Innovate 2 Succeed Invitation to Tender External Evaluator - June 2017

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1 1. Introduction: Innovate 2 Succeed Invitation to Tender External Evaluator - June Invitation to Tender This is an invitation to submit a tender to provide services ( Services ) to meet the requirements, as set out under paragraph 3 below. The purpose of this invitation to tender ( Invitation to Tender or ITT ) is to provide you ( Tenderer ) with sufficient information to submit a formal response to deliver the Services so as to meet the requirements 1.2 Purpose of this ITT The purpose of this ITT is to: (a) provide the Tenderer with sufficient information to enable it to respond fully to this ITT with an offer capable of acceptance ( Response ); (b) explain to the Tenderer the timetable and process for submission of the Response, and the remaining stages of the procurement process; (c) set out Exemplass technical, commercial and legal requirements relating to the provision of the Services, and to enable the Tenderer to provide a proposal in its Response as to how it will meet those requirements; (d) explain the administrative arrangements relevant to the preparation and delivery of the Response; (e) set out the key evaluation criteria against which Responses will be evaluated; and (f) set out the terms upon which the tender process will be managed by Exemplas, and the terms upon which any Response must be submitted. 1.3 Exemplas background information For over 25 years, Exemplas has helped over 500,000 SMEs in the UK to thrive. Our expert business advisory solutions are valued and deployed by the private sector and UK Government across contracts including the Department of International Trade and the Enterprise Europe Network. Our bespoke, tailored solutions help the success of our partners and their SME clients. We provide the best of both worlds, a trusted outsourced advisory service for partners to offer their customers and an efficient external solution with proven return on investment. Working with Exemplas, part of the University of Hertfordshire, provides flexibility and the opportunity for organisations to differentiate themselves. 2. Innovate 2 Succeed Programme: Exemplas is contracted to deliver the European Regional Development Fund s (ERDF) Innovate 2 Succeed pilot programme covering the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) regions of Hertfordshire and Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough, the programme commenced in April 2016 and will end March What is Innovate 2 Succeed?

2 Innovate 2 Succeed (I2S) is fully-funded by ERDF and Innovate UK, and provides tailored support to innovative small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and those showing innovation potential but facing barriers to innovative performance. The programme helps SMEs to enhance their innovation management capability, resulting in increased effectiveness in generating and commercially exploiting their ideas. This improved capability will provide long-term benefit to the SME and the economy. Beneficiaries undergo an in depth diagnostic assessment of their business by an Innovation Adviser and a bespoke package of support is designed and delivered to embed innovation management capability within the company. SMEs are entitled to up to seven day s free support; they will gain innovation management capacity early in the process from the initial strategic analysis. Support will typically be delivered at the SME s own premises. This activity forms part of a programme being delivered across 12 pilot LEP areas as part of Innovate UK s agenda to increase and enhance innovation management capacity in UK s small businesses. 2.1 Innovate 2 Succeed Key Objectives: The overall aim of I2S is to increase the effectiveness in generating and commercially exploiting ideas of high growth, innovative SMEs, as well as those showing innovation potential but facing barriers to innovative performance, in the two LEP areas (Hertfordshire and Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough). Innovate 2 Succeed prioritises the SMEs in the LEP target sectors including: life sciences bio-medical high value engineering & manufacturing information & communications technologies creative industries carbon & environmental goods financial & business services high-end logistics (The above sectors are prioritised but innovative companies working in other sectors can apply) Objective 1 improve innovation management capacity of 300 participating SMEs By increasing SME s capacity from the target group to manage the innovation process, I2S will encourage investment in research and innovation and in product and service development. As part of this offer, Innovation Advisers will: Provide relevant, professional advisory services Increase business engagement in accessing EU and national grant funding Improve SMEs access to finance Focus on SMEs, on creating impact, in terms of market access, commercialisation, cost savings, productivity. Improve SMEs Resource Efficiency

