Request for Tender for Entrepreneurship Facilitator Services (EFS) 2019–2022

1. Request for Tenderfor Entrepreneurship Facilitator Services (EFS) 2019–2022

2. Presentation Overview • Overview • Entrepreneurship Facilitator Objectives and Client Group • Work Plans and Delivery of Services • Entrepreneurship Facilitator Locations • Reporting and Performance • Fees • Responding to Selection Criteria • Probity and Purchasing Arrangements • Key Dates

3. Overview • 2018-19 Budget - $17.7 million • 20 additional Entrepreneurship Facilitators to encourage entrepreneurship and self-employment, particularly among mature age Australians. • Runs from 2 January 2019 to 30 June 2022. • Builds on the three existing Entrepreneurship Facilitators that commenced in December 2016. RFT Section 2.1

4. Entrepreneurship Facilitator Services (1) • Promote and encourage entrepreneurship and self-employment to all individuals • Focus on mature age Australians including those at risk of unemployment due to structural changes in the economy • Provide mentoring and assistance to Clients RFT Sections 2.2.1 & 2.2.2

5. Entrepreneurship Facilitator Services (2) • Link and refer Clients to other appropriate support services • Develop and maintain productive working relationships with key stakeholders to develop the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. RFT Sections 2.2.1 & 2.2.2

6. Client Groups • All Clients, regardless of their age or employment status will be able to access services • Primary audience is mature age Australians including those at risk of unemployment due to structural changes in the economy • Do not need to be on Income Support • May already be engaged in employment. RFT Sections 2.1, 2.2.2 & 2.2.3

7. Delivery of services • Dedicated office premise for the delivery of services to Clients and potential walk-in Clients • Flexible approach to services, including delivery of services to Clients • For example, at a business or shared workspace in the Entrepreneurship Facilitator Location. Group-based information sessions could be delivered in centrally-based locations. RFT Section 2.2.3

8. Work Plans • Work Plan details how the Entrepreneurship Facilitator will deliver services in the Entrepreneurship Facilitator Location in the coming 12 month period, or 18 months for the initial Work Plan • Work Plans must include commitments made by Respondents through their RFT submission • Work Plans must be approved by the department • Updated annually, noting initial Work Plan will be 18 months in duration • initial Work Plan must be submitted by 31 January 2019. RFT Sections 2.2.3

9. Reporting • Quarterly reports will be submitted by Facilitators to the department to report on the delivery of agreed commitments from the previous three months • Quarterly reports provide a summary of progress and achievements against the Work Plan • Departmental approval of the quarterly reports is the basis of payment the next Service Fee • Reporting details detailed further in Section 2.2.4 of the RFT. RFT Sections 2.2.4

10. Entrepreneurship Facilitator Locations (EFLs) (1) • Entrepreneurship Facilitators will be appointed in 20 additional locations • Refer to Appendix D for Maps • Entire Entrepreneurship Facilitator Location must be serviced • Flexibility to service beyond the defined boundaries. RFT Section 2.3 & Appendix D

11. EFLs (2) New South Wales • Coffs Harbour – Grafton • Richmond – Tweed (2 Facilitators in this region): • Ballina • Tweed Heads • Sydney – South West (2 Facilitators in this region): • Liverpool • Campbelltown • Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven Victoria • Ballarat • Latrobe – Gippsland • Melbourne – South East (2 Facilitators in this region): • Dandenong • Pakenham

12. EFLs (3) Western Australia • Mandurah • Perth – North East Tasmania • Greater Hobart and South-East Tasmania Northern Territory • Darwin Queensland • Fitzroy • Ipswich • Wide Bay (2 Facilitators in this region): • Gympie • Bundaberg South Australia • Adelaide – West • Barossa – Yorke – Mid North

13. Performance • A Performance Framework will ensure effectiveness, efficiency and quality of services • Effectiveness and efficiency against the approved Work Plan • Quality of services provided to Clients and stakeholders • Facilitators will collect Client information and distribute a Client survey (returned to the department). • Failure to meet the performance framework may result in the department reducing or withholding payment. RFT Section 2.5

14. Fees • $268,400 (GST inc) per Entrepreneurship Facilitator Location, per annum (pro-rata) • Milestone payments • $95,700 (GST inc) – sign on payment at execution of Deed • $53,350 (GST inc) – Quarterly Service Fee on progress report approval • $55,000 – Annual Work Plan approval fee. RFT Section 2.4.1 & 2.4.2

15. Responding to Selection Criteria - General • Three Selection Criteria • Must address all Selection Criteria • Criteria 1 is submitted only once • Criteria 2 and 3 submitted for each Entrepreneurship Facilitator Location • Should address all sub-criteria • Must lodge on correct forms • Keep to character limit • Interviews with the Specified Personnel of shortlisted Respondents to take place in October 2018. RFT Sections 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 & 5.3

