T2407b - Northern Ireland Enterprise Support Service ‘NIESS’ Framework A (preferred Contractors) Engage and Foundation

Description

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 which will: • Be proactive and flexible to address market needs. • Incentivise market development activity. • Provide a core programme of service delivery across the region. • Provide access to specialists in certain sectors / target groups. • Be flexible in responding to future variability in demand and funding. • Provide quality services that meet user needs; and • 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, 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: i. NIESS Framework A (preferred Contractors) – Growth and Scaling; ii. NIESS Framework A (preferred Contractors) – Engage and Foundation; and iii. NIESS Framework B (Subject Matter Experts and Sector Experts); This procurement relates to the award of a contract to a Contractor for the regional delivery of the NIESS Framework A (preferred Contractors) covering the Engage and Foundation requirement. The purpose of this exercise is for the provision of ‘engage and foundation’ level supports as further described in the Specifications and in the ITT documents Please note – this T2407b ITT is a re-tender of T2407- NIESS Framework A (preferred Contractors) which included ten (10) geographic Lots and the provision of both ‘engage and foundation’ and ‘growth and scaling’ level supports. The T2407 tender competition (Notice reference: 2023/S 000-009378) has been discontinued and following further engagement with the market has been split into 2 separate requirements: • T2407a - NIESS Framework A (preferred Contractors) Growth and Scaling • T2407b - NIESS Framework A (preferred Contractors) Engage and Foundation i.e. this ITT 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

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