New EU funds for the North West the 2007-2013 Programme

1. New EU funds for the North Westthe 2007-2013 Programme Angeliki Stogia

2. This presentation will look at: • Application Process ERDF ESF Community Grants • Appraisal Process • EU tendering in the NW – VCS role?

3. ERDF NWDA will manage the funds. Regional Economic Strategy will provide the framework for spending. • Expression of Interest form • Customised Expression of Interest Form for AA3-2 and AA4-3 • Full application form

4. ERDF Appraisals NWDA aims to build upon the Single Programme appraisal and approval approaches incorporating ERDF requirements and regulations. • Appraisals based on the BERR Single Programme Appraisal guidance, the framework guidance document for RDAs which will be developed to accommodate European Projects

5. ERDF Appraisals Concept stage: • Concept form endorsed by sub regional partnerships • Concept endorsed by RDA Project Resources Group Full application stage: • Full application endorsed by PMC • Appraisal of project against selection criteria through Programme Executive • Full application endorsement by RDA Project Resources Group, Executive Director and Programme Executive to seek approval. Concept form endorsed by sub regional partnerships • Investment decision taken to the NWDA Board

6. ERDF Resources Useful documents: • Northwest Operational Programme - NWOP • NW Regional Economic Strategy • Investment frameworks • Expression of Interest Form • Customised Expression of Interest Form for AA3-2 and AA4-3 Useful Websites: • ERDF in the NW • GONW European Structural Funds • UK Government ERDF site for England

7. ERDF Resources ERDF Sub regional partners: • Cheshire & Warrington ECA • Cumbria Vision • Lancashire Economic Partnership • Manchester Enterprises

8. ESF • Learning and Skills Council • JCP/DWP • Community Grants

9. LSC All ESF funding subject to Open and Competitive Tendering A two stage approach • Stage 1: Pre – Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) • Stage 2 – Invitations to tender and full application form • Over 400 organisations successfully got through the PQQ inc. over 100 VCFS organisations. • Next opportunity to apply for PQQ will be late summer Further information visit: http://www.lsc.gov.uk/regions/NorthWest/tenderinghttps://lsc.bravosolution.com

10. LSC Appraisals PQQ stage: • PQQ Appraisal Full application stage: • First stage checks • Appraisal of proposal against selection criteria by LSC internal staff • De-brief meeting • Contract Award Panel

11. ESF Resources Useful Documents: • England and Gibraltar European Social Fund Convergence, Competitiviness and Employment Programme 2007-2013North West • ESF Regional Framework for the North West of England 2007-2013 • Good Practice for English ERDF and ESF programmes 2007-13 Useful links: • European Social Fund in England 2007-2013 • GONW ESF

12. LSC Resources Useful Documents: • North West LSC Co-financing Plan 2007 - 2010 • North West LSC Co-financing Plan 2007 - 2010 - Companion Volume • North West LSC Commisioning Plan 2008-2009 • North West Statement of Skills Priorities 2007-10 Useful links: • LSC North West ESF • LSC North West ESF Tendering • LSC E-procurement Portal

13. JCP/DWP All ESF funding subject to Open and Competitive Tendering For the 2007-2013 ESF programme, DWP procurement approach will follow the prime contractor model. The term “Prime Contractor” is used to describe an arrangement under which DWP contracts with a single organisation to undertake the following three main functions: • provide directly a proportion of the specified provision • to sub-contract the remainder of the specified provision to other organisations • to manage and monitor the performance and quality of the sub-contractors as well as all aspects of their own performance form

14. JCP/DWP A two stage approach • Stage 1: Pre – Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) • Stage 2 – Invitations to tender and full application form • Prime contractors will be issued with contracts from £4m to £13.5m, initially over 3 years. • Awaiting announcement of Prime contractors in the NW on 9 May 2008. Start date for projects is 23 June 2008. • In order to engage with and meet the diverse needs of the key ESF target groups, DWP is clear that successful prime contractors will need to work closely with specialist providers, including the voluntary and community sector.

