Provision of Fund Management Services

Summary: The UK Government and EU are supportive of using Financial Instruments as public policy measures to addressmarket failure and stimulate business growth, job creation and technology development on a sustainablebasis.The North East Combined Authority (NECA) is procuring a panel of Fund Managers, on behalf of itself andstakeholders (Participating Authorities) in the North East Local Enterprise Partnership area. NECA is acting asthe Commissioning Authority under this process.

A successor to the Finance for Business North East (FBNE) Fund-of-Fund programme is being establishedin the North East LEP area and this panel of Fund Managers will used by the North East LEP Area Fund ofFunds Implementing Body to select FCA qualified Fund Managers to manage the Investment Funds (sub-funds) created under this North East LEP Area Fund of Funds Programme (which will invest across the whole of theNorth East LEP area). In addition, the panel may also be used by any of the other Participating Authorities (including The North EastLEP Area Fund of Funds Implementing Body, North East Access to Finance (NEA2F), North East Finance(NEF), the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP), Business Durham and the local authoritiesof the North East LEP area) to secure Fund Management services for other financial instrument projects whichthey want FCA qualified investment managers to deliver.

The Contracting Authority: The North East Combined Authority (NECA) is the Contracting Authority for the first stage of this procurementprocess (up to the appointment of the Framework Panel). The Framework Agreements will therefore bebetween the Panel Members and NECA.

The Contracting Authority will subsequently allow one or more otherParticipating Authorities to access the concluded Framework Agreement, without creating any obligation onany of them to do so. In that event, the contractual relationship for any resulting Contract would be betweenthe approved individual body (Participating Authority) accessing the Framework Agreement and the successfulPanel Member. Lot 1 – Fund Management Contracts awarded under this Lot will focus on Early-Stage Investment Funds Lot 2 – Fund Management Contracts awarded under this Lot will focus on Later-Stage Investment Funds Lot 3 – Fund Management Contracts awarded under this Lot will focus on Small Loan Funds.