UKSBS PR18079 Business Support Helpdesk

Prior Information Notice: Supplier Engagement Day in order to assess the market's appetite, concerns and views on formulation of the requirement. DO NOT RESPOND DIRECT TO THE BUYER.

The supplier day will be held at a Central London location on Mon 14th May 2018 from 10.00 - 13.00. EOI must be received at the above email address by no later than 12pm on Thursday 10th May (EOI Deadline) for a max of 2 attendees per supplier.

Upon confirmation by UKSBS an agenda and location will be issued. UK Shared Business Services Ltd. (UKSBS) on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) are considering procuring a range of business support services for primarily Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in England, consisting of the following: A multichannel business support service through which businesses can access bespoke advice (this will include advice via telephone and digital channels including webchat, e-mail and social media, but not face-to-face support).

A database ('Knowledge Bank') of business support schemes and advice in England to support service delivery, service delivery by partners, and content for online business support tools. Small businesses that seek advice and support are more likely to grow, and the majority of businesses that do take advice say it adds value.

The services will play a key role in handling business support queries, which range from routine business related questions requiring simple diagnosis and sign posting to sources of support to more complex enquiries requiring a high level of specialist advice from qualified business support advisers with expert knowledge. The service will support Government as a channel for sharing information and a potential channel for emergency response support to business.

It will work closely with partner 'client' organisations, projects and schemes, nationally and locally (including but not limited to Other Government Departments, Local Enterprise Partnerships, Growth Hubs, and other business support providers) to provide a holistic business support offer to pre-starts, start-ups and existing SMEs across all sectors. The service will aim in particular to cover gaps in business support provision, building on its reputation as a source of expertise for pre-starts and start-ups.

The successful supplier will be encouraged to maximise the use of lower cost digital contact channels. The estimated value range for the requirement is in the region of £5m to £6m (exclusive of VAT) over 3 years.

It is anticipated that this will be a 3 year agreement effective from 1st April 2019, with a potential option to extend on an annual basis for up to 2 further years subject to financial authority. This PIN is being issued in order to undertake a market consultation exercise.

Additional information: PLEASE NOTE: Due to coordinating access arrangements, Expressions of Interest received after EOI Deadline (12pm on 10th May 2018) will not be considered and access to the event will not be possible. BEIS may consider information and responses received as part of the preliminary market consultation to help inform BEIS' specification and further decision making in relation to the planning and conduct of the proposed procurement.

For the avoidance of doubt, this notice is not a Call for Competition; a Contract Notice will be issued as a call for competition. Not registering an interest shall not prevent any supplier participating in a future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of preliminary market consultation shall place any supplier at an advantage in a potential procurement process.

Participation in preliminary market consultation will be at each supplier's own cost. BEIS reserves the position not to award a contract.