Official UK procurement notice
CP2243-23 Business Support Framework 2023
Authority: Devon County Council (Local council)
What is being bought11 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionDevon County Council (DCC) is reletting its Business Support Framework to deliver business support in the Devon area and other economic geographies, potentially including: the Heart of the South West (HotSW); the Great South West; and a new Combined Authority under devolution.
The framework is commissioned and managed by DCC, acting as the lead and responsible body, but will also be available (following approval from DCC) to Somerset Council, Members of the Devon and Cornwall Procurement Partnership (D&CPP), the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (HotSW LEP), and the new Combined Authority under devolution. For funding that requires a quick turnaround, the Business Support Framework will facilitate the quick mobilisation of business support programmes with suppliers who have already been pre-approved.
The Business Support Framework is split into six Lots. Suppliers may bid for more than one Lot.
Lot 1: Business support and growth – delivering holistic business support for all types of businesses and social enterprises at all stages of the business life cycle, including a comprehensive range of diagnostic support, subject-specific support, and essential growth and planning support.
Lot 2: Academic investigation and evaluation support – undertaking bespoke analysis and research of sectors, business support need and programmes. Outputs from suppliers will include a mixture of written reports, research data, and appropriate visuals, as well as potential presentations to officers, members, associated boards, and other parties involved in any of the project work.
Lot 3: Specialist business support – providing specialist services and business support across all sectors, including farming and agriculture, on a variety of topics unique to specific sectors or business development. Themes include diversity in business, green business support, business and family succession planning, routes to market and procurement, and technological and digital business support.
Lot 4: Productivity and skills – providing support for developing a more productive and skilled workforce, including supporting employers and organisations to plan and invest well, develop leadership and management, support recruitment and retention, and identify training needs in addition to accessing appropriate qualifications and/or training.
Lot 5: Farming and agricultural business support – providing support to farming and agricultural businesses at all stages of the business life cycle. Suppliers should be equipped to understand the opportunities for funding and farming practice and have a comprehensive knowledge of the sector in its broadest sense (which includes forestry, horticulture, aquaculture, regenerative land management, agri-tech and innovation).
Lot 6: Marketing and communication support – providing specialist marketing and promotion support for business support programmes. Outputs from suppliers may include the creation and delivery of a multi-media marketing and communications campaign, supplying a comprehensive suite of multi-media assets, a communication and branding plan to drive traffic to sign-up pages, brand development, in addition to analysis and campaign reporting on targeting specific audience(s), trend analysis, market research, and campaign evaluation.
CPV: Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security · Education and training services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Bids received
- 13 bids on the busiest of 10 lots · 15 suppliers appointed
Lots and requirements (11)Procurement structure
11 lots · 6 with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lotEvery one of these 2 lots carries the same published figure, £2,000,000: it is the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each lot's own budget, and no share per lot is published. The cards below say ceiling above rather than repeat it.
Lot #1Business support and growthAwardedceiling above
Delivering holistic business support for all types of businesses and social enterprises at all stages of the business life cycle, including a comprehensive range of diagnostic support, subject-specific support, and essential growth and planning support. Delivery of support can be provided through workshops and 1:1s. Additional information: The framework arrangement is awarded for an initial period of 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2026. There is an option to extend this framework arrangement for a further period totalling 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2028.
Lot #2Academic investigation and evaluation supportAwardedPublished value£250,000
Undertaking bespoke analysis and research of sectors, business support need and programmes. Outputs from suppliers will include a mixture of written reports, research data, and appropriate visuals, as well as potential presentations to officers, members, associated boards, and other parties involved in any of the project work. Additional information: The framework arrangement is awarded for an initial period of 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2026. There is an option to extend this framework arrangement for a further period totalling 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2028.
Lot #3Specialist business supportPublished value£500,000
Providing specialist services and business support across all sectors, including farming and agriculture, on a variety of topics unique to specific sectors or business development. Themes include diversity in business, green business support, business and family succession planning, routes to market and procurement, and technological and digital business support. Delivery of support can be provided through workshops and 1:1s.
Lot #4Productivity and skillsAwardedPublished value£1,000,000
Providing support for developing a more productive and skilled workforce, including supporting employers and organisations to plan and invest well, develop leadership and management, support recruitment and retention, and identify training needs in addition to accessing appropriate qualifications and/or training. Additional information: The framework arrangement is awarded for an initial period of 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2026. There is an option to extend this framework arrangement for a further period totalling 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2028.
