Pre-market engagement: Review of the business finance landscape in Wales

Notice type: Pre-market engagement / soft market testing notice. This is not a call for competition or formal invitation to tender.

It is intended to raise awareness, test supplier interest and capability, and encourage registration on the relevant procurement portal ahead of any future tender.Contracting organisation: Development Bank of WalesCommissioning body / project sponsor: Economic Intelligence Wales, the independent research arm of the Development Bank of Wales.1. Overview of the requirementThe Development Bank of Wales will act as the contracting authority for this procurement and will enter into any resulting contract with the successful supplier.

Economic Intelligence Wales, the independent research arm of the Development Bank of Wales, is the project sponsor and commissioning body for the requirement and will be responsible for shaping the research scope, providing subject matter input and supporting contract delivery.Economic Intelligence Wales expects to procure an economic consultancy or suitably qualified research provider to review the business finance landscape in Wales. The review will assess how well current public, private and alternative finance provision meets Welsh businesses’ current and future needs, and identify key gaps, frictions, affordability constraints, risks and opportunities.The work will provide the Development Bank of Wales, Welsh Government and wider stakeholders with an independent, evidence-led view of the Welsh business finance market.

Outputs should be practical, policy-relevant and suitable for senior audiences.2. Purpose of the pre-market engagement• raise awareness of the forthcoming opportunity;• assess supplier interest, capability and capacity;• encourage suitable suppliers to register on the relevant procurement portal.3.

Anticipated programme structureThe initial commission is expected to focus on Phase 1: a review of the Welsh business finance landscape, including market mapping, supply and demand analysis, gap assessment, public finance context, outlook, evidence gaps and headline policy and delivery implications.Potential later work may include thematic deep dives on venture, innovation and scale-up finance; ownership transition and succession finance; commercial property, premises and development finance; infrastructure, project finance and capital structuring; and final synthesis. These work packages are not guaranteed and would depend on Phase 1 findings, priorities, budget and commissioning decisions.4.

Expected supplier skills and expertise• strong economic, policy and market research expertise, with experience of business finance, SME finance or regional economic development;• understanding of the Welsh economy, policy context and business base;• ability to map and assess public, private and alternative finance provision, including gaps, constraints and market failures;• experience of data analysis, evidence assessment and targeted stakeholder engagement; and• ability to produce independent, credible and decision-ready outputs for senior policy, delivery and stakeholder audiences.Estimated Contract ValueThe value included within this notice represents the Development Bank of Wales' current estimate of the potential maximum value of any future contract, including any optional services, extensions and additional phases of work. The initial contract for Phase 1 is not expected to utilise the full estimated value stated in this notice.

Any subsequent phases, additional work packages or contract extensions would be subject to future requirements, budget availability, internal approvals and governance processes.This estimate is provided for information purposes only and should not be regarded as a commitment to spend, a guaranteed contract value or a guarantee that any additional phases of work will be commissioned. The final scope, duration and value of any resulting contract may change following market engagement and the completion of the procurement process.