16. Selection Criterion 1 Sound organisational governance and capability Respondents should describe: • its business structure and governance framework • its process for identifying and managing risks, including how it will be used to mitigate risks associated with delivering the Entrepreneurship Facilitator Service, and • how it will monitor, review and report on the effective delivery of the Entrepreneurship Facilitator Services, including how feedback and complaints from relevant stakeholders will be handled and used to improve ongoing service delivery. • Answer once at the organisation level • Assessed as a Pass or Fail • Character limit = 10,000 RFT Section 3.2.1

17. Selection Criterion 2 Capacity to help Clients to start or grow their own business Respondents should describe: • the Specified Personnel’s understanding of the skills, knowledge and support an individual needs to start or grow a successful business • how the Specified Personnel’s experience and previous achievements in helping and/or establishing small businesses will assist them to deliver Entrepreneurship Facilitator Services to Clients, particularly mature age Australians, and • the Specified Personnel’s stakeholder networks within the EFL, or how these networks will be established and maintained. You should also detail how these networks will be leveraged to support the delivery of Entrepreneurship Facilitator Services. • Answer once per Entrepreneurship Facilitator Location, worth 40 per cent • Character limit = 15,000 RFT Section 3.2.2

18. Selection Criterion 3 Entrepreneurship Facilitator service offer Respondents should: • explain how it will deliver the Entrepreneurship Facilitator Services outlined at Section 2.2, with a particular focus on mature age Australians including at risk of unemployment due to structural adjustment • demonstrate an understanding of the range of entrepreneurial and personal barriers Clients, particularly mature age Australians, face in the EFL for which it is applying and how services will be tailored to individual needs, and • explain how it will ensure Entrepreneurship Facilitator Services are accessible to individuals across the EFL including how regional needs have been taken into account in the proposed service offer. For example, size of the EFL, locations of regional centres, mix of small businesses, small business opportunities, economic and business conditions, existing support services and gaps in entrepreneurial services. • Answer once per Entrepreneurship Facilitator Location, worth 60 per cent • Character limit = 20,000 RFT Section 3.2.3

19. Probity and Purchasing—Overview • Purchasing objectives • Probity principles • Communication protocol • Evaluation process • Lodgement of response • Closing date and time. RFT Chapters 4-7

20. Purchasing Objectives and Rules • Commonwealth Procurement Rules and probity • Value for money principles: • responses to the Selection Criteria • coverage • diversity • benefit to the Australian economy • risk • high quality service delivery. RFT Section 5.1

21. Communication Protocol • Purpose • ensure consistent messaging • minimise risk of improper assistance • maintain probity • manage complaints • Respondent Questions • Employment Services Purchasing Hotline • answers made available to all. RFT Page iii & Appendix A

22. Eligibility to Apply • Eligible: • organisations (including state, territory and local governments) with a current ABN • Group Respondents • may use subcontractors • foreign companies – if registered under Part 5B.2 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) • Not Eligible: • Australian Government departments, agencies, employees or agents. RFT Chapter 4

23. Other Requirements • No collusive bidding • One response per organisation, per Entrepreneurship Facilitator Location • exception: subcontractors • Must consider and declare conflicts of interest. RFT Sections 4.8, 3.2, 6.3.4 & 4.1

24. Evaluation Process (1) • Receipt of responses • Registration and conformance checks • Evaluation of responses against Selection Criteria • Interviews of shortlisted Respondents • Specified Personnel to be interviewed • Contact by the department if necessary. RFT Chapter 5, Sections 3.1

25. Evaluation Process (2) • Must provide two Referee endorsements for each Specified Personnel • Responsibility of Respondents • read the documentation • complete the forms fully and accurately • keep a copy. RFT Chapter 5, Sections 3.3 & 7.1.1

26. Evaluation Process (3) • Financial viability • Recommendations • Final decision • expected to be notified in December 2018. RFT Chapter 5, Sections 5.3 & 5.4

27. Contracting with the Department • Execution of Deeds – including insurance requirements • Offers of business • No double funding. RFT Chapter 6

28. Lodgement of Responses (1) • Electronic lodgement conditions • Notice published on AusTender (tenders.gov.au)but responses must be lodged through 360Pro • Lodge using the correct forms • No attachments unless specifically requested • Addenda—changes, corrections, additions • Incomplete or non-competitive responses. RFT Chapter 7

29. Lodgement of Responses (2) • NO late submissions will be accepted • Respondents must allow sufficient time to complete and submit a response prior to the closing date and time • Responses are encouraged to be submitted well before the closing date and time. RFT Chapter 7

30. Key Dates RFT Page ii *There will be no obligation on the Department to respond to questions received after this time.

31. Further Information • Request for Tender pack 360Pro – tinyurl.com/360Pro-employment AusTender –tenders.gov.au • Employment Services Purchasing Hotline Email: espurchasing@jobs.gov.au • Employment Services Purchasing Information website jobs.gov.au/purchasing • Responses to the Request for Tender to be lodged on 360Pro: tinyurl.com/360Pro-employment • Probity/Integrity Concerns Email:luke.dejong@jobs.gov.au RFT Appendix A & E

32. Questions espurchasing@jobs.gov.au www.jobs.gov.au/purchasing