Lot #5Farming and agricultural business supportAwardedceiling above
Providing support to farming and agricultural businesses at all stages of the business life cycle. Suppliers should be equipped to understand the opportunities for funding and farming practice and have a comprehensive knowledge of the sector in its broadest sense (which includes forestry, horticulture, aquaculture, regenerative land management, agri-tech and innovation). Additional information: The framework arrangement is awarded for an initial period of 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2026. There is an option to extend this framework arrangement for a further period totalling 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2028.
Lot #6Marketing and communication supportAwardedPublished value£250,000
Providing specialist marketing and promotion support for business support programmes. Outputs from suppliers may include the creation and delivery of a multi-media marketing and communications campaign, supplying a comprehensive suite of multi-media assets, a communication and branding plan to drive traffic to sign-up pages, brand development, in addition to analysis and campaign reporting on targeting specific audience(s), trend analysis, market research, and campaign evaluation. Additional information: The framework arrangement is awarded for an initial period of 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2026. There is an option to extend this framework arrangement for a further period totalling 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2028.
Lot #7Specialist business support - diversity in businessAwardedLot estimate not published
Providing specialist services and business support across all sectors, including farming and agriculture, on a variety of topics unique to specific sectors or business development. Additional information: The framework arrangement is awarded for an initial period of 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2026. There is an option to extend this framework arrangement for a further period totalling 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2028.
Lot #8Specialist business support - green business supportAwardedLot estimate not published
Providing specialist services and business support across all sectors, including farming and agriculture, on a variety of topics unique to specific sectors or business development. Additional information: The framework arrangement is awarded for an initial period of 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2026. There is an option to extend this framework arrangement for a further period totalling 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2028.
Lot #9Specialist business support - business and family succession planningAwardedLot estimate not published
Providing specialist services and business support across all sectors, including farming and agriculture, on a variety of topics unique to specific sectors or business development. Additional information: The framework arrangement is awarded for an initial period of 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2026. There is an option to extend this framework arrangement for a further period totalling 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2028.
Lot #10Specialist business support - routes to market and procurementAwardedLot estimate not published
Providing specialist services and business support across all sectors, including farming and agriculture, on a variety of topics unique to specific sectors or business development. Additional information: The framework arrangement is awarded for an initial period of 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2026. There is an option to extend this framework arrangement for a further period totalling 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2028.
Lot #115: Specialist business support - technological and digital business supportAwardedLot estimate not published
Providing specialist services and business support across all sectors, including farming and agriculture, on a variety of topics unique to specific sectors or business development. Additional information: The framework arrangement is awarded for an initial period of 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2026. There is an option to extend this framework arrangement for a further period totalling 24 months, finishing on the 30th May 2028.
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).
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality: 70
- Price: 30
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “CP2243-23 Business Support Framework 2023” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 13 Oct 2023, 13:03 BST
- Last source update
- 31 May 2024, 10:57 BST
- Award evaluation window
- 23 Nov 2023 – …
- Authority reference
DN687111- FTS notice number
2024/S 000-016975- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-040bd9Find a Tender
Publisher note: The authority reserves the right to cancel the procurement process at any stage. The authority does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender, and reserve the right not to award a contract. The authority reserves the right to award the contract in part, or to call for new tenders should they consider this necessary. Economic operators remain responsible for all costs and expenses incurred by them or by any third party acting under instructions from them in connection with their participation in this procurement, whether incurred directly by them or their advisors or subcontractors and regardless of whether such costs arise as a consequence direct or indirect of any amendments to documents issued by the authority at any time, or as a consequence of the cancellation of the procurement by the authority. For the avoidance of doubt, the authority shall have no liability whatsoever to economic operators or their advisors or subcontractors, for any of their costs, including but not limited to those for any discussions or communications. Any contract(s) or agreement(s) entered into as a result of this contract notice shall be considered as a contract(s) or agreement(s) made under English law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. If an economic operator considers that any information supplied by it during this procurement process is commercially sensitive or confidential in nature, this should be highlighted and the reasons for its sensitivity as well as the duration of that sensitivity specified. Economic operators should be aware that even where they have indicated that information is commercially sensitive, the authority may disclose it pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in response to a request for information where such disclosure is considered to be in the public interest. Please note that the receipt by any of the authority of any materials marked ‘confidential’ or equivalent shall not be taken to mean that the authority accepts any duty of confidence by virtue of that marking.
