UK-Swindon: Research consultancy services.
Section I: Contracting Authority
I.1) Name and addresses
UK Research & Innovation
Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1FL, United Kingdom
Tel. +44 1793876000, Email: corporateprocurement@ukri.org
Main Address: www.ukir.org
NUTS Code: UKK14
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract involves joint procurement: No.
In the case of joint procurement involving different countries, state applicable national procurement law: Not provided
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body: No.
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/delta/buyers/select/viewListStatus.html?id=787399543
Additional information can be obtained from: the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically via https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/delta/buyers/select/viewListStatus.html?id=787399543 to the abovementioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at: Not provided
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Other activity:

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title: UKRI-2986 ESRC Research Leadership Network
Reference Number: UKRI-2986
II.1.2) Main CPV Code:
73210000 - Research consultancy services.

II.1.3) Type of contract: SERVICES
II.1.4) Short description: UKRI is seeking to commission the design and piloting of a Research Leaders Network for mid-career and senior social scientists. The Network will enable social science researchers to enhance their leadership practice, better preparing them for an increasingly interdisciplinary, intersectoral and fast-changing funding context.
II.1.5) Estimated total value:
Value excluding VAT: 200,000
Currency: GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots:
This contract is divided into lots: No

II.2) Description

II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
73210000 - Research consultancy services.

II.2.3) Place of performance:
UKK14 Swindon

II.2.4) Description of procurement: UKRI through its component research council, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), has recently completed a programme of work to help us better understand how we can strengthen research leadership capability in the social sciences. We want to enable social scientists to take advantage of the opportunities that are emerging from a rapidly evolving funding landscape that requires researchers to build capability in new areas, including their ability to collaborate and engage across sectors and disciplines. Such boundary spanning activities demand skills in designing, leading, delivering and working within large and complex team-based projects. We aim to address this challenge by providing leadership development activities that will support social science researchers to thrive within an increasingly interdisciplinary, intersectoral and fast-changing funding context.
We are now seeking to appoint a supplier to design and deliver a pilot ESRC Research Leaders Network (Network) tailored to mid-career and senior researchers in the social sciences (see section 3 for further information on how these career stages are conceptualised). The Network will provide participants with opportunities to develop or enhance their research leadership skills by nurturing informal networks, facilitating collaborative learning, encouraging inter-sectoral mobility and cultivating productive interactions.
Through this pilot, ESRC aims to understand how it can strategically invest in infrastructure that enhances social scientists’ leadership skills. Our long-term intention is to develop a whole-career framework that drives ESRC’s approach to investing in leadership capability and enabling researchers to realise their leadership potential.
The full specification is available in the tender pack.

The duration of the contract is up to 15 months and the contract must start by 01 January 2024.
II.2.5) Award criteria:
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value:
Value excluding VAT: 200,000
Currency: GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
Duration in months: 15
This contract is subject to renewal: No
Description of renewals: Not provided

II.2.10) Information about variants:
Variants will be accepted: No
II.2.11) Information about options:
Options: No
Description of options: Not provided
II.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues:
Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue: No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds:
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Identification of the project: Not provided
II.2.14) Additional information: To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/respond/T6PMDRRG2V


Section III: Legal, Economic, Financial And Technical Information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
Not Provided
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria:
Not Provided
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :
Not Provided
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria:
Not Provided
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :
Not Provided
III.1.5) Information about reserved contracts (if applicable)
The contract is reserved to sheltered workshops and economic operators aiming at the social and professional integration of disabled or disadvantaged persons: No
The execution of the contract is restricted to the framework of sheltered employment programmes: No

III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.1) Information about a particular profession
Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision:
Not Provided
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Not Provided
III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract: No

Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description OPEN
IV.1.1) Type of procedure: Open

IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement - NO
In the case of framework agreements justification for any duration exceeding 4 years: Not Provided


IV.1.6) Information about electronic auction:
An electronic auction will be used: No
Additional information about electronic auction: Not provided
IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure:
Notice number in the OJ S: Not provided
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date: 25/08/2023 Time: 11:00

IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English,
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender:
Duration in month(s): 3

IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders:
Date: 25/08/2023
Time: 11:00


Section VI: Complementary Information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: Not provided
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used No
Electronic invoicing will be accepted No
Electronic payment will be used No
VI.3) Additional Information: For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Swindon:-Research-consultancy-services./T6PMDRRG2V

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/respond/T6PMDRRG2V
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body:
United Kingdom Research and Innovation
Swindon, United Kingdom
VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures:
Not provided
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
Not Provided
VI.4.4) Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained:
Not provided
VI.5) Date Of Dispatch Of This Notice: 05/07/2023

Annex A