UK-Swindon: Business and management 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 1793867000, Email: corporateprocurement@ukri.org
Main Address: www.UKRI.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
Additional information can be obtained from: the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent 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-3797 AI Skills Hub
Reference Number: Not provided
II.1.2) Main CPV Code:
79410000 - Business and management consultancy services.

II.1.3) Type of contract: SERVICES
II.1.4) Short description: United Kingdom research and Innovation through its component body Innovate UK, are looking for a supplier to deliver an AI Skills Hub to UK business beneficiaries as part of a larger programme of activities that seek to stimulate adoption and diffusion of AI & ML in the UK. The skills hub will stimulate adoption by addressing one of the major barriers in AI adoption, identified by both government and industry surveys, as the gap in data and AI skills in the industry. Achieving this objective will have a positive impact on underperforming sectors and on UK productivity, ensuring AI benefits all sectors of the UK economy.
II.1.5) Estimated total value:
Value excluding VAT: 4,166,666.67
Currency: GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots:
This contract is divided into lots: No

II.2) Description

II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
Not Provided
II.2.3) Place of performance:
UK UNITED KINGDOM

II.2.4) Description of procurement: United Kingdom Research and Innovation through its component body, Innovate UK, are looking for a supplier to deliver an AI Skills Hub to UK business beneficiaries as part of a larger programme of activities that seek to stimulate adoption and diffusion of AI & ML in the UK. The skills hub will stimulate adoption by addressing one of the major barriers in AI adoption, identified by both government and industry surveys, as the gap in data and AI skills in the industry. Achieving this objective will have a positive impact on underperforming sectors and on UK productivity, ensuring AI benefits all sectors of the UK economy.

An independently run, self-sustainable skills hub can act in coordinating the activities required to address the current skills gap faced by industry. The main activities to be delivered by the hub include a systematic archiving of AI and data skills training providers and training material. The AI Skills Hub will embed the values of the skills value chain and will align with and interface with parallel and tangential activities (e.g. Workforce Foresighting - Innovate UK Business Connect (ktn-uk.org)) outlined by the relevant authority in the setup phase of the project. The data skills training archive and gap analysis will be aligned to the AI skills for business framework and the Skills Hub will act as a central point for industry to identify skills training opportunities, feedback on exact training needs and promote a more diverse workforce.

There are a number of key stakeholders in the UK, including government departments, Innovation Centres and Catapults that serve to shape the direction and adoption of AI in alignment with the National AI strategy. Representatives of such bodies sit on the BridgeAI Advisory Group providing governance over ongoing activities. The AI skills for business framework will be reviewed by the supplier throughout the lifetime of the Skills Hub and updated subject to review by the BridgeAI Advisory Group during the lifetime of the BridgeAI programme and by the national custodians of the document, The Alan Turing Institute, on programme cessation. This will place the UK at the forefront of international best practice for AI and data skills provision and delivery.

The contract will be up to £4,166,666.67 for the initial period of 18 months with an optional extension of one year (subject to agreement) up to £ 833,333.33
II.2.5) Award criteria:
Criteria below
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 85

Price - Weighting: 15

II.2.6) Estimated value:
Value excluding VAT: 4,166,666.67
Currency: GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
Duration in months: 18
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals: There is an option of a costed extension period of up to 12 months subject to agreement near the end of the Initial period.

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/92BQ84YEP3


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: 03/09/2024 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: 03/09/2024
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: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Swindon:-Business-and-management-consultancy-services./92BQ84YEP3

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/respond/92BQ84YEP3
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body:
United Kingdom Research & Innovation
Swindon, SN2 1FL, 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: 16/07/2024

Annex A