Framework Agreement - Business Bridge Experts Panel - AWARD

Tenders are invited from interested parties for inclusion in a Framework Agreement for the Business Bridge Experts Panel. This project will support businesses interested in the Medical Technologies (MedTech) and Healthcare market by providing them with access to market-specific expertise. Business Bridge will support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

The Framework Agreement is divided into four lots covering specific areas of expertise and the University envisage appointing up to three Service Providers in each lot although the University reserves the right to vary this number. Tenderers can bid for one or more lots. Further information on each of the lots is given in the Tender Specification in Section 2 of the invitation to tender (ITT).

The University is conducting a below threshold procurement exercise (ie below the OJEU services threshold) to establish the Framework Agreement for the Business Bridge Experts Panel. Tenderers will be deemed to understand the procurement process which the University is following particularly in relation to the public procurement rules.

Business Bridge (Project Reference 32R16P00713) is part funded from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds England Growth Programme 2014-2020.

Whilst the Framework Agreement has a budget of ?130,000, no guarantee is given as to the levels of expenditure under the framework and within each lot.

The scope of services required under the Framework Agreement is detailed in the Tender Specification in Section 2 of the ITT. The University will call-off pieces of work under the framework either by:

• oDirectly awarding the work to one of the framework Service Providers without reopening competition OR
• oBy carrying out a further competition with the framework Services Providers in the given lot to which the work requirement relates.

The University will take into account the quantity, value or characteristics of the services required when determining the method of call-off for a given piece of work. The choice of the method of call-off for a given piece of work will be down to the sole discretion of the University.