Award of PKC13574 Business Accelerator Programme

Description

IntroductionPerth and Kinross Council would like to invite qualified suppliers to design and deliver a Business Accelerator Programme (or multiple programmes) which will support the growth and sustainability of startups, existing businesses, and social enterprises in Perth and Kinross.The Programme(s) should be delivered through in-person activities, and participation will be non-chargeable. The contract will be time-bound and it is envisaged that it will start on 1 October 2025 and will run until 31 March 2026.The contract will be managed by Perth and Kinross Council (Business, Place and Investment Team).Proposals should be submitted via Public Contracts Scotland no later than 12 noon on Wednesday 3 September 2025.Focus:The Programme(s) must support businesses within the following areas:1. Creative Industries (e.g design, advertising, film/media, games development, crafts, music, performance, publishing, and digital content creation).2. Digital Sector (e.g. software development, IT services, app/web development, cyber security, data services, digital marketing).3. Cross-Sector Digitalisation (i.e supporting businesses in any sector to adopt digital tools and technologies to improve efficiency, productivity or customer engagement).Objectives:The Programme(s) must be specifically designed to meet the following objectives:1. To increase the number of start-ups in the creative industries and digital sector.2. To support the growth and sustainability of existing businesses and social enterprises in the creative industries and digital sector.3. To enable digital transformation (digitalisation) across all sectors through specific support.4. To increase employment in the creative industries and digital sector.Target Audience:The Programme(s) should be relevant to:1. Aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start businesses in the creative or digital sectors.2. Early-stage and growth-stage businesses in the creative or digital sectors.3. Social enterprises working within, or seeking to, diversify into creative or digital activity.4. Businesses from any sector requiring support with digitalisation.BackgroundThere are 3 key documents which inform this contract:1. Perth & Kinross Council’s Corporate Plan 2022/23 - 2027/28The Corporate Plan is made up of 7 priorities which set out a vision for a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality. This contract contributes towards Corporate Plan Priority: Developing a resilient, stronger and greener local economy2. Perth & Kinross Council’s Culture Strategy 2023 – 20283. Perth & Kinross Economic Action Plan 2025 - 2030The Economic Action Plan sets out specific actions, and this contract will deliver against the following one:“Develop and deliver sector specific business support programmes and accelerators for the creative industries and digital sector”Local Landscape• In 2024, there were 355 businesses in the Creative Industries (including digital) in Perth and Kinross, which equates to around 5.4% of all registered businesses in our local authority area. Of these businesses, 160 were classed as Urban, and 195 were classed as Rural.Source: Businesses in Scotland 2024; Scottish Government Industry Statistics - Local Authority Areas 2024• IT, software, and computer services comprise the largest subsector component of the creative industries by GVA. Within Perth and Kinross, a breakdown of the 281 companies represents around 28% of the businesses in the flourishing regional Digital Sub Sector.Source: Tay Cities Digital Ecosystem Mapping 2024• Perth & Kinross Council has made capital investment of £53m in cultural infrastructure since 2012.In 2021, Perth became a UNESCO Creative City as a City of Craft and Folk Arts, providing us with a globally recognisable asset with which to develop and promote the area as a creative and cultural destination. There is an opportunity to use this designation to highlight the attractiveness of our area as a place to start or grow cultural and creative businesses; and to ensure culture is embedded in the area’s economic fabric.Perth Ideas CentrePerth Ideas Centre is a business innovation centre which is located within WASPS Perth Creative Exchange. This facility is designed to encourage and inspire the development and growth of businesses and ideas; and provides flexible space and a range of hardware and software designed to create an environment where innovation and entrepreneurship can grow and be nurtured.Subject to availability, Perth Ideas Centre will be available to the successful supplier to deliver this contract. There is no charge to use Perth Ideas Centre.Objectivesa. Scope of ServicesBudget & Delivery Expectations:The total budget available for this contract is GBP40,000 (inclusive of VAT and all costs). It is expected that suppliers will use the entire budget.Suppliers are expected to propose the most impactful and cost-effective delivery model. This may include:• A single accelerator programme.• A series of short or themed accelerators.