The document outlines the requirements for a tender to hire an organization to serve as a Digital Champion for a partnership of councils in Northern Ireland. The Digital Champion will help local businesses and organizations exploit opportunities presented by ultra-fast broadband, through activities like information sessions, mentoring, and identifying infrastructure projects. Tenderers must demonstrate how they will meet key performance indicators such as engaging 750 organizations through events and helping 200 businesses. The contract is valued at £140,000 with additional funds for marketing. Tenders will be evaluated on understanding of the brief, methodology, added value, and cost.

1. 03 – REQUIREMENTS, SPECIFICATION AND TENDER EVALUATION
METHODOLOGY
1. 1. BACKGROUND AND STRATEGIC CONTEXT
Larne Borough Council in partnership with Antrim, Carrickfergus, Coleraine,
Ballymena, Moyle and Newtownabbey Councils (‘the cluster area’) aim to deliver
a programme of support over two years to recruit a Digital Champion to assist
local businesses, social enterprises, the public sector and the wider community &
voluntary sector to better exploit the digital platform of ultra-fast broadband that
exists in the region for the purposes of economic growth and improved citizen
services. This project is part funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European
Regional Development Fund under the Sustainable Competitiveness Programme
for Northern Ireland.
The programme aligns with key government strategies to encourage the
development of new ICT businesses and new ICT solutions within and between
sectors.
Larne Borough Council (hereby referred to as the Council) is the lead partner in
this collaborative initiative and now invites tenders from suitably qualified
organisations/individuals capable of delivering the programme on behalf of the
cross-Council partnership.
The programme content will include the following elements:
1. Liaising with existing stakeholders including DNI2020, Invest NI and Logon NI to
ensure programme of work is complementary and does not duplicate existing
provision.
2. Organise an agreed programme of information events - town hall meetings,
seminars, information events and advice sessions - to engage businesses from
across the wider business base, the education sector, the social economy sector,
the voluntary sector, community bodies and government authorities. The purpose
of this engagement will be to help all stakeholders exploit and optimise the
commercial opportunities presented by the digital platform to generate new
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2. business opportunities and stimulate new business solutions. This will build on
similar activity carried out by DNI2020 across Northern Ireland but will focus on
developing solutions specific to the needs of businesses and other organizations
across the North East region. This local focus aligns with the recommendations
of DNI2020 to deploy Digital Champions to address the specific needs of regions
across NI.
3. Champion the widespread deployment of ultra-fast access capability at the point
of usage across their target region. As part of this, work to ensure that the region
has access to digital economy ready facilities for new and existing businesses.
It should be noted that the Digital Champion will not provide direct financial
assistance to businesses seeking to invest in new business opportunities
associated with exploiting the digital platform.
4. To encourage and facilitate a cluster(s) of small businesses to form a virtual
partnership(s) – probably on a contract by contract basis – through the flexibility
provided by Cloud based application development. This would create new
business opportunities, for example in the areas of hosting Cloud applications,
design & development of Cloud applications, operational support of Cloud
applications and hosting environments for Cloud infrastructure
5. Act as a source of direct referrals to Invest NI and Logon NI to facilitate the
opportunities emerging from the digital platform.
6. Help to identify, support and advise on investment funding from a range of
sources, to build out the digital platform capability, increase business exploitation
and develop new businesses. Recommend future digital infrastructure
requirements for the NE region. Specifically the Digital Champion will help identify
up to 8 sites within region which could be selected for infrastructure projects as
part of a separate application. This separate project would enable up to 50
businesses/social enterprises/entrepreneurs to better access the digital platform
for business growth and start up by June 2015. This would create Digital Platform
incubation facilities, which would allow new or diversifying companies to establish
a presence quickly and develop market opportunities. Support the attraction of
Inward Investment to their region through the promotion of the potential of the
digital platform in their area.
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
The key performance outputs that have to be achieved from this project, as agreed with the
funders, are as follows:
1. Prepare a digital strategy for the NE region by 31 March 2015, incorporating a
report and recommendations on future digital infrastructure requirements for the
NE region by 31 March 2015.
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3. 2. Undertake an extensive marketing and communications programme that will
engage a minimum of 750 (and a minimum of 30 per participating council area)
organisations from business, social enterprise, the public sector, education,
community groups and the voluntary sector in information events to promote the
commercial opportunities of the digital platform by 30 June 2015.
3. Engage with a minimum of 200 (and a minimum of 20 per participating council
area) businesses on a programme of mentoring, advice, action planning,
implementation & signposting to assist them exploit the commercial opportunities
of the digital platform by 31 March 2015. Invest NI clients participating in this
element must have Invest NI approval.
4. Engage with local government, central government, the education sector, the
community sector and the voluntary sector to develop and implement action
plans to better exploit the digital platform and provide improved citizen services.
5. Establish with a minimum of 20 (and a minimum of 2 per participating council
area) research networks, collaborative projects or business partnerships in a
programme to exploit the commercial opportunities of the digital platform by 30
June 2015.
