Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme

Concepts

• business services
• cardiff
• medium sized enterprises
• business wales
• growth programme
• government business support
• accelerated growth programme
• high growth aspirations
• wales
• high growth smes

Location

Cardiff

Description

The Welsh Ministers are seeking to engage with quality providers to deliver a key segment of their support to start-up businesses and Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs), typically trading up to 7 years (exceptions will be considered beyond this limit), that have high growth aspirations and potential. The successful contractor will be expected to work with a range of start ups and existing SMEs within Wales. The ratio of start ups to existing SMEs supported will be in the region of 30/70. Welsh Government business support will be capped (amount to be confirmed) and support over and above this level will attract a fee. Tenderers will need to evidence how this will be achieved. The Accelerated Growth Programme will be delivered through one lead contractor on a pan Wales basis, who will need to demonstrate that they have the skill sets and resources required to support high growth SMEs and start-ups in all sectors. It is intended that the contract period will run from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2020. Annual break clauses will be included in the contract which may be exercised for non contractual compliance, reduction in Welsh Government budgetary allocation, change in service direction/policy or any other reason deemed appropriate by the Welsh Ministers to exercise the break clause.

Ammendments to Previous Notice

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
• 79900000 - Miscellaneous business and business-related services
• 79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services
• 79411100 - Business development consultancy services

Indicators

• Contract modified due to unforeseen circumstances.

Legal Justification

There is insufficient time to allow for orderly exit and implementation periods as the new service transitions. These circumstances were completely unforseen by the Welsh Ministers and the extension is being put in place to allow capacity levels within the relevant departments to return to normal and commence a procurement.

Other Information

Please note that consortia bids are encouraged for this tender exercise. Please refer to www.wales.gov.uk/jointbidding for advice and assistance on joint bidding. Furthermore, it is the intention of Welsh Government to host a workshop to provide support and guidance to potential tenderers on joint bidding opportunities. Support for potential consortium members will be provided by the Wales Cooperative Centre. Please note that this project is subject to European Funding approval. Funding has therefore only been approved for the first year of the contract term. Please also note that the value is indicative only and is dependant on demand for the service which cannot be guaranteed. Need for modification brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority/entity could not foresee Description of the circumstances which rendered the modification necessary and explanation of the unforeseen nature of these circumstances: In order to provide a replacement service, the Welsh Ministers would need to commence procurements proceedings imminently. Welsh Government staff in the Department of Economy, Skills and Natural Resources (where the oversight for this service sits) have been largely re-deployed to manage the Welsh Ministers' response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This is in addition to any sickness in the department or employees being away from work due to any shielding obligations or family commitments. These conditions have perpetuated and although it appears that there will be no further lockdowns and business is getting back on track, Welsh Government employees have to be redeployed back to their usual work and the procurement must be planned. There is insufficient time to properly scope and re-design the service in time for a new procurement to be launched and a new contract awarded by September 2022. There is also insufficient time to allow for orderly exit and implementation periods as the new service transitions. These circumstances were completely unforseen by the Welsh Ministers and the extension is being put in place to allow capacity levels within the relevant departments to return to normal and commence a procurement. To ensure a timely response please forward a copy of any questions or enquiries to BusinessDivision@gov.wales (WA Ref:116881)