--- title: "TENDER OPPORTUNITY: BUSINESS ADVICE SERVICES" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-1a4f0e87-12b2-4045-b1ed-043e96262608" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-1a4f0e87-12b2-4045-b1ed-043e96262608" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1a4f0e87-12b2-4045-b1ed-043e96262608.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1a4f0e87-12b2-4045-b1ed-043e96262608.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "CUMBRIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE" published: "2020-02-12" --- # TENDER OPPORTUNITY: BUSINESS ADVICE SERVICES Buyer: CUMBRIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-1a4f0e87-12b2-4045-b1ed-043e96262608 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-1a4f0e87-12b2-4045-b1ed-043e96262608) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1a4f0e87-12b2-4045-b1ed-043e96262608.json) ## Summary The Cumbria Chamber of Commerce is currently seeking experienced business advisers for their "Business Advice Services" tender opportunity, with an overall value of £632,777. This open procurement, classified under business services, aims to support various initiatives including the ERDF Growth Hub and Business Start-Up Support project. The tender period ends on 20th February 2020, with contracts expected to commence on 9th March 2020 and running for up to four years, concluding around May 2023. Interested parties must submit their applications via post or email to Lesley Robinson at the Chamber's Carlisle office. This tender presents significant opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) specialising in business consulting, training, or coaching services, particularly those with experience in supporting start-ups and established businesses. Businesses with a flexible approach to client needs and preferences will thrive, as the tender invites a diverse pool of advisers to meet varying demands in Cumbria's growing business landscape. As the existing pool of advisers will be renewed, former contractors are required to reapply to continue their involvement in future projects. ## Notice This invitation is issued by Cumbria Chamber of Commerce/Cumbria Business Growth Hub. It covers business advice for the following initiatives delivered within its Cumbria Business Growth Hub umbrella: ERDF Growth Hub project (including supply chain) ERDF BSUS Business Start-Up Support project New Enterprise Allowance Other potential business support projects/initiatives We are looking to renew our pool of experienced business advisers (individual advisers and/or specified individuals within an organisation), both generalist and specialist, to carry out business reviews/training needs analyses, develop action plans and deliver advice and coaching to businesses (primarily small and medium-sized businesses [SMEs]) and/or potential start-ups in Cumbria. This will be a flexible pool of contracted advisers, drawn on as needed depending on factors such as levels of demand, client needs and preferences, experience and specialisms. The pool may also be used for other similar business support projects. Note that this tender is to replace the existing pool for the relevant projects. Advisers already contracted must reapply if they wish to continue to work on these projects and/or to work on future projects in the next four years. Timescales The current ERDF projects run until approximately June 2023. The current New Enterprise Allowance project is open to new referrals until at least March 2021. This pool will be in operation for up to four years. It is intended that contracts will start from 9th March 2020. Note that there will be no commitment to a particular number of hours under the contracts, either in total or in any given period. Additional information: Submissions must be submitted by post or email to Lesley Robinson, Growth Hub Project Manager, Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, 3rd Floor Broadacre House, 16-20 Lowther Street, Carlisle, CA3 8DA, lesleyr@cumbriachamber.co.uk by no later than 12 noon on 20th February 2020. Any tender received after the deadline will not be opened or considered. Questions & Answers (Updated 03/02/2020) Do I need to be a Chamber member to tender? - No In the ITT each criteria has an associated word count (Relevant expertise, qualifications and experience (word limit 500 words), is this the total word count or 500 words per lot and 500 words per specialism tendered for? - It's 500 words per lot Schedule E asks for 3 contracts relevant to Chamber - my contracts have all been Chamber work so would I put down BSUS/GH, NEA and Catalyst for example? - It's fine to list Chamber contracts, please don't list Lesley Robinson as a reference Do all the forms need to be printed, wet signatures, scanned and returned or can I just type in the signature boxes as I am submitting via email - Typed signature is acceptable Do I need to complete schedule G sample contract? - No it's just an example contract I wonder can you tell me how many hours a week it might be and a bit more about how it works - do we need to find clients ourselves or do you do that for us? - I can't give any indication around working hours etc, advisers are allocated on