6. Work in partnership with Invest NI and other stakeholders to ensure a minimum
target of 10 (and a minimum of 1 per participating council area) potentially high-
value digital start up& growth businesses is achieved by 30 June 2015.
7. Work in partnership with Invest NI and other stakeholders to ensure a minimum
target of 10 (and a minimum of 1 per participating council area) new
products/services/market opportunities is achieved by 30 June 2015.
8. Work in partnership with Invest NI and other stakeholders to ensure a minimum
target of £500,000 cumulative and incremental turnover is achieved by
participating businesses by 30 June 2015.
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4. 9. Work in partnership with Invest NI and other stakeholders to ensure a minimum
target of 10 businesses (and a minimum of 1 per participating council area) enter
external markets for the first time by 30 June 2015 as a result of support
delivered.
10.A minimum of 100 referrals to Logon NI that result in engagement with Logon NI
business solutions by 31 March 2014.
11.A minimum of 100 referrals to Invest NI that result in engagement with Invest NI
business solutions by 30 June 2015.
12.A minimum of 20 (and a minimum of 2 participating council area) jobs
safeguarded within participating businesses by 30 June 2015.
13.A minimum of 10 (and a minimum of 1 per participating council area) new jobs
created within participating businesses by 30 June 2015.
Tendering organisations should note that this programme will be independently evaluated to
measure performance, outputs and the impact on the sub-regional economy. The successful
tendering organisation will therefore be contractually required to provide the Council and its
agents with access to relevant data and documentation to complete a full evaluation of the
programme beyond the agreed completion date of 30 June 2015 and possibly to 31st
December 2015.
Project Budget
The maximum consultancy fees available for the delivery of this project are £140,000.00
(excluding VAT) inclusive of reasonable travel expenses. In addition, Larne Borough Council
will meet programme marketing and promotional costs (for example, press advertising,
design and print of promotional / seminar materials) and expenses associated with the hire of
venues, including equipment hire where appropriate; where possible events will be held in
Council facilities. All marketing and direct running costs are to be agreed in writing with Larne
Borough Council prior to any expenditure being incurred to a maximum budget of £60,000.00
Project Timeline
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5. The project outputs and outcomes identified above must be achieved as set out above.
Tenderers should set out a Gantt chart, or equivalent, indicating the key milestones to be
achieved to ensure successful programme delivery.
TENDER AWARD CRITERIA
Proposals will be assessed on compliance with:-
 Ability to meet the performance indicators
 The requirements encapsulated in this Tender
 Costs
This will include checking that all the requirements are met and are fully satisfied, whether
the Tenderer is financially stable and an evaluation of the response to the requirements.
Tenderers must demonstrate that they meet the detailed requirements as set out in the
performance indicators 1 – 13. The tender will be assessed on the most economically
advantageous tender in terms of the criteria stated below.
STAGE 1 – SELECTION EVALUATION - PASS / FAIL
Tenders will be evaluated using the following two-stage process. Tenderers must
demonstrate how they meet all of the Mandatory Requirements in the
Selection Criteria in Stage 1, failure to meet all, or any, of the Selection
Criteria will result in your Tender being eliminated from the competition;
Stage 1 Selection will be evaluated against the following criteria:-
Selection Criteria - Mandatory Documentation Pass/ Fail
Do you comply with Larne Borough Councils’
Terms and Conditions
Pass/ Fail
Do you comply with the Fair Employment &
Treatment (N.I.) Order 1998
Pass/ Fail
Do you comply with the Freedom of Information Act
2000
Pass/ Fail
Do you comply with all relevant Statutory
Legislation, including the Health and Safety at
Work (NI) Order 1978 and all other Regulations
and Approved codes of practices issued there-
under relating to health and safety
Pass/ Fail
Collusion & Canvassing Declaration Pass/ Fail
Child Protection Policy Pass/ Fail
Do you comply with Regulations 23 of the Public
Contracts Regulation 2006 (as amended)
Pass/ Fail
Financial Standing Pass/ Fail
Company Experience Pass/ Fail
Experience of Key Team Members Pass/ Fail
Employers Liability Insurance Certificate £2m
/ Professional Indemnity Insurance Certificate £2m
Pass/ Fail
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6. Public Liability Insurance £1m
Financial Standing Pass /Fail
In order to determine your organisation’s current financial standing, please provide a
letter/reference from your bank which should detail that your account is conducted in a
satisfactory manner. This reference should be dated within the last 6 months. The
information you provide in this section will be used to assess your firm’s financial position.
