Business and management consultancy and related services

Tender description

Kent County Council is seeking a supplier that can deliver an inward investment agency for Kent and Medway. This contract will be funded through contributions from Kent County Council, Medway Council and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The ERDF funding is dependent on the outcome of a pending funding application by Kent County Council to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The draft Kent and Medway Enterprise and Productivity Strategy places a strong emphasis on the importance of attracting inward investment and for locally based agencies to work closely with government agencies to bring new investment into the area. The draft strategy places a strong emphasis on increasing our promotion of Kent and Medway as a UK inward investment gateway, with a commitment required from Government and the Department for International Trade (DIT) to match local support for inward investment where it is focused around sectors in which Kent and Medway have particular strengths. Kent County Council is seeking a supplier that can be the inward investment agency for Kent and Medway. The successful supplier must have an excellent understanding of the key issues companies face when looking to relocate, an understanding of the industrial and commercial property market in Kent and Medway, how to identify and develop leads, how to support companies during the relocation process and how to support relocated companies following relocation. The successful supplier should have a strong track record of delivering similar services. The core of the contract will be to provide support to SMEs, in accordance with the requirements of ESIF Programme, but the successful candidate will also be required to support non-SMEs. This part of the contract will not be funded by ERDF. The successful supplier will be expected to deliver, alongside Kent County Council and Medway Council, specific outcomes that contribute to economic development in Kent and Medway and will work closely with stakeholders in the county and internationally, including DIT and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership. Prospective bidders are required to specify how they will perform this role and to show a proven track record in such delivery. The successful supplier will develop innovative and creative solutions to secure inward investment in Kent and Medway. The key features of the service are: — securing external investment into Kent and Medway that creates new jobs; — promoting Kent and Medway to overseas markets; — maintaining close contact with investing businesses through an after-care programme; Prospective bidders are required to specify how they will deliver these. The successful supplier will also demonstrate how it will deliver and contribute to the following economic outcomes for Kent and Medway: — more investment opportunities from overseas markets; — increased supply chain benefits for local businesses; — more inward investment in Kent and Medway; — raised profile as a destination for inward and foreign direct investment. All expressions of interest must be registered via the Kent Business Portal and all interested candidates must submit a selection questionnaire via the Kent Business Portal by midday on the 1 of April 2020.The selection questionnaire consists of a range of pass/fail questions, only candidates who meet the minimum criteria will proceed to receive the tender process. This notice is placed in consideration of the Public Contract Regulations, Regulation 32 (9) to (12), subject to additional funding being made available during the lifetime of the initial contract.