/NWDA00269%20OJEU

Services Open Procedure Notice

SECTION I: CONTRACTING AUTHORITY

I.1) NAME, ADDRESSES AND CONTACT POINT(S) Official name: Northwest Development Agency, Postal Address: PO Box 37 Renaissance House Centre Park, Town: Warrington, Telephone: 01925 400100, E-mail: Tender.Board@nwda.co.uk, Contact Point(s): , For the attention of: Tender Board, Postal Code: WA1 1XB, Country: UNITED KINGDOM, Fax: 01925 400400, General address of the contracting authority (URL): www.nwda.co.uk/tenders, Address of the Buyer Profile (URL): , I.1.1) Further information can be obtained at I.1.2) Specifications and additional documents (including documents for a Dynamic Purchasing System) can be obtained at Official name: NORTHWEST DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, Postal Address: BREW HOUSE, WILDERSPOOL PARK, GREENALLS AVE, Town: WARRINGTON, Telephone: 01925 644220, E-mail: , Contact Point(s): , For the attention of: Procurement Department, Postal Code: WA4 6HL, Country: , Fax: 01925 644242, General address of the contracting authority (URL): www.nwda.co.uk/tenders, Address of the Buyer Profile (URL): , I.1.3) Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to Official name: NWDA Tender Board, Postal Address: Brew House, Wilderspool Park, Greenalls Ave, Town: Warrington, Telephone: 01925 644220, Email: Tender.Board@nwda.co.uk, Contact Point(s): , For the attention of: Tender Board, Postal Code: WA4 6HL, Country: UNITED KINGDOM, Fax: 01925 644242, General address of the contracting authority (URL): www.nwda.co.uk/tenders, Address of the Buyer Profile (URL): , I.2.1) Type of contracting authority Other If 'other' please specify Regional Development Agency I.2.2) Main activity or activities Other If 'other' please specify Regional Development Agency I.2.2) The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities? No SECTION II: OBJECT OF THE CONTRACT

II.1) DESCRIPTION II.1.1) Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority UK-Warrington: Innovation Voucher Knowledge Provider Panel II.1.2) Service Category 11.

II.1.2.1) Main place of performance NORTH WEST \(ENGLAND\) NUTS Code UKD. II.1.3) The notice involves The establishment of a framework agreement II.1.4) Information on framework agreement (if appropriate) Framework agreement with several operators Number OR, if applicable, maximum number of participants to the framework agreement envisaged 150 II.1.4.1) Duration of the framework agreement (if appropriate) Period in year(s) OR month(s) 48 Justification for a framework agreement the duration of which exceeds four years II.1.4.2) Estimated total value of purchases for the entire duration of the framework agreement (give figures only) Estimated value excluding VAT OR range: between 3000000 and 3700000 Currency GBP Frequency and value of the contracts to be awarded (if possible) II.1.5) Short Description of the contract or purchase(s) Business-development consultancy services.Business and management consultancy and related services.Business analysis consultancy services.

II.1.6) Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) Main Object: 74141110-3.

Additional Object: 72221000-0.

Additional Object: 74140000-2.

II.1.7) Contract covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)? Yes II.1.8) Division into lots No If yes, tenders should be submitted for Lot No II.1.9) Variants will be accepted Yes II.2) QUANTITY OR SCOPE OF THE CONTRACT

II.2.1) Total quantity or scope (including all lots and options, if applicable) The NWDA wishes to establish a Framework Agreement for the provision of knowledge providers, to support the Innovation Voucher Scheme that is being developed in the Northwest region. The Agreement will consist of a panel of knowledge base providers, which is defined by DBERR's Tasking Framework as UK Public Sector Research Establishments or equivalents, Research and Development Organisations, Research and Technology Organisations, Higher Education and Further Education Institutions. This panel will be the automatic source for knowledge base providers servicing the Voucher Scheme. There are likely to be between 50 and 150 organisations selected for the Panel (hereinafter referred to as Panel Members). SME's will be invited to apply for an innovation voucher which can then be exchanged for knowledge from one of the panel members. Once the application for the voucher has been accepted the SME's requirement will be posted online by the NWDA project team. The Knowledge Base will then submit their quotation within 10 days and the SME will choose which provider to collaborate with.

If known, estimated value excluding VAT (give figures only) OR range: between and Currency II.2.2) Options (if applicable) If yes, description of these options If known, provisional timetable for recourse to these options: Period in month(s) or day(s) (from the award of the contract) Number of possible renewals (if any): or Range: between and If known, in the case of renewable contracts, estimated time-frame for subsequent contracts: in month(s) and/or days (from the award of the contract) II.3) DURATION OF THE CONTRACT OR TIME PERIOD FOR COMPLETION Either: Period in months And / or days (from the award of the contract) Or: Starting And/or ending SECTION III: LEGAL, ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION

III.1) CONDITIONS RELATING TO THE CONTRACT III.1.1) Deposits and guarantees required (if applicable) III.1.2) Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions regulating them A payment schedule will be agreed. However, please note that the Agency's standard payment terms are 30 days and method is by BACS. The Agency will not deviate from this method.