a ranked basis which takes into account the score of the tender and distance to the client. Highest ranked advisers will obviously get more work than lower-ranking advisers but this depends on client demand and location. Clients can either be allocated by ourselves or you can bring clients into the project(s) as long as they meet the eligibility criteria in place. Can it work around existing business and your specialism and what experience do you need to have to apply? - There are various lots to apply for, apply for the ones you would feel comfortable supporting either start-ups or established businesses in and list any relevant experience you have under those lots looking at your employment history, any relevant qualifications or training undertaken etc. [Can] I just clarify one aspect of the Tender Submission. The Lot Category: Funding (including Submissions) does this include all Subsidy work for both Pools and wider Leader applications or just the wider category? I'm happy to do the Chamber funding applications but have little experience or interest in the bigger financing projects. - No we wouldn't include subsidies in that category. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/86522c88-de79-4aef-96ae-70a26c83dbfa | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (below threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 12 Feb 2020 | | Submission deadline | 20 Feb 2020 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 9 Mar 2020 - 31 May 2023 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £632,777 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | CUMBRIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | | Locality | CARLISLE | | Post town | Carlisle | | Postcode | CA3 8DA | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD1 Cumbria | | ITL 3 | TLD13 Cumberland | | Local authority | Cumberland | | Electoral ward | Castle | | Westminster constituency | Carlisle | | Delivery location | TLD North West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security - 80 - Education and training services ### Codes - 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security - 80000000 - Education and training services ## Release History - 12 Feb 2020 at 14:00 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/86522c88-de79-4aef-96ae-70a26c83dbfa - 3 Feb 2020 at 09:19 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/86522c88-de79-4aef-96ae-70a26c83dbfa - 28 Jan 2020 at 11:34 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/86522c88-de79-4aef-96ae-70a26c83dbfa - 27 Jan 2020 at 11:59 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/86522c88-de79-4aef-96ae-70a26c83dbfa ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/86522c88-de79-4aef-96ae-70a26c83dbfa 12th February 2020 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/909f6463-bbf8-4aca-8e32-088e8fb80f6d Invitation to Tender - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/8e117e73-5074-4f04-9c70-7c0da14e4ff9 Schedule A Certificate of Non-Collusion - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/2b6a6498-e0ca-46af-a988-4f0d6849251e Schedule B Form of Tender - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/1ef39ae2-cab7-478b-9a2b-df95ebac34e1 Schedule C Commercially Sensitive Information - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/cf05f455-a9f3-4fd5-99f0-85d71ba0b3f4 Schedule D Undertaking - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/757c587e-08ed-422d-996c-98c77666f6fe Schedule E PQQ - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/bb10b2d1-27a3-4ad4-8a8f-077399d028eb Schedule F Adviser Tender Tables - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/cc0919f1-8de1-491d-b41c-f69d1655dd8e Schedule G Sample contract - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/12834e06-f648-470e-91c8-1dae8f30a94c Schedule H Award Criteria - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/a816ad83-f3c3-4d99-9b0d-dc07b8699169 Schedule A Certificate of Non-Collusion (editable) - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/0112fc23-f0a5-4ca2-a77a-82ec156236c6 Schedule B Form of Tender (Editable) - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/322c3c06-f7e2-4a91-992f-ccda4f47b872 Schedule C Commercially Sensitive Information (editable) - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/bf11c1f0-44d0-4ed6-98ac-fc0f7180be1f Schedule D Undertaking (editable) - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/f032ac57-5e39-47b0-aea4-c2bb18df5b7f Schedule E PQQ (editable) - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/5d6aafa3-eed6-4147-816a-6a1fb2827d67 Schedule F Adviser Tender Tables (editable) - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/3dd60484-05fc-4709-bdc9-5f723b2f8bd4 Schedule G Sample contract (editable) - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/e8567ab8-47cc-47cf-b6f0-f6a903cb7e5c Schedule H Award Criteria (editable) ## Notice URLs - https://cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk/news/25497-tender-opportunity-business-advice-services-2020 ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-1a4f0e87-12b2-4045-b1ed-043e96262608. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1a4f0e87-12b2-4045-b1ed-043e96262608.json.