Thank you for your query. We confirm that participation in the procedure through a consortium/grouping of economic operators is permitted, provided that each participating entity submits a separate ESPD/Single Requirements Document (Annex 1) and we would also need to separately receive via mail a supplier form in relation to the UK entity. In the scenario described, the requirement set out in Section 8 of the Letter of Invitation that the bidder “must be based in the UK” may be satisfied through the participation of a UK-established consortium member. For the avoidance of doubt, the contractual, fiscal and invoicing arrangements will remain linked to the entity identified in the tender submission and corresponding fiscal documentation, which in this case has Italian VAT. Furthermore, for UK-established operators in the consortium, the reference in Annex 1, Part IV, Section A, point 1, to the “professional or trade register kept in the Member State of establishment” may be understood as referring to the relevant register applicable in the country of establishment, namely Companies House. Please note that the consortium structure, including the participation and role of the UK-established entity, must be clearly and explicitly declared within the tender submission documentation and, wherever possible, reflected throughout the proposal documentation.

Please find below ITA LONDON Is there any flexibility in the submission deadline to allow for legal to review the proposed contract? At this stage, the procedure concerns the submission of a quotation and proposal for the feasibility study rather than the execution of a final contract. At present, the submission deadline remains unchanged. Therefore, bidders are invited to submit within the deadline indicated in the procedure documentation. Any contractual aspects and related legal review processes would be addressed in subsequent phases of the procedure, where applicable. Is a financial model required as an output? Yes, we expect the feasibility study to include a preliminary long-term financial model (indicatively over a 5–10 year horizon), including operating assumptions, sustainability analysis, estimated revenues and costs, and a preliminary value-for-money assessment within a PPP framework. For the technical cost and revenue assumptions, will these be provided or do we need to source? The feasibility study is expected to include market analysis, economic and financial evaluation, and sustainability assessments. Therefore, bidders are expected to develop and substantiate the relevant assumptions as part of their proposed methodology, using available market evidence and professional judgement. Any additional information available to the contracting authority may be shared during the course of the assignment where appropriate. Do you have existing data on Italian start-ups? Some institutional and ecosystem data may be available through MAECI, ITA/ICE and the existing INNOVIT programmes. However, the advisor is expected to conduct its own market analysis and supplement existing information with independent research and benchmarking. Is the asset for the innovation hub going to be rented or purchased? Does this involve a new build or refurbishment? At this stage, no final decision has been taken whether the asset will be leased or purchased, nor whether the initiative would involve a new build or refurbishment. One of the objectives of the feasibility study is precisely to assess the most suitable operational, legal, and financial structure for the project, including implementation modalities under a potential public-private partnership framework. Is the contract governed under Italian Law? The procurement procedure and related contractual framework are expected to be governed primarily by Italian public procurement regulations, including Legislative Decree 36/2023, while taking into account relevant UK legal and regulatory considerations related to the local implementation of the project.

With reference to your request for clarification, the Contracting Authority confirms that, for the purposes of demonstrating compliance with the requirement set out in Section 8 of the Letter of Invitation, economic operators that are part of an international professional services network may indicate and document their relationship with a UK-established affiliated entity. Where the bidding entity is an Italian legal entity belonging to a global professional services network with an established presence in the United Kingdom, bidders are invited to clearly describe such a relationship in their tender documentation, including the role of the UK-based entity and the activities to be carried out in connection with the assignment should there be any. Where a UK-based affiliated entity is referenced in the tender submission in support of the bidder's qualifications, presence, or capacity to deliver the services, the Contracting Authority strongly encourages bidders to provide the relevant declarations and supporting documentation for that entity, including the ESPD/Single Requirements Document where applicable, in order to facilitate the assessment process. The relevant information should be sufficiently detailed to allow the Evaluation Committee to assess compliance with the requirements of the procedure on the basis of the documentation submitted. Any assessment regarding the adequacy of the proposed organisational structure and its compliance with the tender requirements will be carried out during the evaluation phase.

The intention is not to benchmark London against alternative locations for the Innovation Centre, as London has already been identified as the proposed location for the project. Rather, the international market analysis should focus on positioning London within the global innovation ecosystem, identifying its comparative strengths and the opportunities it offers Italian startups, scale-ups and other target beneficiaries. This should include an assessment of London's attractiveness in terms of factors such as access to venture capital, market opportunities, technology ecosystems, ease of doing business and strategic international connections. Where and if relevant, the analysis may also consider how a London-based Innovation Centre can leverage links with other international innovation hubs and markets to maximise value for Italian companies.

The award criterion for this procedure is the lowest price, as indicated in the procurement portal. Accordingly, proposals that meet all of the mandatory administrative and eligibility requirements will be considered on that basis. Nevertheless, bidders are expected to demonstrate their understanding of the assignment and their capability to deliver the requested feasibility study in accordance with the tender requirements. In the event that two or more compliant proposals are submitted at the same price, the quality of the proposal and the relevant experience of the proposed team will be considered as tie-break criteria.

Yes, electronically signed documents are acceptable for the proposal submission stage. There is no requirement at this stage for third-party validation of signatures. Should any additional formalities or original documentation be required at a later stage of the procurement process, the successful bidder will be informed accordingly.