ERDF Business Growth Programme (LCRIBS - Liverpool City Region Integrated Business Support project)

Further to the receipt of bids in relation to the LCRIBS Framework Agreement (LPOOL001-DN410683-22983493), the Council has decided to reopen competition for the following Sub-Lots:

2b - Procurement and Tender Readiness 2d - Exporting

2f - Human Resources 2g - Legal

2j - ISO Quality Management Support

This is due to having received insufficient bids for these Sub-Lots which must, however, be filled as a matter of priority before the Framework can be concluded.

Accordingly, the competition in respect of the above Sub-Lots will be reopened with effect from today and bids will be invited until 9th October 2019 at which point the tender window will be closed again and tenders received will be evaluated. During this period, for reasons of fairness and equal treatment of bidders, no feedback will be provided in any of the Lots/Sub-Lots including those that are now closed. Suppliers should be advised that any previous bids for the above sub-lots (b, d, f, g, j) will be not be reconsidered, therefore new submissions are required in relation to these lots.

The overall Framework Agreement will therefore not formally be concluded until 27th October 2019, at which point formal award notifications will be sent to relevant bidders containing scores and reasons for the decision.

In addition to the above, the Council has decided to remove the requirement for a Reserve Supplier under the Framework Agreement, due to having received insufficient interest in the Framework Agreement and it therefore being highly unlikely that any Reserve Suppliers will be appointed. Furthermore, due to the tight time-scale within which this Framework Agreement must be concluded, it would not be practical to reopen competition across all Lots/Sub-Lots in order to appoint a prospective Reserve Supplier (which given the lack of interest is in any case considered highly unlikely to be forthcoming).