3 Objective 2 helping overcome significant barriers to innovation and the commercialisation of new ideas The barriers enterprises face include but are not limited to, lack of awareness of the benefits of investing in innovation, its cost and uncertainty about the value to the company, lack of access to appropriate finance, and translating knowledge into new market products and intellectual capital. Objective 3 increase the speed at which new products, processes or services can be developed and brought to market by participating SME. This will be achieved by increasing their innovation management knowledge, skills and capacity through tailored consultancy support. Objective 4 successful commercialisation of new products and business processes and initiatives As a result of the support provided through I2S, either to bring new products to market or encouraging the development of new business models (both recognised as needed in the LEP priorities), 90 SMEs will be supported to introduce products/services to new to market and 52 will be supported to bring new products to the firm in each LEP area. 3. Tender Outline Exemplas is now seeking tenders from suitably qualified individuals/ organisations to carry out an independent external evaluation of the Innovate 2 Succeed programme. The envisaged role of the External Evaluator is to ensure objectivity as part of the ERDF Project Evaluation Toolkit framework. We require a two stage evaluation; the first stage is to be completed by end October 2017 (or earlier if feasible), reporting on project performance and progress towards the achievement of outcomes, embedding cross cutting themes, trends and issues, lessons learnt and recommendations for future project delivery. The second stage is the final evaluation completed by March The outputs required from this project will be: Two final reports, the first covering the outcomes from the mid-term evaluation and the second report will cover the final project evaluation Consultation with and presentations of the findings of both evaluations to the Project Strategic Advisory Group and Project Management Committee. 3.1 Specific aims of the evaluation: Undertake a robust assessment of whether the project has achieved its objectives or not, what has worked well and what has not, for whom and under what circumstances. Assess the original rationale for the project, and whether the rationale is/is not still valid (including how it fits with current ERDF priorities and those of other local, regional and national strategies) Conduct a robust quantitative impact evaluation of the project that assesses performance including: achievement of gross outputs and expenditure against its approved targets. Conduct a value for money assessment of the cost effectiveness in terms of input/output unit cost ratios

4 Assess the effectiveness of the process of delivery including management, administrative and delivery mechanisms and operational characteristics that have had a significant effect on the scale and nature of the outcomes and impacts realised through the project Recommendations to improve operational delivery, beneficiaries experience and outcomes. 3.2 Project specific questions to be addressed: To what extent has the project succeeded in increasing the effectiveness of generating and commercially exploiting ideas among SMEs? How effective has the project action planning approach been in helping beneficiaries to increase their innovation management capacity? How successful has the project been in removing the barriers to innovation and commercialisation of the new ideas? To what extent has the project been successful in addressing the market failure in innovation support to SMEs? How successful has the project been in helping SMEs to commercialise new products and business processes and initiatives? How successful overall has the project been at embedding the ERDF Cross Cutting themes? (Support for the Sustainable Development and Support for the Equality and Diversity theme) How effective has the project s marketing and engagement approach been? To what extent has the project helped to raise awareness of the support the European Union and the ERDF offers? Considering it is a pilot project, does the impact from the project s delivery evidence the need for further support? The proposed methodology must follow the ERDF Summative Assessment Logic Model (ESIF-GN-3-002). 3.3 Information to be submitted as part of the tender process, should at a minimum address the following elements: Consultant(s) profile: capacity, skills, experience and knowledge Clear, well-defined evaluation methodology and work plan, including but not exclusively: o interviews with key stakeholders including funders o interviews with beneficiaries o survey of non-users as a control group to support identification of counterfactual position and deadweight effects o desk top review of project documentation o assessment of client satisfaction survey responses o comparisons with other I2S pilot project areas Resource Plan with a clear pricing structure Proposed final report structure We are looking for an individual/ organisation who can demonstrate: Evaluation experience in relation to ERDF funded programmes Good research and analytical skills