15. JCP/DWP Appraisals PQQ stage: • First Stage checks • Appraisal of proposal against selection criteria by DWP staff Full application stage: • First stage checks • Appraisal of proposal against selection criteria by DWP internal staff • Contract Award Panel • De-brief meeting

16. JCP/DWP Resources Useful Documents: • DWP/JCP ESF Co-financing Plan North West Region Useful links: • DWP ESF Website

17. Community Grants LSC has issued tenders for Grant co-ordinating bodies across the North West. These bodies will identify, develop and manage a Community Grants Programme on behalf of the LSC and amongst others will: • Develop, instigate, manage a simplified regional application process and procedure to ensure that small third sector organisations are able to apply for grants. • Publicise an application timetable to ensure at least two calls for grant. • Receive and assess applications for grants using a common set of clear and transparent criteria. • Select successful applicants, agreeing level of approved grant and planned outcomes.

18. Community Grants Community Grant co-ordinating bodies have not been announced by the LSC as yet. Contracts have been awarded in all sub regions accept from Lancashire, closing date for applications is 02 May 2008 • Sub regional allocations for Community Grants: • Cumbria £114,294 • Cheshire and Warrington £209,197 • Greater Manchester £606,979 • Halton £28,534 • Lancashire £442,397 • North West Network can provide you with the contact details of the co-ordinating bodies when they become available.

19. Who should you be talking to….? North West Network ESF • JCP • DWP • LSC • Community Grants intermediary bodies ERDF • NWDA • Local Authorities • Sub regional partners

20. Tendering – the facts • EU funding budget in 2007-2013 smaller than the 2000-2006 programme • EU and national rules mean that all EU funding must be subject to Open and Competitive Tendering (OCT) • EU funding is ‘funding of last resort’ so interventions are more targeted and focused • Procurement based on value for funding • Activity proposed needs to address the need • Projects need to complement other activities in the area • Organisations need to have track record in activities and target groups • Appraisers will be looking for the best option presented to them

21. EU tendering in the NW – VCS role? The VCS is viewed as a key partner is the delivery of social and economic cohesion. Only the voluntary and community sector is specifically referred to in the programme documents at European, national and regional level. ‘…Technical Assistance budget (will be used) to support partners in the non-governmental sector to participate in and deliver Programmes’National Strategic Reference Framework Para 184

22. VCS and ERDF Technical assistance may be used to provide sector support for the voluntary and community sector to access, engage and participate with ERDF in the region’North West Operational Programme 4.197

23. VCS and ESF With regards to ESF the role of the Third Sector in the new programme is widely acknowledged. ‘The LSC is committed to working with the voluntary and community sector’LSC Co-financing Plan 2007-2010 ‘Voluntary and community organisations have a particularly important role in reaching people who are at a disadvantage in, or excluded from, the labour market’ESF Regional Framework

24. VCS and ESF The ESF Co-financing plan will support ongoing partnership activity to ensure a sustained and co-ordinated approach to tackling worklessness. … The voluntary and Community sector are also key in helping people move into employment and to improve their skills, particularly the most vulnerable and hard to help. DWP fully recognises the importance of the third sector as a service provider, delivery partner and as a representative of our frontline customers. DWP is keen to ensure that optimum use is made of the specialist services offered by smaller providers eg voluntary and community sector.

25. VCS and ESF DWP actively encourage voluntary sector providers to develop relationships with prime providers with a view to offering their services, either as a consortium or on a sub-contract basis. In order to ensure that voluntary sector organisations are treated fairly, DWP require bidders to set out whom they will be using to deliver the services and this will form part of their contract. DWP will ask for details of how bidders will manage the relationships with sub-contractors to ensure that delivery and performance is managed effectively and this will be monitored as part of contact management reviews. DWP Co financing Plan, North West Region

26. VCS and Partnerships • Prime contractor / lead organisation in a bid • Partner and/or sub-contractor • ERDF • ESF • LSC (PQQ 3&4 successful providers list) • DWP/JCP (successful prime contractors information) • VCS Learning and training consortia information • Community grants

27. Thank you