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- 23 Nov 2023, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bids opened
- 23 Nov 2023, 12:00 GMT
Timeline
23 Nov 2023 → 31 May 2024 · 3 dates- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown23 Nov 2023, 12:00 GMT
- Bids opened23 Nov 2023, 12:00 GMT
- Notice published31 May 2024, 10:57 BST
Notice history
1 event · 2 releases on Find a Tender- Status changed to complete31 May 2024, 10:57 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast10 suppliers are admitted to this framework without individual award values or dates, see the supplier list below.
Contracts
CP2243-23 Business Support Framework 2023 - Lot 1: Business support and growth
- Signed
- 29 May 2024
- Value
- —
- Period
- … – 6 Feb 2028
- Status
- active
CP2243-23 Business Support Framework 2023 - Lot 6: Marketing and communication support
- Signed
- 29 May 2024
- Value
- —
- Period
- … – 6 Feb 2028
- Status
- active
CP2243-23 Business Support Framework 2023 - Lot 2: Academic investigation and evaluation support
- Signed
- 29 May 2024
- Value
- —
- Period
- … – 6 Feb 2028
- Status
- active
CP2243-23 Business Support Framework 2023 - Lot 3.1: Specialist business support - diversity in business
- Signed
- 29 May 2024
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
CP2243-23 Business Support Framework 2023 - Lot 3.2: Specialist business support - green business support
- Signed
- 29 May 2024
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
CP2243-23 Business Support Framework 2023 - Lot 3.3: Specialist business support - business and family succession planning
- Signed
- 29 May 2024
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
CP2243-23 Business Support Framework 2023 - Lot 3.4: Specialist business support - routes to market and procurement
- Signed
- 29 May 2024
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
CP2243-23 Business Support Framework 2023 - Lot 3.5: Specialist business support - technological and digital business support
- Signed
- 29 May 2024
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
CP2243-23 Business Support Framework 2023 - Lot 4: Productivity and skills
- Signed
- 29 May 2024
- Value
- —
- Period
- … – 6 Feb 2028
- Status
- active
CP2243-23 Business Support Framework 2023 - Lot 5: Farming and agricultural business support
- Signed
- 29 May 2024
- Value
- —
- Period
- … – 6 Feb 2028
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Business support and growth | 13bids | — | — | £1,000,000 – £2,000,000 |
| 2 · Academic investigation and evaluation support | 2bids | — | — | £50,000 – £250,000 |
| 4 · Productivity and skills | 5bids | — | — | £500,000 – £1,000,000 |
| 5 · Farming and agricultural business support | 3bids | — | — | £1,000,000 – £2,000,000 |
| 6 · Marketing and communication support | 6bids | — | — | £50,000 – £250,000 |
| 7 · Specialist business support - diversity in business | 5bids | — | — | £50,000 – £100,000 |
| 8 · Specialist business support - green business support | 5bids | — | — | £50,000 – £100,000 |
| 9 · Specialist business support - business and family succession planning | 3bids | — | — | £50,000 – £100,000 |
| 10 · Specialist business support - routes to market and procurement | 5bids | — | — | £50,000 – £100,000 |
| 11 · 5: Specialist business support - technological and digital business support | 5bids | — | — | £50,000 – £100,000 |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- The High Court of JusticeReview body
Framework contractors & participating bidders
19 commercial parties on the notice- Analogy PR LLPFramework contractor
- Blueberry MarketingFramework contractor
- Empiric PartnersFramework contractor
- Empiric PartnersFramework contractor
- GWE Business West LimitedFramework contractor
- Justelle Marketing and Media LtdFramework contractor
- Libraries Unlimited Enterprises LimitedFramework contractor
- Libraries Unlimited Enterprises LimitedFramework contractor
- Like Us (NE) LimitedFramework contractor
- One Voice Media and PR LtdFramework contractor
Show 9 more suppliers
- P&Z Consulting LtdFramework contractor
- Program LimitedFramework contractor
- Southern Horizons (UK) LtdFramework contractor
- Town Square Spaces LtdFramework contractor
- Wavehill LtdFramework contractor
- West Devon Business Information Point LimitedFramework contractor
- West Devon Business Information Point LimitedFramework contractor
- YTKO LimitedFramework contractor
- YTKO LimitedFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.