This notice announces an administrative change to an existing contract or market (a contract change notice). No new tender or admission is opened here; see the linked notices below for the original opportunity.
Official UK procurement notice
CN250241 Kent and Medway Growth Hub
Authority: Kent County Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Kent and Medway Growth Hub ("KMGH") is a government funded service that enables small and medium sized businesses in Kent and Medway to access local and national business support. Funded via a grant from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Growth Hub provides a one stop shop for business support services that offers:
•Information, navigation, and signposting via a coordinated, multi-channel service.
•Structured support to small and medium enterprises, incorporating a diagnostic assessment of business needs and advice and guidance.
Kent County Council (KCC) is the Accountable Body for the Kent & Medway Growth Hub service.
Kent and Medway have a strong track record of practical delivery, underpinned by a long track record of excellent partnership working between business and local government. The Kent and Medway Economic Partnership (KMEP) is the economic partnership for Kent and Medway and takes the strategic lead in the Kent and Medway areas for economic growth.
The provider of the previous core Growth Hub service for Kent and Medway, was the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce (KICC). The Kent and Medway Economic Partnership is responsible for the delivery of the objectives set out in Kent and Medway Economic Framework (Kent & Medway Economic Framework). It sets out the actions that businesses and local authorities in Kent and Medway, together we will take to drive forward delivery of the following aims:
•Ambition 1: Enabling innovative creative and productive businesses.
•Ambition 2: Widening opportunities and unlocking talent.
•Ambition 3: Securing resilient infrastructure for planned, sustained growth.
•Ambition 4: Placing economic opportunity at the centre of community wellbeing and prosperity.
•Ambition 5: Creating diverse, distinctive and vibrant places.
The Core service activities include:
•Marketing and Engagement of the service to relevant businesses.
•Provision of single point of contact for business support services.
•Assessment of business need and signposting to relevant support.
•Direct one to one business support for ambitious and high growth companies.
•Development of strategic partnerships and robust referral networks.
•Data collection, verification, and reporting.
Further Information regarding the opportunity has been provided within the procurement documents. These documents were accessible via the Kent Business Portal. A link to the opportunity was provided in a previous notice.
- Not divided into lots: Contract lotting was considered for this opportunity. However, the Council have decided that a single supplier model will be used to deliver the Kent and Medway Growth Hub service. It is critical that the standard of service is retained and is consistent across Kent and Medway. Additionally, a single point of contact for Growth Hub services allows clear signposting to ensure that business support remains accessible for all local SMEs.
- How the procedure runs: Procurement Procedure - Competitive Flexible Procedure (Modelled on an Open Procedure with optional negotiation) The procurement process the Council is undertaking to procure the required services is a Competitive Flexible Procedure, as permitted under Section 20 of the Procurement Act 2023. The Council reserves the right to hold an optional Negotiation stage, followed by final tender submissions, if required. KCC will communicate whether optional negotiation sessions will be used via the Kent Business Portal, following the initial evaluation of tenders. If the optional sessions are used, tenderers may be required to submit a final tender following the session. This stage is called the Invitation to Submit Final Tender (ISFT). Full details of the ISFT stage will be communicated in the negotiation session. Justification for not conducting preliminary market engagement - The KCC have conducted informal market testing through recent similar requirements (Business Support Workshops), and on-going engagement with the market through the Kent and Medway Growth Hub and Business Support Steering Group, Maidstone Innovation Centre Steering Group and Business Advisory Board. In summary, the Kent and Medway Growth Hub team feel that they have sufficient insights to inform the upcoming procurement project due to the recent procurement exercise and on-going engagement with the market.
CPV: Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£904,525
- Economic & financial standing
Please refer to the procurement documents for further information.
- Technical & professional ability
Please refer to the procurement documents for further information.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
- Price: Price is not the only award criteria and all criterion are stated in the procurement documents.
- Quality: Price per Quality Point (PQP).
- Economic & financial standing
Please refer to the procurement documents for further information.
- Technical & professional ability
Please refer to the procurement documents for further information.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Administrative change
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 28 Apr 2025, 16:33 BST
- Last source update
- 3 Jun 2026, 09:53 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 11 Jul 2025
- Authority reference
CN250241- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-017415- Latest notice
- Contract change notice (UK10)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0508a6Find a Tender
- How it runs
Procurement Procedure - Competitive Flexible Procedure (Modelled on an Open Procedure with optional negotiation)
The procurement process the Council is undertaking to procure the required services is a Competitive Flexible Procedure, as permitted under Section 20 of the Procurement Act 2023. The Council reserves the right to hold an optional Negotiation stage, followed by final tender submissions, if required.
KCC will communicate whether optional negotiation sessions will be used via the Kent Business Portal, following the initial evaluation of tenders. If the optional sessions are used, tenderers may be required to submit a final tender following the session. This stage is called the Invitation to Submit Final Tender (ISFT). Full details of the ISFT stage will be communicated in the negotiation session.
