Provision of Smart Energy Supply Chain Business Support Services - AWARD

Tenders are invited from interested parties for the provision of Smart Energy Supply Chain Business Support Services as part of the delivery of the Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (SEND) project.

The purpose of the procurement is to appoint a Service Provider to carry out an ERDF compliant Smart Energy Supply Chain Business Support Services programme targeted at ERDF eligible businesses in the entirety of the Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire LEP area. The Smart Energy Supply Chain Business Support Services required are fully detailed in the Tender Specification in Section 2 of the ITT.

The SEND project (project reference code 32R16P00706) is part-funded from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds England Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The Smart Energy Supply Chain Business Support Services required are also part funded by ERDF.

The Supply Chain development programme will target 217 ERDF eligible SME businesses of which 15 will be new businesses within the entirety of the Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire LEP area to provide Output indicator C1 support targeted at the growing global market for the low carbon smart energy sector. Such businesses may come from both the energy/low carbon sector directly and sectors not traditionally associated with energy including IT, marketing and public relations and professional services businesses. New businesses assisted will provide Output indicator C5 in addition to the aforementioned C1 output indicator.

To count as an ERDF-eligible output the support provided must consist of a minimum of 2 days (12 hours) active consultancy support. A specific business can only be counted once by a project.

The Service Provider will be responsible for ensuring all businesses supported meet ERDF criteria and are eligible to receive support.