--- title: "Supply Chain Transition (Investment Zone)" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0499fc" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0499fc" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0499fc.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0499fc.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY" published: "2024-09-11" --- # Supply Chain Transition (Investment Zone) Buyer: WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0499fc [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0499fc) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0499fc.json) ## Summary The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is in the planning stage for a procurement process titled "Supply Chain Transition (Investment Zone)", focused on business development consultancy services within the advanced manufacturing sector. To kickstart this process, WMCA is hosting a pre-tender market engagement workshop on 25th September 2024 from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm at Foundry, 6 Brindley Place, Birmingham, B1 2JB. The aim is to provide information about the programme and gather feedback from potential suppliers ahead of the formal tender planned for later this year. Interested suppliers must register by completing PQQ_235 via the Bravo Solution portal and confirm their attendance by 23rd September 2024, 12:00 pm. The workshop is limited to the first 30 respondents. This procurement presents a significant opportunity for businesses in the West Midlands region to engage in a high-growth initiative funded by the West Midlands Investment Zone. The programme is designed to support SMEs in transitioning to new supply chain opportunities related to smart energy systems, electric light vehicles, med-tech, health-tech, future housing manufacturing, and aerospace. By participating, businesses can benefit from one-on-one industry-specific advice, access to a £6 million fund for collaborative R&D, and a £2.5 million budget for leadership and management training. This initiative is suited for organisations capable of providing comprehensive business consultancy services, particularly those experienced in managing substantial projects and fostering economic development in underperforming areas. ## Notice There are many important trends in the global economy which are creating huge change in how businesses operate. Massive and rapid technological advances, Covid-19 and its aftermath, the push to decarbonise and adapt to climate change as well as geopolitical tensions and their response are altering how businesses operate across many areas such as how they train, recruit and manage staff, how products are made, how services are delivered and how customers and suppliers are managed. The global competition in older industries (e.g., Automotives) has pushed prices down and forced SME companies to be as competitive as possible. This means many small businesses operate on lower margins, where superfluous costs must be trimmed so they can focus on essentials. As a result of this increased competition, the ability of many smaller firms in the West Midlands to navigate and adapt to the new requirements and practices is limited. It takes a lot of resources for companies to plan and prepare for meeting these requirements, let alone the resources required for investment in new plant and equipment, gaining new certifications or hiring new managers and employees etc. Many companies don't have these resources, and selling their business is sometimes an easier solution. The Supply Chain Transition (IZ) Programme hopes to inspire and equip hundreds of businesses in the West Midlands to take advantage of opportunities in growing sectors of the global economy. Businesses will be engaged at different stages of their journey - from those just beginning to explore new options, to those who need more in-depth analysis of costs and risks, to those who are committed to change and are seeking to invest in necessary accreditations, training, research and development or capital equipment. The programme will be funded by the West Midlands Investment Zone (IZ). The Investment Zone aims to attract investment and jobs into areas which have traditionally underperformed economically but have the potential to be areas of high growth and support the levelling up agenda. The West Midlands Investment Zone will target the Advanced Manufacturing sector. ### Lot Information Lot 1 The procurement will involve: - Supporting SMEs based in the seven constituent local authorities of the West Midlands Combined Authority area, plus Warwick District Council, to pivot into new supply chain opportunities related to advanced manufacturing, in particular: - Smart energy systems - Electric light vehicles and associated battery storage - Med-tech and health-tech - Manufacture of Future Housing - Aerospace - Working with a key customer or customers (i.e. organisations that have committed to investing significantly and growing their supply chains) to design and deliver the support. - Marketing and communication activity to recruit and select appropriate businesses onto the programme. - Preparation of an audit of current strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of each participant business. - Preparation of an action plan detailing how participant businesses can respond to the audit, using the following services provided by the contractor: - One-to-one intensive, industry-specific technical advice and guidance - A PS6 million fund for collaborative research and development projects delivered in collaboration with research institutions - A PS2.5 million budget to pay for leadership and management training at Level 4 and 5 for participant businesses. This will be awarded as a Services Contract. The terms and conditions used will be those specified in our draft contract. A copy of the draft contract applicable to this commission will be included with the published tender pack. The contract for this programme is estimated to run from April 2025 to March 2029. Additional information: The WMCA intends to award one contract to one (lead) supplier. The WMCA encourages a delivery model that brings together a range of expertise, through consortium or sub-contracting arrangements, with a lead supplier named in either model. Please note, there will be no consortium management fee available, and any sub-contracting arrangements are expected to be managed by the lead contractor. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029114-2024 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 11 Sep 2024 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 20 Oct 2024 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £12,000,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY | | Locality | BIRMINGHAM | | Post town | Birmingham | | Postcode | B19 3SD | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) | | ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands | | ITL 3 | TLG31 Birmingham | | Local authority | Birmingham | | Electoral ward | Newtown | | Westminster constituency | Birmingham Ladywood | | Delivery location | TLG West Midlands (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 72221000 - Business analysis consultancy services - 79410000 - Business and management consultancy services - 79411100 - Business development consultancy services ## Release History - 11 Sep 2024 at 13:28 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029114-2024 ## Notice URLs - http://www.wmca.org.uk - https://wmca.bravosolution.co.uk/esop/guest/login.do ## 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-h6vhtk-0499fc. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0499fc.json.