NCC1584 Grant Appraisal

Northumberland County Council (NCC) invites proposals from appropriately skilled and experienced suppliers to undertake independent appraisals of grant applications of varying size and nature.

The appraisal services to be procured through this tendering process will include but may not be limited to:

• Independent detailed appraisals of applications using specific programme assessment criteria.

● Discussion of the application and business case with the Applicant business / organisation.

● Larger projects may require undertaking a visit to the Applicant's premises or other agreed location.

● Preparation of a final report using a standard appraisal report template setting out the results of the appraisal and due diligence work, which will be addressed to NCC for presentation to the Panel. An electronic copy of the report in Word should also be provided.

The level of analysis and due diligence will be proportionate depending on the level of grant requested.

A report is to be produced which will include recommendations and conclusions on the following aspects of the grant application:

• Track record and skills, abilities and capacity of the applicant.
• Project governance.
• Applicant Financial Health - including ability to cashflow.
• Project description.
• Procurement - Value for money, eligibility with funder regulations.
• Eligibility - location, sector and expenditure.
• Deliverability and viability - Ability to deliver and complete within the required timescales.
• Level of risk associated with the project.
• Additionality, displacement, incentive, duplication and incentive impacts.
• Realism and risk.
• Level of grant required and need.
• Options analysed and considered.
• Funding package if applicable.
• Compliance with UK's subsidy control rules (including eligibility of activity and costs).
• Ability to deliver the required number of outputs and Value for Money for the grant requested.
• Grant recommendation, amount of grant recommended along with any conditions and/or special

monitoring instructions that may be needed.