Source: https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a13c04-f3b4-71d6-bf01-e738249f0c79/uk-sbs-ps150220-small-scale-expert-study-to-test-key-areas-in-development-of-a-s awarded GB open procedure Suitable for SMEs # UK SBS PS150220 small scale expert study to test key areas in development of a set of effective practice materials for knowledge exchange [UK Shared Business Services Limited](https://tendernation.io/buyers/uk-shared-business-services-limited) Estimated value £16,500 Published 18 Nov 2016 Deadline Closed 27 Oct 2015 ## Who can bid - Buyer says suitable for SMEs The buyer ticked “suitable for SMEs” on the notice. Anyone can still bid. - Small contract value Valued under £135,018 including VAT, the lowest Procurement Act threshold for goods and services. - Open procedure Anyone can submit a full tender; there is no shortlisting stage. [More contracts for small businesses and VCSEs](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/for-small-businesses) ## About this tender The government has asked HEFCE to develop a robust, evidence based framework against a suite of key knowledge exchange activities to assess performance and identify examples of good practice.HEFCE are now seeking a small scale expert study to test out what we have done so far and make recommendations on how next stages might be taken forward. A major focus of this stage of the work is to consider any development from the perspective of HEIs themselves – what they would find useful and workable. This stage of work has two main aims: • To satisfy Government that we are addressing sufficiently efficiency and effectiveness issues in KE and also issues raised, such as in the Dowling review, about the value of common practices (such as for businesses/partners) and sharing generic or transferable effective practices. • To identify workable ways forward, including transferring ownership of any development to the HE sector where it can be embedded in use long-term. Our analysis of the initial consultation responses to us on effective practices suggested the following issues need to be addressed at this stage: • Only a limited number of responses referenced high profile guides and templates. This may reflect lack of awareness/use. Alternatively it may reflect that HEIs assume these are known to us, or that they have played a role in the development of in house guides or as reference points for institutions. • Guidance provided to us was multi-level - current guidance on effective practice is available at the HE sector, institution, faculty, department, discipline and industry level. While some of this guidance is specific to a particular area or specialism, some may have the potential to be transferable across these boundaries. The picture is complicated. • Context is considered very important to HEIs – HEIs spend a great deal of time and effort in developing their own resources for staff that share effective practice across the institution. Some HEIs felt that the intrinsic nature of their interactions (such as creative and cultural) required a more individual and bespoke approach. This is likely to be the reason why many HEIs submitted case studies in response to the call for evidence. • External recognition matters to HEIs – the range of awards to recognise excellence in KE are numerous. Evidence from the responses to the call suggested that they act as an important tool for marketing and promotion of the HEI to potential business partners but also to prospective students, as an incentive to staff, and as an external validation for the institution of their achievement. These are all ways to identify and celebrate distinctive/unique/particular practice. • HEIs flagged that relationships are difficult to measure and explain – interactions and the building of relationships between an HEI and businesses/other partners play a major, and often unmeasurable, role in KE activities. Additional information: As part of the strategic alliance between UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UK SBS) and Crown Commercial Service (CCS), UK SBS can use the CCS eSourcing Suite for future procurements. If you have not yet registered on the eSourcing Suite, this can be done online at [gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk](https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk) by following the link ‘Register for CCS eSourcing’. Please note that, to register, you 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. Once you have registered on the eSourcing Suite, a registered user can express an interest for a specific procurement. This is done by emailing . Your email must clearly state: the name and reference for the procurement you wish to register for; the name of the registered Bidder; and the name and contact details for the registered individual sending the email. Crown Commercial Service 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. The Sourcing documents can then be accessed on the eSourcing Suite at: [gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk](https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk) using the instructions detailed in the Specification documents within Contracts Finder. 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. For technical assistance on use of the e-Sourcing Suite please contact Crown Commercial Service Helpdesk : Telephone: 0345 010 3503 Training documents to support Bidders utilise Emptoris CCS eSourcing are available in the Contracts Finder Tender documents section. Read full description ## CPV classification Research and development services and related consultancy services Source Contracts Finder (UK) [View official notice](https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/e1dbd138-adc8-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b) Never miss a tender like this again Get AI summaries, deadline alerts and a bid pipeline for tenders matched to your business. Free to start. 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