BIST Business Support Service

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) wish to give notice of a planned procurement opportunity in relation to delivery of the Business Support Service (BSS).

The service will supplement guidance available on gov.uk and business.gov.uk. and is a key part of BIST’s Business Growth Service. The BSS should provide information, advice, guidance, and signposting on any business issue for any kind of business, charity or social enterprise, including pre-startups and start-ups, in England.

Scope of the requirement:

• The proposed procurement will seek a supplier to provide integrated business support including:
• Multi- channel access through telephone, webchat, email, social media, and instant messenger (such as WhatsApp)
• A database of business information for use by advisers and some external organisations
• The ability to stand up an emergency response plan with 24 hours’ notice from DBT
• Maintaining partnerships and relationships across the business support eco-system
• There is no requirement to deliver a digital front-end or website, however, the successful supplier will need to be flexible and able to contribute to, or integrate with, any similar delivery undertaken by government.

-The contract is structured as a two-year offer with the option to extend for up to two further one-year periods (2+1+1). The initial contract value is £5 million. Any future extensions are subject to budget approval.

Please note that:

• Further information and relevant guidance will be provided in or with the UK4 Tender Notice, published on Find a Tender Service website.
• UK 4 Notice and associated procurement documents provided with that notice will outline how and when to express your interest to participate in the procurement process.
• All procurement activities will be managed via BIST’s e-procurement system (Jaggaer)
• Procurement related documentation will be issued via Jaggaer. Full guidance on registration and system navigation will be provided in or with the UK4 Notice.
• It is mandatory for any interested suppliers to register on the new Central Digital Platform (CDP) which is part of the enhanced Find a Tender Service in order to participate in any future procurements. Details of how to register will be included in or with the UK4 Notice.
• BIST will not be liable for any expenditure, work, or effort incurred by a provider in acting based on this notice.
• The information provided in this notice is for indicative purposes only. BIST reserves its rights to amend any of the information included in the notice.
• BIST reserves the right to add or remove stages throughout the procurement process or to reduce the tendering period in future (in accordance with the PA 23). BIST also reserves the right to decide not to proceed with this procurement.

Please note, that involvement in Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) which is due to take place in August is not a pre-requisite for participating in the procurement process.

Secretary of State for Business and Trade will in due course be transferred to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade by an Order in Council (secondary legislation) under section 2 of the Ministers of the Crown Act 1975.