Enterprise-based Finance Support for Charities and Social Enterprises

Full details of this tender are available at: https://access-socialinvestment.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Access-Enterprise-Support-Framework-ITT-December-2020.pdf

Access runs an Enterprise Development Programme (EDP - www.enterprisedevelopmentprogramme.org.uk) for charities and social enterprises in England. Between Apr 21-Mar 24 EDP will support around 300 organisations (around 100 per year) to set up new enterprise activity, or grow existing enterprise activity. This tender relates to the provision of Financial Management Support within the programme.

The Framework We are looking to recruit a pool of qualified and experienced accountants to provide Financial Management Support over a three year period from Apr 21-Mar 24, with the possibility of a further one year extension at Access' discretion. We expect that around 40% of participants will need Financial Management Support, so we expect to make around 40 referrals per year. We expect to recruit a min of 5 and a max of 12 suppliers (qualified accountant) onto the Framework but reserve the right to vary those figures. There will be no guarantee of work volumes for any supplier, and no obligation on suppliers to accept any referrals offered during the period of the Framework. There will be no further process of tender or quoting for these referrals. Referrals will instead be made at Access' discretion to any supplier on the Framework, and may be based on issues including, without limitation: geographical proximity, specialist expertise, performance under the framework to date, potential conflicts of interest and price. If a supplier chooses not to accept the referral, Access will offer it to an alternative supplier.

Once a referral is agreed, the supplier will be provided with instructions and a standard pack of documents from the participating organisation (financial accounts, management accounts, financial procedures manual, business plan etc) in order to prepare for the support work. The supplier will then make contact to commence support work with the participating organisation:

The core referral will be on the basis of four days of work and will be paid as such. Referral requirements may vary and contain specific review and support components, but will typically comprise: • Review of background documentation • Review and support in relation to accounting system in use - chart of accounts, apportionment system etc • Guidance on financial procedures/policies/manuals • Guidance on accounting and reporting on performance of enterprise income streams, costs and profitability

In a minority of cases, subject to budget and with the mutual agreement of all participant and supplier, the referral may be extended by anything from 1-16 further days of work.

Tender responses should be delivered in the form provided in the PDF document quoted at the start of this description, to [email protected] by 17.00 GMT on Friday 15 January 2021.