III.1.3) Legal form to be taken by the grouping of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded (if applicable) III.1.4) Other particular conditions to which performance of the contract is subject (if applicable) Yes If yes, description of particular conditions Please refer to the Invitation to Tender and the Agency's standard Terms & Conditions of Service that can be downloaded from the Agency's website www.nwda.co.uk/tenders III.2) CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION III.2.1) Personal situation of economic operators, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if requirements are met (a) is bankrupt or is being wound up, where his affairs are being administered by the court, where he has entered into an arrangement with creditors, where he has suspended business activities or is in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure under national laws and regulations; (b) is the subject of proceedings for a declaration of bankruptcy, for an order for compulsory winding up or administration by the court or of an arrangement with creditors or of any other similar proceedings under national laws and regulations; (c) has been convicted by a judgment which has the force of res judicata in accordance with the legal provisions of the country of any offence concerning his professional conduct; (d) has been guilty of grave professional misconduct proven by any means which the contracting authorities can demonstrate; (e) has not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which he is established or with those of the country of the contracting authority; (f) has not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of taxes in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which he is established or with those of the country of the contracting authority; (g) is guilty of serious misrepresentation in supplying the information required under this Section or has not supplied such information;

(h) has been the subject of a conviction for participation in a criminal organisation, as defined in Article 2(1) of Council Joint Action 98/733/JHA; (i) has been the subject of a conviction for corruption, as defined in Article 3 of the Council Act of 26 May 1972 and Article 3(1) of Council Joint Action 98/742/JHA3 respectively; (j) has been the subject of a conviction for fraud within the meaning of Article 1 of the Convention relating to the protection of the financial interests of the European Communities; (k) has been the subject of a conviction for money laundering, as defined in Article 1 of Council Directive 91/308/EEC of 10 June 1991 on prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering.

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if requirements are met III.2.2) Economic and financial capacity Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if requirements are met (If applicable) Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) Please refer to the Invitation to Tender and the Agency's standard Terms & Conditions of Service that can be downloaded from the Agency's website www.nwda.co.uk/tenders III.2.3) Technical capacity Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if requirements are met (If applicable) Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) Please refer to the Invitation to Tender and the Agency's standard Terms & Conditions of Service that can be downloaded from the Agency's website www.nwda.co.uk/tenders III.2.4) Reserved Contracts (if applicable) III.3) CONDITIONS SPECIFIC TO SERVICES CONTRACTS III.3.1) Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession If yes, reference of the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision III.3.2) Legal entities should indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff responsible for the execution of the service Yes SECTION IV: PROCEDURE

IV.1) TYPE OF PROCEDURE Open procedure.

IV.2) AWARD CRITERIA IV.2.1) Award criteria (please tick the relevant box(es)) B) The most economically advantageous tender in terms of: B2) the criteria as stated in the specifications, in the invitation to tender or to negotiate or in the descriptive document.

IV.2.2) An electronic auction will be used No If yes, additional information about electronic auction (if appropriate) IV.3) ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION IV.3.1 File reference number attributed by the contracting entity (if applicable) NWDA00269 IV.3.2) Previous publication concerning the same contract If yes: IV.3.2.1) Notice number in OJ: Of IV.3.2.2) Other previous publications Notice number in OJ: Of IV.3.3) Conditions for obtaining specifications and additional documents (except for a DPS) Time-limit for receipt of requests for documents or for accessing documents 24/09/2008 Time: 09:00 Payable documents No If yes, Price (give figures only): Currency Terms and method of payment IV.3.4) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate Date 25/09/2008 Time 10:00 IV.3.6) Language(s) in which tenders or requests to participate may be drawn up English Other - third country IV.3.7) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender Until Or months from the deadline stated for receipt of tenders Or days from the deadline stated for receipt of tenders IV.3.8) Conditions for opening tenders IV.3.8.1) Date, time and place Date Time Place (if applicable) IV.3.8.2) Persons authorised to be present at the opening of tenders (if applicable) If yes, authorised persons

SECTION VI: COMPLEMENTARY INFORMATION VI.1) THIS IS A RECURRENT PROCUREMENT (if applicable) If yes, estimated timing for further notices to be published: VI.2) CONTRACT(S) RELATED TO A PROJECT AND / OR PROGRAMME FINANCED BY EU FUNDS If yes, reference to project(s) and / or programme(s) VI.3) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (if applicable) 1) The Northwest Development Agency (the "Agency") requires Interested Parties to complete and return an Invitation to Tender (ITT). Submissions must be in accordance with these instructions and any further instructions contained in the ITT. 2) The ITT documents can be downloaded from the Agency's website at www.nwda.co.uk/tenders. 3) If the Agency considers any question or request for clarification to be of material significance, both the query and the response will be posted on the Agency's website at www.nwda.co.uk/tenders in an anonymous form. It is the responsibility of Interested Parties to check this website periodically before the tender return date to check for any updates and to incorporate these updates into the tender submission. All questions must be addressed to Tender.Board@nwda.co.uk and be received at least 5 working days before the submission date, otherwise a response cannot be guaranteed. 4) Documentation must be returned to: Tender Board, Northwest Development Agency, Brew House, Wilderspool Park, Greenalls Avenue, Warrington, Cheshire WA1 1XB. A direction map can be downloaded from the Agency's website: www.nwda.co.uk About NWDA, Office Locations, Cheshire Office. 5) The ITT address label must be used for the return of documentation.

