Project-supervision services other than for construction work

Tender description

Innovate UK is the UK's innovation agency. We work with people, companies and partner organisations to find and drive the science and technology innovations that will grow the UK economy. We do this by identifying areas of development, meeting UK innovators with great ideas in the fields we're focused on, funding the strongest opportunities, connecting innovators with the right partners and helping our innovators launch, build and grow successful businesses. Each year, Innovate UK typically spends in excess of 1 000 000 000 GBP on grants to industry and companies of all types and sizes. We are committed to ensuring that the grant funding is used effectively and properly. One means by which we do this is to monitor the progress of grant funded projects throughout the project lifetime. This PIN relates to Innovate UK's procurement of those Monitoring Services. Attendance at the pre-market engagement event is entirely optional and is not a requirement for joining the DPS. The monitoring of grant funded innovation projects is primarily provided by Monitoring Officers. The Monitoring Officers are the primary interface between Innovate UK and the recipients of the grants. A Monitoring Officer is assigned to each Project during the start-up phase and is responsible for ensuring that the necessary project documentation both aligns with the grant funding agreement and is sufficiently detailed to allow the Monitoring Officer to monitor progress against it. Once the project is in the live phase the Monitoring Officer will observe and report on project performance periodically and provide a route for the project to escalate issues and seek advice. The periodic reviews of the project's performance are to gain assurance: 1. as to the technical progress & delivery of the project; 2. in relation to project management & reporting for the project; and 3 in relation to financial management & control for the project The requirements in respect of monitoring and the level of assurance to be provided through monitoring will differ depending on specific project requirements. For example, the value, duration and complexity will dictate the frequency of monitoring and reporting (monthly, quarterly or mid and final term only). Innovate UK intends to establish a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) in order to procure Monitoring Services. The DPS will be divided into lots based on the areas of innovation which the granted funded projects are focused on. The DPS will enable Innovate UK to tender contracts for Monitoring Officer services as the need arises within each of the innovation area Lots. It is currently envisaged that the DPS will run for 2 years with the possibility of 2 further 1 year extensions and that the annual expenditure on Monitoring Officer services is expected to be in the region of £10 million. This PIN is to advise the market of Innovate UK's current intentions regarding the procurement of Monitoring Services and to provide details on Innovate UK's planned market engagement events. It is not a call for competition. Any procurement conducted as a result of the market engagement events will be advertised separately. A series of market engagement events will be held between 24 July and 9 August 2017 at a number of locations across the UK: 24.7.2017 — Bristol 25.7.2017 — Cardiff 26.7.2017 — Birmingham 1.8.2017 — Glasgow 2.8.2017 — Newcastle 3.8.2017 — Manchester 8.8.2017 — London 9.8.2017 — Belfast These events will provide service providers (potential Monitoring Officers) with an opportunity to find out more about Innovate UK's plans for its monitoring services contracts, the aims of the procurement and the proposed process. Following the events there will be an opportunity for service providers to feed back their views on the proposals. Service Providers wishing to attend should send an Expression of Interest by no later than 14:00 Friday 14.7.2017 (the Deadline) to monitoringservicesprocurement@innovateuk.gov.uk stating the desired venue, name of attendee, company name, contact telephone number and email address for reply. Please also state whether you are an existing provider of services to Innovate UK or new to Innovate UK. Places are limited to attendance at one event only and only one representative per company. Please make reference to ‘PR17075 MO PIN Expression of Interest’ in the subject field of all correspondence regarding attendance at an event. Attendance to the events will not be permitted without prior confirmation of registration from Innovate UK. Expressions of Interest received after the Deadline will not be responded to. Attendance is entirely optional. In the event that you are unable to attend, materials provided at the event and the consolidated feedback FAQ sheet will be available from 21.8.2017 by emailing a request to monitoringservicesprocurement@innovateuk.gov.uk.