Environmental, Goods and Services (LCEGS) sector businesses in a support/ advisory role to assist our Business Support Manager in the delivery of specialist coaching and business development advice. ** SME Small to medium sized business are defined as an enterprise with an annual turnover that does not exceed 43 million or who s employment does not exceed 250 employees.

Information for Tenderers No servant or agent of the University has the authority to vary or waive any part of the tender documents other than the Procurement Services Manager who shall only do so in writing. This ITT has been prepared and made available in good faith. No warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in it and any liability or any inaccuracy or incompleteness is therefore expressly disclaimed by the University and its advisers. Tenderers are advised to ensure that they are familiar with the nature and extent of the obligations to be accepted by them should their tender prove successful. Tenderers shall ensure that the tender response is compliant with all statutory and other provisions to be observed and performed in connection with any subsequent award of contract. Tenderers should note that the University does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender, and reserves the right to accept or reject a tender either in whole or in part. The University reserves the right to cancel the tender process at any point. The University is not liable for any costs resulting from any cancellation of this tender process or for any other costs incurred by those tendering for this Contract. Tenderers are required to submit bids covering all of the items listed in the specification. Part tenders will not be accepted. Tenderers may submit joint bids with other organisations provided they are jointly and severally liable.

Specification Areas of specialism The Business Support Manager (BSM) or the Project Director will have worked with the Green Growth Plaform member company initially via a business or innovation clinic to assess whether they have growth potential and a company s needs. This may include a bespoke growth plan which will include dedicated support to be provided by the BSM and if needed, specialist input from a Business Coach or Consultant. We are seeking Business Coaches or Consultants with specialism in the following areas; Business Coaching (incl. Business diagnostics and strategic planning, Growth Plan development, action plans and coaching) Business Planning (Business Plan development) Accessing, managing and raising finance and investment including loans, grant applications, R&D tax credits, crowd funding and angel / VC investors Preparing Business to Export and support to increase exports Marketing & Market Research (incl. Brand development, Sales) Protecting Intellectual Property Legal services Human Resources (HR) Business Processes and Systems, Project Management Change Management Procurement & Tendering Social Enterprise Operation of the contract For each specialism we aim to select 3 consultants. Based on the business development support needs of the GGP member, we will consider providers with the most relevant specialism and will put forward the most suitable provider who can offer the best value for money i.e. the best combination of price and capability.

Period of service 1 October 2014 to September 2018 Geographical service area Service providers will be expected to travel to our member s place of business [Sussex] or to a University of Brighton campus to carry out the business support. Reporting Consultants will be required to produce evidence of work and agreed documentation (copies of Growth plans, actions plans, coaching notes, scope of work) once the intervention has been delivered for the BSM to submit to our funders. Tender response Tenders can include more than one specialist area but will need to provide a supporting statement outlining their expertise and experience in each area. The Green Growth Platform is looking for Business Coaches or Consultants who can demonstrate:- a. Relevant background and experience with solid track record in working with business leaders and entrepreneurs in the UK b. Ability to engage with SME s, inspire, stimulate and motivate them for action c. Relevant background and in depth knowledge of the low carbon environmental goods and services sector (LCEGS) sectors market and track record in successfully supporting UK SME s in this sector d. Capability and capacity to meet all the requirements of the work programme e. Readiness and availability to deliver the support within the required timescales see period of service f. Ability to identify, focus and manage clear and challenging objectives with SME s g. Pursuit and delivery of high quality standards in professional service delivery

h. Ability to deliver excellent client satisfaction to the business and the Green Growth Platform Business Support Manager (prompt response to communications, quality and timely follow up on agreed action points, delivery of agreed outputs etc.) i. Ability to deliver the outputs and report requested by the Business Support Manager as per agreement. j. Good knowledge and awareness of the business support landscape to provide information, advice and guidance on complementary support. Consultants will need to have current Professional Indemnity Insurance ( 250,000) and Public Liability insurance ( 1m) Please provide the following information: Company name and address; Company Registration; VAT registered/ VAT reg no; Copies of insurance certificates; Full Day rate ( ); Half Day Rate ( ) Hourly Rate ( ) The GPP is open to hearing ideas on a bundled package of support If you wish to offer this please provide details Up to 5 key areas of specialism A small case study (of max 1000 words) of how you have performed these services for projects/contracts (at least two) of a comparable scale and relevance in the past. Affiliations: Please indicate if you are affiliated to any business support organisations. Biography / Profile (max 500 words) Linkedin profile ref Up to date CV Deadline 13:00 17 th October 2014 Tender return Please submit proposals using the Tender Return Label found on the following page

Evaluation Responses will be evaluated on their approach, experience, skills the depth of their business network and their fee levels Tender Return Label Tender: Specialist Business Support Services FAO: Julian Wood Procurement Services Manager University of Brighton Room 218 Mithras House, Lewes Road BRIGHTON BN2 4AT To be delivered on or before 13:00 Friday 17 th October 2014

Certificate of non-collusion TO: The University of Brighton RE: Specialist Business Support Services The essence of the public procurement process is that the University shall receive bona fide competitive tenders from all Tenderers. We, the undersigned, hereby certify that this is a bona fide bid and (except as authorised in the Invitation to Tender) we have not, and insofar as we are aware neither has any of our officers, employees, servants or agents: (1) Entered into any agreement with any other person with the aim of preventing bids being made or as to the fixing or adjusting of the amount of any bid or the conditions on which any bid is made; or (2) Informed any other person, other than the person calling for this bid, of the amount or the approximate amount of the bid, except where the disclosure, in confidence, of the amount of the bid was necessary to obtain quotations necessary for the preparation of the bid for insurance, for performance bonds and/or contract guarantee bonds or for professional advice required for the preparation of the bid; or (3) Caused or induced any person to enter into such an agreement as is mentioned in paragraph (1) above or to inform us of the amount or the approximate amount of any rival bid for the contract; or (4) Committed any offence under the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1889 to 1916; or (5) Offered or agreed to pay or give any sum of money, inducement or valuable consideration directly or indirectly to any person for doing or having done or causing or having caused to be done in relation to any other Bid or proposed Bid for the works/services any act or omission; or (6) Canvassed any other persons referred to in paragraph 1 above in connection with the contract; or (7) Contacted any officer of The University of Brighton or their agents about any aspect of the contract including (but without limitation) for the purposes of discussing the possible transfer to the employment of the Participant of such officer or agent for the purpose of the contract or for soliciting information in connection with the contract. We also undertake that we shall not procure the doing of any of the acts mentioned in paragraphs 1 to 7 above before the hour and date specified for the return of the bid nor (in the event of the bid being accepted) shall we do so while the resulting contract(s) continue in force between us (or our successors in title) and The University of Brighton. In this certificate, the word person includes any person, body or association, corporate or incorporate and agreement includes any arrangement whether formal or informal and whether legally binding or not. Signed Name

Position in Organisation For and behalf of Date Please return this document (signed) with the Tender documents