T2407 - Northern Ireland Enterprise Support Service ‘NIESS’ Framework A (preferred Contractors)

The Local Authorities in Northern Ireland have developed a new enterprise support service ‘ESS’ which aims to put in place a more ambitious approach to the delivery of start-up and growth support which seeks to revamp the current offer and increase the number, survival and growth rates of new businesses across the region. The service aims to provide a set of connected ESS where individuals, entrepreneurs or businesses can access a continuum of support to meet their needs, aligned with the relevant stage of their business. Given the varying needs of the individuals, entrepreneurs and businesses that will likely engage with this service across the business lifecycle, the Local Authorities have identified a need to put in place a framework of ESS, this NIESS Framework A, which will: a) Be proactive and flexible to address market needs. b) Incentivise market development activity. c) Provide a core programme of service delivery across the region. d) Provide access to specialists in certain sectors / target groups. e) Be flexible in responding to future variability in demand and funding. f) Provide quality services that meet user needs; and g) Support the Local Authorities strategic ambitions aligned with The Northern Ireland Draft Programme for Government, 10x Economy – Northern Ireland’s Decade of Innovation, Economy 2030, draft Green Growth Strategy for Northern Ireland, DFE’s Economic Recovery Action Plan, Invest NI’s forward business plans, the City/Growth deals, and inclusive growth focus of the individual Council community plans. The NIESS, which is described in greater detail in the Specification, will comprise the following three frameworks/ contracts which are being procured separately: a) NIESS Framework A (preferred Contractors); b) NIESS Framework B (Subject Matter Experts); and c) NIESS Framework C (Sector Experts). This procurement relates to the award of a contract to the Contractor for each of ten (10) geographic Lots for NIESS Framework A (preferred Contractors). The geographic Lots are based on groupings of the 11 Local Authorities and are for the provision of ‘engage and foundation’ level supports, and ‘growth and scaling’ level supports as further described in the Specifications. Belfast City Council, as Lead Council, shall enter into a Services Contract with the preferred Contractor in respect of each Lot. Each Local Authority that wishes to avail of that Lot shall enter into an SLA with Belfast City Council and the preferred Contractor that will detail the requirements of that Local Authority and the outputs required from the preferred Contractor. Each individual Local Authority shall then be responsible for liaising directly with the preferred Contractor in respect of the Services to be delivered to that Local Authority under the SLA. It is anticipated that each individual Local Authority shall produce an Annual Service Plan that shall detail the Services required in the coming year. These Services, once agreed with the referred Contractor shall be evidenced in writing, and referred to as a ‘Task Order’. The mechanism for agreeing each task order shall be detailed in the SLA, and each Task Order once agreed shall be incorporated into, and form part of the SLA. As Lead Council, Belfast City Council shall be responsible for Contract management with the preferred Contractor, and shall have legal responsibility for the Contract. Any contract disputes must be actioned through Belfast City Council. The other 10 Local Authorities (Contract Users) included are: Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Ards and North Down Borough Council Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Derry City and Strabane District Council Fermanagh and Omagh District Council - Enniskillen Office Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Mid Ulster District Council - Dungannon Newry, Mourne and Down District Council