• A phased or cohort-based model.Examples of previous and current activities:(Please note that budgets for the following programmes were not equal to the value of this contract. These examples are provided for information purposes only).1. Creative Accelerators - (12-week programmes, 1 day per week, each with 12 participants). We found that the time-commitment required from businesses to participate in these programmes became increasingly difficult post-covid.2. Mini Accelerators - (3-week programme of 3 stand-alone sessions taking place 1 day per week). Participants could attend 1 session, 2 sessions or all 3 sessions, with up to 10 participants per session. We found that this format was more palatable for participants in terms of time commitment.Proposals:• Bids should clearly demonstrate how the designed approach will deliver against the objectives.• Bids should clearly demonstrate how the designed approach will maximise reach, quality and impact within the available budget.• Bids should be structured in such as way as to clearly present the supplier’s understanding of the needs, challenges and opportunities of the target audience.• Bids should clearly set out how the required outcomes will be delivered.• Suppliers should be experienced in the development and delivery of business accelerators and business support initiatives, and should be able to demonstrate this clearly in their proposal.• If any part of the Programme(s) will be delivered by sub-contractors or in partnership, this must be detailed and include:o who the sub-contractors / partners areo their relevant experience.• Bids should include include:o Methodology for informing the content and delivery methods of the Programme(s)o A clear plan of proposed activities.o Anticipated number of participants.o A monitoring framework.o Breakdown of the sectors and business types which will be supported.o How success will be measured.b. Outputs and MilestonesMeetings• Following the supplier being formally appointed, a contract meeting will be scheduled to take place for the appointed delivery supplier and the contract manager. A further operational meeting will then be scheduled with the dedicated individual(s) who will deliver the activity alongside the delivery supplier manager. The period between these two dates will provide time to mobilise an appropriate individual(s) if required.• Meetings with the contract manager will be planned monthly. These and all other dates will be agreed at the initial meeting. These meetings should address any major concerns by the contract manager, the supplier, or stakeholders.Reporting• Monthly ReportsA one-page report, based on the monitoring framework, should be produced and emailed to the contract manager on a monthly basis starting one calendar month before the operational induction meeting. This report should also briefly detail activity carried out during the preceding month and a plan of activity over the following month..The report may include information on specific businesses or projects such as star performers or those needing more support, but detail on each business is not required each month.The report should include any risks alongside any mitigation.• Final ReportA Final Report should be produced at the end of the Programme. This should detail activity carried out, information on objectives met, outcomes across the whole period of the project, and include the monitoring process.The report should also include lessons learned and recommendations for improvement in future business support programmes. This should be in a standard written report format, submitted in both hard and electronic versions. A summary should also be submitted in PowerPoint. The supplier will have one month from the completion of the delivery period to submit this report.c. Fees and Costs• The total budget available for this contract is GBP40,000 (inclusive of VAT). It is assumed that supplier will use the whole budget.• Rates and prices shall be deemed inclusive of all additional expenses howsoever incurred.• The Council is not required to accept the lowest priced or any bid in relation to this quotation opportunity.Terms and ConditionsPerth and Kinross Council's Standard Terms and Conditions Supply of Services (non-Construction and Non Consultancy) will apply to this contract.Selection CriteriaSelection Criteria (Pass/Fail)1. Please confirm that you have the minimum insurance requirements:a. Public Liability: GBP5mb. Employers’ Liability: GBP10m2. Please confirm that you can deliver all elements of your proposed programme through in-person activities.3. Please provide details of your experience in developing and delivering business support programmes for startups and existing businesses – a minimum of 2 years’ experience is required.4. Please provide details of your experience in developing and delivering business support programmes aimed at businesses in the creative industries and digital sectors.5. Please provide details of your experience in developing and delivering programmes designed to enable digital transformation (digitalisation) for businesses.Award CriteriaQuality (60%)1. Please confirm you have read, understood and fully comply with the PKC Terms & Conditions for Services (PASS/FAIL).2. Please describe your understanding of the specific programme activity requirements (10%).3. Please describe