Justification for not conducting preliminary market engagement - The KCC have conducted informal market testing through recent similar requirements (Business Support Workshops), and on-going engagement with the market through the Kent and Medway Growth Hub and Business Support Steering Group, Maidstone Innovation Centre Steering Group and Business Advisory Board.
In summary, the Kent and Medway Growth Hub team feel that they have sufficient insights to inform the upcoming procurement project due to the recent procurement exercise and on-going engagement with the market.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 28 May 2025, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 16 May 2025, 17:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
All submissions must be submitted via the Kent Business Portal - www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk ↗.
Timeline
28 Apr 2025 → 3 Jun 2026 · 8 dates- Tender notice published28 Apr 2025, 16:33 BST
- Clarification questions by16 May 2025, 17:00 BST
- Submission deadline28 May 2025, 12:00 BST
- Assessment summaries sent11 Jul 2025, 00:00 BST
- Award decision expected by11 Jul 2025, 23:59 BST
- Standstill ends23 Jul 2025, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts1 Aug 2025, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published145 days ago3 Jun 2026, 09:53 BST
Notice history
7 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 28 Apr 2025- Tender notice published28 Apr 2025, 16:33 BSTUK4
- Contract award notice published11 Jul 2025, 14:09 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete11 Jul 2025, 14:09 BST
- Contract signature expected31 Jul 2025, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published5 Aug 2025, 10:35 BSTUK7
- Contract change notice published3 Jun 2026, 09:53 BSTUK10
- Contract change proposed8 Jun 2026, 23:59 BSTAdditional services are required, due to the availability of additional funding. The Contract Notice and Contract allowed for additional activity up to the value of up to 50% of the original awarded contract value (dependent on available budget, supplier performance and due diligence requirements). This indicated that additional funding may be provided to deliver additional activity to address a significant economic impact, to be delivered via this contract. The Authority has considered alternative delivery options, including procuring the additional services through a new competition. However, this was determined to be impractical and disproportionate due to the need for continuity, integration with existing services, and the time and cost implications of transitioning to a new supplier. The modification therefore represents the most economically advantageous solution in the circumstances.
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-04: 1 release · 28 Apr 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smarter SocietySME1 Aug 2025 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 31 Mar 2029Extensions: The proposed contract extension is subject to confirmation of funding from the Department of Business and Trade (DBT), and successful delivery of the Contract. · Options: The Council shall include 'Option Provisions' such that it can purchase additional activity up to 50% of the original contract package dependent on available budget, Supplier performance and due diligence requirements. Additional funding may be provided to deliver additional activity to address a significant economic impact. Historically, additional funding has been provided to address the significant impact of Covid-19. Subject to satisfactory performance within the contract, the Council would consider the provision of additional works in alignment with Schedule 8, Paragraph 8 of the Procurement Act 2023. | £904,525 | 11 Jul 2025 | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 1 · Smarter SocietySME
- Signed
- 25 Jul 2025
- Value
- £904,525
- Period
- 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Mar 2028 · up to 31 Mar 2029 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- The contract extension is subject to supplier performance and the availability of funding.
- Options
- The Council shall include 'Option Provisions' such that it can purchase additional activity up to 50% of the original contract package dependent on available budget, Supplier performance and due diligence requirements. Additional funding may be provided to deliver additional activity to address a significant economic impact. Historically, additional funding has been provided to address the significant impact of Covid-19. Subject to satisfactory performance within the contract, the Council would consider the provision of additional works in alignment with Schedule 8, Paragraph 8 of the Procurement Act 2023.
- Change proposed 8 Jun 2026 Additional services are required, due to the availability of additional funding. The Contract Notice and Contract allowed for additional activity up to the value of up to 50% of the original awarded contract value (dependent on available budget, supplier performance and due diligence requirements). This indicated that additional funding may be provided to deliver additional activity to address a significant economic impact, to be delivered via this contract. The Authority has considered alternative delivery options, including procuring the additional services through a new competition. However, this was determined to be impractical and disproportionate due to the need for continuity, integration with existing services, and the time and cost implications of transitioning to a new supplier. The modification therefore represents the most economically advantageous solution in the circumstances., new value £1,072,495
No agreed KPIs: Key Performance Indicators have been set for the Kent and Medway Growth Hub contract. They will not be published within this notice, as the contract value is under £5M (In alignment with public procurement thresholds). The KPI's were published within the draft terms and conditions which were issued alongside the Invitation to Tender documents.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1final-stage tenders | 1 | 0 | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- SMARTER SOCIETY LIMITEDAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (5)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specifications Please access the tender documents using the link above.
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract change notice Contract change notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender