Market and economic research; polling and statistics

Tender description

The Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority (SCR MCA) requires the provision of consultancy services on a call-off basis, to assist with the central co-ordination and scrutiny of schemes submitted for Local Growth Fund (LGF) and other funding support as well as support with responding to funding opportunities from central government. This procurement exercise will allow us to assemble a panel of specialist consultants to support the SCR MCA in the period ahead. The consultants will provide assistance to facilitate this appraisal process, by undertaking the following tasks: 1) Appraise all business cases and supporting evidence submitted (including Appraisal Specification Reports) and provide comment, advice and recommendations as appropriate; 2) Identify gaps in evidence and specify any clarifications required ahead of any recommendation for investment; 3) Recommend whether a project should be progressed for funding approval; 4) Provide technical input to support SCR MCA funding bids; 5) Remain independent and inform SCR of any (potential) conflict of interest that may arise. Our requirements within each of these tasks are outlined below. — Appraise all business cases and supporting evidence submitted and provide comment, advice and recommendations as appropriate. For this task, we expect consultants to: —— Scrutinise each of the five dimensions as set out in the business cases, —— Advise SCR on the strategic rationale, value for money, viability, deliverability, risk and evidence of demand for each proposed project, —— Advise on value for money, —— Assess the strategic policy fit and deliverability of schemes, —— Advise SCR on the potential delivery risks of schemes, —— Assess the evidence of demand for the proposed intervention, —— Assess the effects of scheme delivery on the environment, —— Conduct sensitivity analysis and consideration of optimism bias, —— All other assessments and analyses as required to inform investment decisions, —— Determine whether transport scheme business cases achieve WebTAG compliance, —— Assess suitability of any assumptions, modelling and forecast proposals, — Identify gaps in evidence and specify any clarifications required ahead of any recommendation for investment. For this task, we expect consultants to: —— Assess all supporting evidence and appendices submitted in support of proposed projects and confirm that this is relevant, accurate and up to date, —— Set out any gaps or errors in the evidence, —— Recommend any alternative evidence or data sources (but without investigating this with the promoter. All correspondence with the promoter will and should always be via the SCR Assurance Team), — Recommend whether a project should be progressed for funding approval. For this task, we expect consultants to: —— Provide a clear recommendation on whether the proposed scheme(s) should be supported, —— Set out any conditions, including clawback, which should be included in the funding contract, —— Clearly identify for inclusion in the funding agreement and ongoing monitoring, —— Project description and scope with specific reference to what SCR funding will be used for, —— Key milestones to be tracked as the project progresses, —— Outputs and outcomes linked to the recommended option for funding support, —— SCR Grant claim profile. Where we require technical input to support SCR MCA we expect consultants to: —— Lead or support the production of business cases as may be required by central government to secure approval and/or funding, —— Lead or support (as may be required), the preparation of evidence as part of an SCR MCA submission for funding, —— Advice the SCR MCA regarding the above, based on the consultant’s experience and expertise. We require consultants to remain independent. SCR will require consultants to declare any conflict of interest, as far as the project under consideration is concerned, such as whether they have recently worked or are currently working for the project promotor or developer.