Envelopes/ packages should be plain and must not show any reference to the Interested Party's identity. The ITT address label must be placed on the front of the return envelope. Documentation without the label or in envelopes, which in any way identify the Interested Party, may not be considered. 6) The date and time for return of the documents is shown on the label and in the ITT. Documents must be returned no later than the date and time stated. Completed documents will be received up to the time and date stated. It is the Interested Party's responsibility to ensure that their documents are received on time. The Agency does not undertake to consider documents received after that time unless clear evidence of posting via the Post Office is available (i.e. a clear black postmark and/or certificate of posting). 7) Instructions for the return of tender documents are contained in the Instructions to Tenderers section of the ITT document. Documents must be returned either by post, or by hand to the reception desk ensuring that a member of staff notes the time and date of receipt.

Documents delivered otherwise may not arrive on time. 8) Facsimile, e-mail, and telephone: Documents will not be considered if sent by these methods. Hand delivery of envelopes will be accepted. 9) The documents should be completed legibly in black ink, black ballpoint or clearly typed, unless otherwise stated. 8) The Agency does not acknowledge receipt of documents and accepts no responsibility for loss or non-receipt of applications. 9) Submissions may not be considered if any of the requested information is not completed and/or supplied. If any of the requested information is missing or is incorrect, the proposal may be rejected on that sole basis and the proposal will not be evaluated further. 10) The Agency does not bind itself to accept the lowest, or indeed any, tender. 11) The issue of this document in no way commits the Agency to award any contract pursuant to the bid process nor does it constitute an offer to enter into a contractual relationship. 12) Interested Parties must not try to obtain any information about any other party's submission or proposed submissions before the contract is awarded. 13) Interested Parties must not arrange with any other party the submission of any documentation, except in the cases where sub-contracting and/or joint ventures are applicable. 14) If an Interested Party's documentation is accepted, the Agency cannot guarantee that the documents will remain confidential. The Agency may be obliged to disclose information provided by Interested Parties in response to this OJEU Notice under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, all subordinate legislation made under this and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 ("the Freedom of Information Legislation"). Interested Parties should be aware that the information they provide could be disclosed in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Legislation. The Agency will proceed on the basis of disclosure unless an appropriate exemption applies. Interested Parties should be aware that despite the availability of some exemptions, information may still be disclosed if the public interest in its disclosure outweighs the public interest in maintaining the exemption. No response to this ITT should be covered by a general statement regarding its overall confidentiality, instead Interested Parties should highlight information in their responses which they consider to be commercially sensitive or confidential in nature, and should state the precise reasons why they consider this. If this is not advised, the Agency reserves the right to reject any Interested Party's application. The Agency accepts no liability for loss as a result of any information disclosed in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Legislation. The Agency will use reasonable endeavours to consult with Interested Parties over the release of information which is highlighted by them as commercially sensitive or confidential. 15) Trading names/invoicing: Where invoices will be rendered by, or payments made to, an entity whose title differs in any respect from the title in which the documentation is submitted, full details must be provided in a letter accompanying the documents. Failure to provide these details may result in rejection of the Interested Party's application. 16) The Agency's Payment Terms are 30 days. BACS Payment is the Agency's standard method of payment, as per the Agency's Standard Terms and Conditions of Contract. 17) Interested Parties will be required to confirm acceptance of the Agency's Standard Terms and Conditions of Contract. Failure to accept the Agency's Terms and Conditions of Contract may result in Interested Parties being disqualified from taking any further part in this process 18) All responses must be in English. 19) Any information provided on separate pages or on supporting and supplementary documentation should be presented in the same order as, and must be cross-referenced to, the relevant question. Any separate sheets must be appended in the ITT response document. 20) The provision of false or misrepresented information will result in an application being rejected.

VI.4) PROCEDURES FOR APPEAL VI.4.1) Body responsible for appeal procedures Official name: Northwest Regional Development Agency,

Postal Address: PO Box 37, Renaissance House, Centre Park, Town: Warrington, Telephone: 01925 400100, E-mail: , Contact Point(s): , For the attention of: Steven Broomhead, Postal Code: WA1 1XB, Country: UNITED KINGDOM, Fax: 01925 400400, General address of the contracting authority (URL): www.nwda.co.uk, Address of the Buyer Profile (URL): , Body responsible for mediation procedures (if applicable) VI.4.2) Lodging of appeals (please fill heading VI.4.2 OR if need be, heading VI.4.3) Precise information on deadline(s) for lodging appeals: VI.4.3) Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained VI.5) DATE OF DISPATCH OF THIS NOTICE 04/08/2008 END OF NOTICE