5 The capacity to work within a tight timescale whilst still producing a high standard of work The ability to draft clear and concise useable reports that provide meaningful and applicable insights for the project. 3.4 Fee Proposal: A breakdown of total costs should be provided, inclusive of VAT and all expenses. The total budget for this contract (inclusive of phase one and two) is a maximum of 20,000 inclusive of VAT and all costs. 4. Terms of Appointment: 4.1 Ownership of Documents and Copyright All documents produced by the evaluator in connection with this appointment and submitted to Exemplas Ltd will be considered the property of Exemplas Ltd and may be used by Exemplas Ltd at any time, including for other projects, without the prior approval of the consultant. 4.2 Application Process & Evaluation Criteria Please return your tender electronically to Janice Freed, I2S Programme Manager at janicef@exemplas.com to arrive no later than 5pm Friday 14th July All responses to this invitation to tender should include the following in no more than 6 pages of A4: Details of evaluation experience of relevant ERDF projects Proposed methodology for both first and second stages, including timescales and sampling size (see 3.3) Details of any potential/anticipated conflicts of interest Pricing Responses will be evaluated and successful applicants invited to a selection meeting. Criteria Qualification & Relevant Experience of staff engaged to deliver Methodology- demonstration of the understanding of the aims of the project Availability to achieve the required outputs within the timescales Pricing value for money 4.3 Indicative Timetable Closing date for submission of quotes: 5pm Friday 14 th July 2017 Selection Meeting: 24 th July 2017 Start: 31 st July 2017.

6 Questions related to this invitation Interested applicants are asked to any questions to Janice Freed, I2S Programme Manager by 9.00am Tuesday 27 th June All questions will be responded to by 5pm 28 st June Exemplas does not accept, and will not respond to any verbal requests for clarification/information. 5. General Requirements 5.1 Introduction By participating in this tender process the Tenderer confirms that it will adhere to the rules of engagement set out in this paragraph Confidentiality This ITT is made available to the Tenderer for the sole purpose of assisting the Tenderer in deciding whether it intends to make an offer to provide the Services. All information described in this ITT is strictly confidential to Exemplas and may not, without the prior written consent of Exemplas, be published, reproduced, copied, disclosed to any person or used otherwise than as permitted by a confidentiality agreement in place between the Tenderer and Exemplas ( Confidentiality Agreement ). The Tenderer shall not make any public statement concerning this ITT without the prior written approval of Exemplas. 5.3 General Exemplas reserves the right to change any aspect of, or cease, the tender process at any time Exemplas is not bound to accept any Response or award, or to enter into any contract whatsoever as a result of the ITT Nothing contained in this ITT or any other communication made between Exemplas or its representatives and any party or part thereof shall constitute an agreement, contract or representation between Exemplas and any other party (except for a formal award of contract made in writing by Exemplas). Receipt of this ITT does not imply the existence of a contract or commitment by or with Exemplas for any purpose and the Tenderer should note that this ITT may not result in the award of any business The information contained in this ITT is subject to constant updating and amendment in the future and is necessarily selective. It does not purport to contain all of the information which the Tenderer may require. Exemplas does not make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness or otherwise of this ITT, or the reasonableness of any assumptions on which this document may be based. All information supplied by Exemplas to the Tenderer, including that contained in this ITT, is subject to the Tenderer s own due diligence. Exemplas accepts no liability to bidders whatsoever and however arising and whether resulting from the use of this ITT, or any omissions from or deficiencies in this document. The exclusions in this paragraph do not extend to any fraudulent misrepresentation made by or on behalf of Exemplas.

7 5.3.5 Exemplas reserves the right to accept all or any part of the Response and, if necessary, to enter into agreements with more than one service provider which may or may not include the Tenderer The Response, including all costs, must remain valid and open for acceptance for a period of at least 90 days from the Response Submission Deadline This ITT, any negotiations and any subsequent contract formed as a result will be subject to English law and both parties will be required to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts All costs incurred by the Tenderer in connection with participation in this tender process, including without limitation, preparation of the Response, shall be for the account of the Tenderer, and Exemplas shall not in any circumstances be liable for any such costs, including if the procurement process is terminated or varied in any way by Exemplas This ITT is subject to contract. It is not an offer capable of acceptance and, except for the provisions of this paragraph 5, which are legally binding on Exemplas and the Tenderer, is not intended to create legally binding relations Without prejudice to any civil remedies available to Exemplas and without prejudice to any criminal liability (which such conduct by Tenderers may attract), if Exemplas considers, in its absolute discretion, that there has been collusion between any of the Tenderers to this ITT, the relevant Tenderers may be disqualified. Exemplas s decision in this matter shall be final.