ID 5449059 - Invest NI - Graduate to Export Development programme

Description

Invest NI’s Graduate to Export Development Programme (G2E Programme) launched in February 2019, and targets SMEs in Northern Ireland to help expand their business internationally with the assistance of a supported graduate.  As part of the programme, participating companies will develop their international business capabilities, gained from having a dedicated market research resource and on completion of the graduate intervention, they will have an export development / market entry plan for their chosen market.  The Programme, in turn, will provide graduates with a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience and business skills in international business development in addition to obtain academic qualifications.   Invest NI is seeking to engage a Contractor for the development, delivery, and management of future G2E cohorts with an anticipated launch date of March/April 2025.  The Contractor shall design and deliver a Post Graduate Diploma for participating graduates which will have a commercial focus and a meaningful accreditation focusing on global best practice in international business development.    The Contractor shall also work with the participating companies to assist them develop / refine their market research projects and oversee their execution by the programme graduates.  The completion of these projects by the graduates should be a prerequisite of academic accreditation.  The G2E Programme will comprise of up to 3 cohorts of 201 graduates per cohort all of whom are employed by Invest NI client companies (primarily SME’s).  It is anticipated that the contract will be for an initial period of 5 years with each cohort lasting 18 months. Invest NI reserve the option to extend the contract for a further period of 12 months. Each cohort is subject to budgetary approval and to satisfactory Contractor performance. Lot 1: Invest NI’s Graduate to Export Development Programme (G2E Programme) launched in February 2019, and targets SMEs in Northern Ireland to help expand their business internationally with the assistance of a supported graduate.  As part of the programme, participating companies will develop their international business capabilities, gained from having a dedicated market research resource and on completion of the graduate intervention, they will have an export development / market entry plan for their chosen market.  The Programme, in turn, will provide graduates with a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience and business skills in international business development in addition to obtain academic qualifications.   Invest NI is seeking to engage a Contractor for the development, delivery, and management of future G2E cohorts with an anticipated launch date of March/April 2025.  The Contractor shall design and deliver a Post Graduate Diploma for participating graduates which will have a commercial focus and a meaningful accreditation focusing on global best practice in international business development.    The Contractor shall also work with the participating companies to assist them develop / refine their market research projects and oversee their execution by the programme graduates.  The completion of these projects by the graduates should be a prerequisite of academic accreditation.  The G2E Programme will comprise of up to 3 cohorts of 201 graduates per cohort all of whom are employed by Invest NI client companies (primarily SME’s).  It is anticipated that the contract will be for an initial period of 5 years with each cohort lasting 18 months. Invest NI reserve the option to extend the contract for a further period of 12 months. Each cohort is subject to budgetary approval and to satisfactory Contractor performance. Additional information: The figure indicated in Section II 1.5 represents an estimated contract value. This value reflects the. potential scale of the contract and takes into account potential optional extension periods and the uptake of potential optional services. as detailed in the tender documents. This figure does not however take into account the application of indexation or increases to charges. due to increases in the Real Living Wage. Neither CPD nor the Authority can provide any guarantee as to the level of business under. this contract. The Contracting Authority does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender. Economic Operators remain responsible. for all costs and expenses incurred by them or by any third party acting under instructions from the Economic Operator in connection. with taking part in this procurement process regardless of whether such costs arise as a consequence, directly or indirectly of any. amendments made to the procurement documents by the Contracting Authority at any time. No legally binding contract shall arise (and. an Economic Operator shall. have no legitimate expectation that a contract will be entered into) until such time as entry into the Contract. has been confirmed by the. Contracting Authority. Economic Operators should note that all dates, time periods and figures in relation. to values and volumes specified. in this notice and the procurement documents are approximate only and the Contracting Authority. reserves the right to change any or all of them.