Provision of Mentoring Services for Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny

AI-generated analysis of the documents. Check the official notice and any amendments for current submission details.

1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

This tender seeks to establish an open procedure, multi-party panel for the provision of mentoring services to support small enterprises and individuals considering starting businesses within the Kilkenny region. The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Kilkenny Mentor Programme aims to match experienced business practitioners with business owners and managers requiring practical and strategic advice. Mentors will provide independent, informed observation and advice to aid client decision-making.

The scope of work for successful tenderers, referred to as mentors, includes:

• Mentoring Sessions: Providing one-to-one mentoring or mentor clinics.
• Session Duration: Each consultation is a mentor visit of up to 3 hours, excluding travel time.
• Delivery Methods: Sessions can be delivered in person within the Kilkenny County Council administrative area, via telephone, or through online portals.
• Reporting: Submitting a report electronically after each mentoring visit, unless otherwise agreed.
• Clientele: Serving clients selected by the Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny, including small enterprises and individuals thinking of starting their own business.
• Service Areas: Mentoring may cover a range of business areas, including but not limited to: Finance, Business Strategy, Social Media & Digital Marketing, Green Business Practices, Human Resources, Food & Drink, Social Enterprise, Textile Design & Fashion, Intellectual Property (patents, trademarks), Health & Wellbeing, Technology, and Website/SEO.
• Confidentiality: Adhering to strict confidentiality regarding all information obtained during mentoring duties, as per Section 43 of the Industrial Development Act 1986.
• Data Protection: Complying with all data protection obligations as outlined in the tender documents, including processing personal data only on documented instructions and implementing appropriate security measures.
• Independent Contractor Status: Operating as an independent contractor, not as an employee, consultant, or agent of the Local Enterprise Office.
• Amendments: Agreeing to potential amendments or variations to the mentoring proposals, content, or programme in writing, which will become part of the agreement.

The estimated total value of purchases pursuant to the panel is in the region of €400,000 (excluding VAT).

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement is driven by the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Kilkenny's mandate to promote and support small enterprises and individuals aspiring to start businesses in the region. The LEO Kilkenny Mentor Programme is a key component of its support services, which also include business information, training, business networks, and financial support. The programme aims to leverage the expertise of experienced business practitioners to provide practical and strategic guidance to local entrepreneurs. The establishment of this panel is a standard operational requirement for LEOs to ensure a pool of qualified mentors is available to support local businesses.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Tenderers must confirm their turnover was in excess of €20,000.00 during at least one of the last three years of operation, or pro-rata if operating for a shorter period. Evidence of turnover must be provided promptly on request.
• Insurance:
• Employers Liability: €13m (Sole Traders Not Applicable)
• Public Liability: €2.6m
• Professional Indemnity: €700,000 (Note: Appendix 4 states €400,000 for PI, but the BINDING extract states €700,000. The higher figure is assumed for compliance).
• Tenderers must confirm they have these insurances in place. If successful, they must be able to obtain the required levels if higher than currently held. Evidence of insurance or a broker's letter confirming insurability will be provided on request.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Tenderers must provide 3 previous contracts demonstrating experience linked to the lot applied for. The description should enable the Council to determine suitability, detailing components delivered and how the contract is comparable to the subject matter of this tender.
• Personnel: CVs for nominated personnel are required, not exceeding 4 A4 pages each. CVs should include a full list of qualifications.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Mentoring sessions are to be delivered within the Kilkenny County Council administrative area, or via telephone/online portals.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award of the contract will be based on the principle of the most economically advantageous tender (MEAT). The evaluation will be conducted in two stages: suitability/eligibility assessment and award criteria assessment.

Criterion Weight (%) Sub-criteria