CONTRACT NOTICE – NATIONAL

1 Authority Details

1.1

Authority Name and Address

1.2

Address from which documentation may be obtained

As in 1.1

1.3

Completed documents must be returned to:

2 Contract Details

2.1

Title

'March the Marches' tourism feasibility study

2.2

Description of the goods or services required

The Marches Forward Partnership is a ground-breaking Partnership covering English and Welsh neighbouring councils and based on shared interests and common issues that cross national boundaries. The partners (Shropshire, Powys, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire County Councils) have joined forces to apply for funding from government and unlock investment on major projects to benefit the Marches. For more information see https://www.marchesforwardpartnership.org.uk/

The partners are inviting quotes for a focussed feasibility study, as a basis on which to develop the regions’ unique offer as a varied landscape of outdoor spaces, market towns and landscapes, linked together by the historic Offa’s Dyke monument and Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail with its cultural, heritage and recreational identification.

The aim of the study is to recommend a strategic project for delivery over the next 3-5 years, with discrete work packages that bring together existing localised activity into a strategic and long term coordinated approach and identify new areas of activity to address any gaps.

PLEASE SEE FULL SPECIFICATION FOR DETAIL.

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=144550.

The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.

Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.

2.3

Notice Coding and Classification

2.4

Total quantity or scope of tender

A study report, including the following:

1.Mapping of current activity against the areas identified in the specification and recommendations for work packages to address any gaps.

2.Any learning from and opportunities for extension of exemplar projects that have been completed or are under way, both within and (where they present options to address gaps), outside the Marches Forward Partnership area.

3.An assessment of the findings of key studies around tourism and recreation in the Partnership area, and the opportunities for investment that arise from them.

4. Identification of key blue and green infrastructure assets, including active travel and public transport routes with the potential to develop the regions’ unique offer, with a strategy for prioritising their development that considers longer term maintenance implications.

5.Recommendations for options to facilitate and link web-based information resources around opportunities for access to blue green infrastructure.

6.Recommendations for the geographic scope, realistic timescale for delivery and an assessment of the resource requirements for each work package.

Timescales:

The study must be complete and all invoices received by no later Monday 17th February 2025.

The successful contractor will be expected to submit the final draft for review by no later than midday on Friday 24th January 2025 to allow time for amendments to be made before the final deadline.

3 Conditions for Participation

3.1

Minimum standards and qualification required

The contractor must be able to meet the specification within the timescales set out due to time-limited funding.

Each Local Authority in the partnership will nominate a lead officer, to liaise with the successful contractor to outline and signpost to information resources around projects and initiatives that are under way and key partner strategies and corporate plans.

•The work will for the most part be conducted remotely, but the contractor should assume that some site visits may be needed to better understand key infrastructure.

•The contractor will need to liaise with key stakeholders; a list will be provided but for the purpose of the quote, this could involve up to 20 organisations.

4 Administrative Information

4.1

Type of Procedure

Single stage

4.2

Reference number attributed to the notice by the contracting authority

N/a

4.3

Time Limits

4.5

Language or languages in which tenders or requests to participate can be drawn up

4.6

Tender Submission Postbox

5 Other Information

5.1

Additional Information

The quote must include:

•A breakdown of the costs, including hourly rates for staff members and any travel and subsistence

•The proposed approach to the work, with a delivery plan

•Previous relevant experience in delivering studies of this nature

•Assumptions on which the quote is based.

(WA Ref:144550)

The buyer considers that this contract is suitable for consortia bidding.

5.2

Additional Documentation

5.3

Publication date of this notice