UK SBS IT17091 Innovate UK Award Compliance & Commercialisation (ACC) Solution - Supplier Day

"This is not a Call for Competition" This is a notice for expressions of interest for a supplier day.

Since its inception in 2007, Innovate UK has established itself as a driving force for innovation in the UK. This success has ultimately led to a significant increase in the number of grants awarded. As such, the systems originally implemented to support the processes associated with these activities have become increasingly unable to meet the business needs, both from a transactional perspective and in terms of data capture, management and reporting.

A project to tackle some of these shortcomings relating to the pre-award process is close to delivery but this will not address the administration issues in the post-award phase, leaving multiple business problems still in place. Issues already identified with the current systems - such as high costs, poor user experience and compromised data quality - are expected to become further exacerbated by planned changes to award funding models and increased levels of funding. As a result, a number of new improvements have been identified which need to be implemented in order to address issues with post-award business operations and support Innovate UK strategy. These improvements will be delivered through a new Award Compliance & Commercialisation (ACC) solution.

The scope of the proposed solution is constrained to the administration and management of funding which has been awarded to successful applicants - commonly referred to as the 'post-award" phase. This is predominantly concerned with making payments against eligible claims and monitoring the financial performance of recipients in their utilisation of that funding. This has two objectives: to ensure compliance with funding rules and regulations and also to assess the commercial benefits realised as a consequence of those awards.

The administration of funding for an award is managed through a project with planned activities, most significantly a pre-defined schedule of claims for payment of funding against eligible costs. Note that a successful award is often made to a consortium of parties, each of whom will each receive individual funding from the award. Claims are subject to validation against financial and eligibility criteria and, if approved, result in a funding payment being made to the claimant. Participants are expected to submit regular financial forecasts against which claims can be validated. This role is partly fulfilled by Monitoring Officers, who are assigned to projects by Innovate UK and submit reports against which project performance can be assessed and issues identified.

Participants may request changes to a project, which may impact have a financial. These are subject to validation and approval processes in a similar way to claims.

Additional information: Innovate UK, working closely with UK SBS are to host supplier days on 20th April 2017 and 21st April 2017 at Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1FF. Further details of the event and how to attend will be provided upon receipt of an expression of interest.

The deadline for submitting an expression of interest is 18th April at 14:00 GMT.

Expressions of interest for this supplier day will be managed electronically via the RFx Messaging System Crown Commercial Service's e-Sourcing Suite. To participate in this procurement, participants shall first be registered on the e-Sourcing Suite.

If Bidders have not yet registered on the eSourcing Suite, this can be done online at https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk by following the link 'Register for CCS eSourcing'.

Please note that, to register, Bidders must have a valid DUNS number (as provided by Dun and Bradstreet) for the organisation which you are registering, who will be entering into a contract if invited to do so. Note: registration may take some time please ensure that you allow a suffient amount of time to register.

Full instructions for registration and use of the system can be found at

http://ccs.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/i-am-supplier/respond-tender

Once you have registered on the eSourcing Suite, a registered user can express an interest for a specific procurement. This is done by emailing [email protected].

Your email must clearly state:

the name and reference for the procurement you wish to register for;

Your organisations full name as a registered supplier;

the name and contact details for the registered individual sending the email.

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) will process the email and then enable the Bidder to access the procurement online via the e-Sourcing Suite.

The registered user will receive a notification email to alert them once this has been done.

As a user of the e-Sourcing Suite you will have access to Emptoris email messaging service which facilitates all messages sent to you and from you in relation to any specific RFX event.

Please note it is your responsibility to access these emails on a regular basis to ensure you have sight of all relevant information applicable to this oppertunity.

For technical assistance on use of the e-Sourcing Suite please contact Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Helpdesk (Not UK SBS Ltd ) : Freephone: 0345 010 3503

email: [email protected]

Training support to respond to a requirement is available to bidders at http://www.uksbs.co.uk/services/procure/Pages/supplier.aspx

Responses must be received by the date in IV.3.4.

Responses received outside or concurrently using the eSourcing process will not be accepted or considered further for this opportunity.