each of the elements of your proposed Programme(s), including the activities and proposed number of participants(20%)4. Please explain how you will ensure that your proposal will be relevant to the target audiences (5%).5. Please explain how your proposal will increase the number of start-ups in the creative industries and digital sector (10%).6. Please explain how your proposal will support the growth and sustainability of existing businesses and social enterprises in the creative industries and digital sector (10%).7. Please explain how your proposal will enable digital transformation (digitalisation) across all sectors (10%)8. Please explain how your proposal will increase employment in the creative industries and digital sector (10%)9. Please describe your methodology for identifying and recruiting participants from the target groups (10%)10. Please indicate the total number of participants your proposal expects to support (10%).Please break this down into:a) Start-ups in the creative industries and digital sectorb) Existing businesses and social enterprises in the creative industries and digital sectorc) Businesses from any sector requiring digital transformation (digitalisation) support.11. Please describe your proposed monitoring framework.(5%)Pricing (40%)• There is a set budget for this project of GBP40,000. It is assumed that you will use the whole budget.• Please state the total number of days you propose the Programme(s) will be delivered on during the contract period (from proposed contract start date of 1 October 2025 to contract end date of 31 March 2026). This should be divided into headings, for example: programme design, planning, onboarding, delivery, etc and an overall total should be shown.• If sub-contractors or partners are required to deliver any elements of the programme, please detail the total number of days during the contract period that they will be utilised. This should be divided into headings, for example: design planning, delivery etc but a total should be shown.• The Price score shall be allocated by comparing the number of days being proposed by each bidder. The highest number of days shall be given the maximum score of 100, and all other bids shall be allocated a pro-rata score.Key Performance IndicatorsThe following KPIs will be applied to this contract:1. Increase the number of start-ups and the growth of existing businesses in the creative industries and digital sector.2. Number of businesses operating in the creative industries and digital sector.3. Number of businesses reporting growth in the creative industries and digital sector.4. Total employment in the creative industries and digital sector.5. Increase in the number of businesses adopting digital tools and technologies.Evaluation CriteriaBidders should take note of all award criteria and ensure that adequate information is provided with their submission to allow the application of an accurate score. Failure to present this information shall result in a low or nil score where applicable.The Quality criterion shall be assessed on the basis of the evidence submitted by the Bidder and will be scored as follows: unless advised against specific questionsScore Scoring Rationale0 (0%) Unacceptable - Nil or inadequate response. Fails to demonstrate an ability to meet the requirement.1(25%) Poor - Response is partially relevant and poor. The response addresses some elements of the requirement but contains insufficient/limited detail or explanation to demonstrate how the requirement will be fulfilled.2(50%) Acceptable - Response is relevant and acceptable. The response addresses a broad understanding of the requirement but may lack details on how the requirement will be fulfilled in certain areas.3(75%) Good - Response is relevant and good. The response is sufficiently detailed to demonstrate a good understanding and provides details on how the requirements will be fulfilled.4(100%) Excellent - Response is completely relevant and excellent overall. The response is comprehensive, unambiguous and demonstrates a thorough understanding of the requirement and provides details of how the requirement will be met in full.Additional informationThis contract is being funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)Instructions for Return of BidsBids should be submitted electronically through the Public Contract Scotland advertising portal by no later than the time and date stated below.Indicative Project Timeline and Milestones• Publish/Issue Invitation to Quote: Monday 18 August 2025• Last date for Bidder Questions: Friday 29 August 2025• Latest Quotation Return Date/Time: Wednesday 3 September 2025• Evaluation completion target date: Friday 12 September 2025• Contract Award(s) target date: Tuesday 16 September 2025After the Quotation return date, these dates are indicative only for the general information of Bidders but are not to be relied upon for pricing or any other purpose.Any questions on this invitation to quote should be addressed via the Public Contracts Scotland portal as per the date above.SustainabilityConsideration should be given to the Council’s Sustainability Policy to ensure best practice is promoted throughout the organisation and m