Description
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has completed a competitive procurement for the provision of external assessment services in support of the King’s Awards for Enterprise programme.
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade is the Contracting Authority.
Scope of Services:
The contract covers the provision of external technical assessment services for applications received under the five King’s Awards for Enterprise categories listed below. Suppliers may be appointed to one or more category lots in line with the procurement outcome.
Lots and Categories:
Lot 1 – Innovation
Recognising organisations that demonstrate commercial success through:
- invention, design, or production (goods);
- performance (services, including advice);
- marketing, distribution, and after‑sales support of goods or services.
Lot 2 – International Trade
Recognising organisations that demonstrate substantial growth in overseas earnings and sustained commercial success relative to their size and sector.
Lot 3 – Promoting Opportunity (Social Mobility)
Recognising organisations delivering social mobility programmes that support individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds into successful working lives.
Lot 4 – Sustainable Development
Recognising organisations that have developed commercially successful products, services, or management approaches delivering significant environmental, social, and economic benefit.
Lot 5 – Young Founder (New Category)
Recognising organisations founded by individuals aged between 18 and 30, as announced in the Government’s Small Business Plan.
Volume and Method of Delivery:
Successful suppliers will be responsible for assessing all eligible applications submitted within their allocated category lot(s) for each annual awards cycle.
Services must be delivered in accordance with deadlines set by the King’s Awards Office (KAO) and include the following mandatory outputs for each round:
- Initial technical assessments of all assigned applications to identify recommended and reserve cases.
- Draft case summaries for shortlisted applications, to be reviewed and discussed at Judging Panel meetings.
- Attendance by Lead Assessors at Judging Panels (in person), with the ability to clearly articulate assessment rationale and respond to panel questions.
- Draft pen pictures for successful applications, for inclusion in the King’s Awards Press Book and publication in The London Gazette.
- Comprehensive written feedback for unsuccessful applicants.
All assessments, comments, and recommendations must be recorded within the King’s Awards online assessment system, enabling progress tracking and audit transparency throughout the cycle.
Contract Term and Value:
The contract is awarded for an initial period of three (3) years, with the option to extend for up to two additional 12‑month periods (1 + 1), subject to satisfactory performance and continued business need.
The estimated total contract value across all five lots is £762,000 (excl. VAT) over the initial term.
Assessment Timeline and Delivery Requirements:
The King’s Awards assessment process operates on an annual 12‑month cycle running from May to May. Assessors must strictly adhere to the timetable set by the King’s Awards Office, including (indicative):
May – Opening of applications
Mid‑September – Application closure
October–November – Shortlisting and financial verification
January – Attendance at Judging Panels
February – Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee
March – Completion of pen pictures and feedback
May – Public announcement of award recipients
Lead Assessors are responsible for coordinating assessor effort within their category and ensuring all deliverables are completed on time.
Conduct, Confidentiality, and Quality:
All assessors must:
- Comply with government confidentiality, data protection, and information‑handling requirements.
- Treat all materials as Official‑Sensitive.
- Avoid any direct contact with applicants.
- Declare and manage conflicts of interest in line with King’s Awards Office procedures.
Assessments will be subject to scrutiny at multiple stages. They must be factually accurate, internally consistent, aligned to the published criteria, and written in clear, plain English. Lead Assessors are accountable for quality across their category.