Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray (MICM) - Service Operator: Request for Information

Tender description

Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray (MICM) is one of eight strategic projects forming part of the Moray Growth Deal which aims to drive economic growth across the region and provide opportunities to build on the existing strengths of Moray’s culture, tourism, and world-renowned manufacturing sectors. MICM will provide a single-entry point into the Scottish and UK innovation landscape of products and services providing diagnostics, advice, information, signposting and brokerage to other services and funding. It will stimulate innovation and growth around product and process development and the transition to net zero primarily within the manufacturing sector. MICM will also provide physical space for incubation, demonstration of advanced technology and equipment, and provide an east gate into the wider Highlands and Islands Region for concentrated access to national services and programmes. The MICM facility is being developed in existing facilities on the Enterprise Park Forres which will be refurbished and upgraded for energy efficiency. HIE will require a service operator to develop and deliver the MICM service. The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to gauge interest as well as seek views and information from the market place in relation to a potential future contract opportunity for the MICM service operator. We also welcome responses from organisations who have experience in buying similar services or who do not intend to bid, but have experience in operating an innovation centre and/or would like to contribute with their thoughts. Lot 1: Please note this Notice is not a Call for Competition. Any future contract opportunities related to this requirement may be published on Public Contracts Scotland (PCS). However, by issuing this Request for Information (RFI), HIE does not make any commitment to procure any of the stated services. Please note, the estimated date for the publication of the Contract Notice is indicative only and may be subject to change. Please return your completed response by noon on Wednesday 13 November 2024 to hieprocurement@hient.co.uk using the title “MICM operator – PIN response“ in your email header.