Community Benefits

Tender description

A Community Benefits fund for communities hosting eligible transmission infrastructure with the following principles: Funding will support community-led projects to unlock long-term social, economic and environmental benefits in the host communities. We want to get this right for our communities; therefore, we will start by actively engaging, listening, and understanding communities needs to ensure that funding is directed appropriately to maximise the benefits for host communities.  Proactive engagement with communities will ensure that our community funding plans are aligned to their needs and aspirations.   As a regulated business, we are committed to delivering best value for consumers and communities we serve. We will be transparent in our approach, reporting on the funding impacts and social value delivered. Lot One - Community Mapping & Capacity Building Lot Two - Micro-grants Administrator Lot Three - Local & Strategic Fund Administrator Southwest Scotland Lot Four - Local & Strategic Fund Administrator Central Scotland Lot Five - Local & Strategic Fund Administrator Southeast Scotland Lot 1: Community Mapping & Capacity Building The initial stage required for each project attracting community benefits will be analysis of the project area. The supplier will work with SPEN to establish mapping methodology. Once community benefits geographical area has been agreed with SPT the supplier shall produce a report. Lot 2: Micro-grants Administrator Micro-grants Administrator The scope of work will be to provide support to SPT in administrating a Community Benefits micro-grant fund. This will include support during the initial set-up stage to establish the fund, processes and criteria. Micro-grants of between £1k and £10k will be available to communities eligible for community benefits through a competitive grant application process in up to three application windows a year. The available micro-grant funding pot for each area will be agreed with Community Advisory Groups in eligible areas. There will be a set level of microgrants funding allocated to each SPT project, awards will be granted on a first come first come first served basis for eligible projects meeting scoring criteria up to the allocated fund value. Lot 3: Local & Strategic Fund Administrator Southwest Scotland Local funds need to be available for every community hosting new transmission infrastructure that are eligible for funding as per the government guidance. Local funds will be available for individual community projects over £10k that meet the priorities of local communities, have fully developed project plans and feasibility studies, for technical projects as required. The supplier will work with SPT and local Community Advisory Groups, where these are established, to agree priorities and scoring criteria for each local fund. The Supplier and SPT will agree an annual programme for each local fund to facilitate a minimum of two funding application windows a year per fund. The supplier will be required to manage several local funds simultaneously in each geographical lot, this will depend on the number of SPT projects attracting community benefits each year. We estimate that three external panels will be created by SPT, one in each geographical lot area and will act as the decision-making body. Each panel will meet four times a year. Projects approved by the external panel will then be presented to SPT internal Governance Board for final checks. Local fund windows should be timed to allow assessment of applications and to produce reports to be presented at these meetings. The programming of local funds will be crucial to manage the numbers of applications reviewed by each panel. The Supplier will develop all fund processes in discussion with SPT including applications, assessment, due diligence, monitoring, reporting and communication with projects. Lot 4: Local & Strategic Fund Administrator Central Scotland Local funds need to be available for every community hosting new transmission infrastructure that are eligible for funding as per the government guidance. Local funds will be available for individual community projects over £10k that meet the priorities of local communities, have fully developed project plans and feasibility studies, for technical projects as required. The supplier will work with SPT and local Community Advisory Groups, where these are established, to agree priorities and scoring criteria for each local fund. The Supplier and SPT will agree an annual programme for each local fund to facilitate a minimum of two funding application windows a year per fund. The supplier will be required to manage several local funds simultaneously in each geographical lot, this will depend on the number of SPT projects attracting community benefits each year. We estimate that three external panels will be created by SPT, one in each geographical lot area and will act as the decision-making body. Each panel will meet four times a year. Projects approved by the external panel will then be presented to SPT internal Governance Board for final checks. Local fund windows should be timed to allow assessment of applications and to produce reports to be presented at these meetings. The programming of local funds will be crucial to manage the numbers of applications reviewed by each panel. The Supplier will develop all fund processes in discussion with SPT including applications, assessment, due diligence, monitoring, reporting and communication with projects. Lot 5: Local & Strategic Fund Administrator Southeast Scotland Local funds need to be available for every community hosting new transmission infrastructure that are eligible for funding as per the government guidance. Local funds will be available for individual community projects over £10k that meet the priorities of local communities, have fully developed project plans and feasibility studies, for technical projects as required. The supplier will work with SPT and local Community Advisory Groups, where these are established, to agree priorities and scoring criteria for each local fund. The Supplier and SPT will agree an annual programme for each local fund to facilitate a minimum of two funding application windows a year per fund. The supplier will be required to manage several local funds simultaneously in each geographical lot, this will depend on the number of SPT projects attracting community benefits each year. We estimate that three external panels will be created by SPT, one in each geographical lot area and will act as the decision-making body. Each panel will meet four times a year. Projects approved by the external panel will then be presented to SPT internal Governance Board for final checks. Local fund windows should be timed to allow assessment of applications and to produce reports to be presented at these meetings. The programming of local funds will be crucial to manage the numbers of applications reviewed by each panel. The Supplier will develop all fund processes in discussion with SPT including applications, assessment, due diligence, monitoring, reporting and communication with projects.