Company Experience: Pass /Fail
Please provide comprehensive details of two (2) contracts which demonstrate a proven track
record in the provision of a similar Broad Band exercise. The contracts detailed should be
similar in scale, scope and complexity to those required under this Contract and should either be
current contracts or completed within the last 5 years. Please complete the summary table below
and provide 1 A4 Page Max per case study. Information should include the following:
- Name of Client
- Address
- Customer contact name, Tel. No. & e-mail address
- Contract reference and description of the contract
- Contract value
- Details of the key personnel involved on the contracts identified and their role
Note: The Council may elect to contact any of the given companies for a reference at any stage
of the tendering process. Your permission to do so will be assumed unless you explicitly state
any objections. (1 A4 Page Max per case study)
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7. Tenderers must adhere fully to the tender selection, ensuring they meet all the
elements. Failure to meet all the elements of the tender specification will result in the
tender bid not progressing any further in the tender process
STAGE 2 – AWARD CRITERIA – WEIGHTING 100%
The evaluation, methodology and marking scheme in terms of scoring and weightings
which will be applied to the tender are outlined below. The criteria for the award of the
contract shall be on the basis of the ‘most-economically advantageous’ Tender
(M.E.A.T.), which will be determined upon a combination of price and qualitative criteria
and will be evaluated as follows:
Award Criteria Weighting
Understanding of the Brief
20%
Methodology
40%
Added Value
10%
Cost
30%
TOTAL
100%
Experience of Key Team Members: Pass /Fail
Provide information on the Key Team members who will be involved in the project with
up to five (5) key team members who will form part of your team. Each CV must
include the following:
(i) Name
(ii) Relevant academic qualifications & relevant professional
accreditations/memberships(e.g. Degree in Technology, Science or
Mathematics)
(iii) Contracts/Projects experience including (for each contract/project) the
contract/project value, the completion date and the team member’s role and
responsibilities
Please note that by naming an individual you are confirming that, if successful,
the individual named will be available for this contract.
Information provided should identify who will be responsible for the 'day-to-day'
management of the contract along with the individuals responsible for the day-to-day
delivery of the services over the life of the contract and the particular skills they will bring
to the project.
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8. SCORING
SYSTEM
INDICATOR
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 Indicates an excellent response to the criteria with no
weaknesses
 Detailed supporting evidence is provided with thorough
analysis, tailored specifically to the challenges of the brief.
 No areas of weakness
4
 Indicates a good response to the criteria with few
weaknesses
 Supporting evidence and analysis have been provided to
demonstrate the competence required
3
 Indicates a compliant response to the criteria, but lacks
specific information or analysis on some aspects to award a
higher mark
 Strengths outweigh weaknesses
2
 Indicates that the response to the criteria is limited in detail
with some reservations
 Understanding of the requirement and ability to deliver not
fully demonstrated. Medium risk that the proposed
approach will not be successful
 Weaknesses and/or risks outweigh strengths
1
 Indicates evaluation panel have major reservations about
response to the criteria and there is insufficient detail to
award a higher mark.
 Weaknesses far outweigh the strengths
0
 Indicates the response fails to provide sufficient detail to
allow the panel to assess the response against the criteria
 An unacceptable response with serious deficiencies. High
risk that the proposed approach will not be successful
 Very limited evidence provided against the criteria
Understand of the Project Weighting 20%
Tenderers must demonstrate a clear understanding of the project brief, its purpose and
its intended impact of the Programme on small businesses throughout the partner
region. They must also demonstrate an understanding of local government and existing
stakeholders which could impact on this project
Methodology and Approach Weighting 40%
Please provide a detailed programme clearly showing the key activities, dependencies,
deliverable and outputs required to successfully deliver this assignment, This should
include where appropriate:-
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9. • Their approach to the delivery of the programme elements and the procedures
for recruitment and selection of the participants
• A project plan detailing the activities to be progressed, the target numbers and
outputs and anticipated timescales for completion of each, in addition indication
should be given of the venues to be used.
• The number of meetings taken to design the programme, and the materials to be
used in addition to any speakers who may be involved
• A resource schedule should be included, which includes details of the person
who will have overall responsibility for delivery and management of the contract,
including their relevant experience and qualifications and details of what that
responsibility will include, the names of each project team member, the estimated
number of days that will be dedicated by each team member on the assignment
within the project plan. Other resources should also be identified.
• Details of quality systems and controls that will be used in the delivery of the
project, including proposals for keeping the Council Officers updated
• Where input is required from the Client and / or other parties to facilitate delivery
of the commission, these need to be clearly identified and shown on the
programme. (6 A4 page max. supported by a detailed Gantt chart required)
Note this is not an exhaustive List
Level of Added Value Proposed Weighting 10%
The Council is keen to maximise value on the purchase, therefore Tenderers must
include in their proposals how they can create added value to the regions of the
participating “cluster” of councils by providing extra service.
Cost Weighting 30%
Cost Score Information
Tenderers must submit a price for all items listed. Failure to submit a price for any item
within the Envelope may result in your Tender bid being rejected. Prices must include all
delivery and comply with all elements of the specification. The cost of the bid for the
Council is then converted into a percentage-weighted score (PWS) attributed to price
using the formula below.
Cost Score Formula
PWS = (Lowest overall bid cost divided by tendered overall bid cost) multiplied by the
percentage weighting for the price i.e. 30%.
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10. Contract Award
Larne Borough Council will consider each element of the quotation that represents best
value and ‘most economically advantageous’.
The Council is not bound to accept the lowest or any tender, nor will the Council be
liable for expenses incurred in the preparation of the tender.
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