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Expressions of Interest Workshop

Michelle Targett

ERDF Priority Axis 2 Manager

ERDF TEAM

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Objectives

• To provide applicants with an understanding of the Expression of Interest process

• To provide applicants with an understanding of the ERDF Expression of Interest Form

• To provide applicants with an understanding of the Assessment Framework

• Highlight key areas of best practice

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Question 1What will your project deliver and how?

• Higher weighted question (Maximum of 30 marks)

• A clear description of the project activities

• A clear description of the projects outputs and outcomes

• Explanation of how the project activities deliver added value

• Confirmation that the proposed activity won’t duplicate existing activity

• An explanation of why your organisation is best placed to deliver this project

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Question 2Strategic fit

• Higher weighted question (Maximum of 6 marks)

• Demonstrate how your proposed activity will link with relevant national, regional and sub-regional strategies (including the District Local Investment Plan)

• Strategies must not be more than 3 years old.

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QUESTION 3Track Record

• Provide details of the type of projects you’ve delivered in the last 3 years

• Shows comparisons between contracted and actual

• Outputs

• Finance

• Has your organisation managed an ERDF funded project previously?

• Where no previous experience have you provided a clear description of the research, scoping and / or piloting that you’ve undertaken

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QUESTION 4 Delivery Capability

• To what extent will the partners enhance the delivery of the project?

– Describe main role and responsibilities of each partner

– Describe how each partner will add value

• Where there are no partners, describe how the project has the ability to deliver without partners.

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QUESTION 5Performance Indicators

• Higher weighted question (Maximum of 6 marks)

• Are you using the correct programme outputs?

• Be realistic with your forecasts

• Does your project provide value for money?

• Have you explained how the outputs have been calculated?

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QUESTION 6Project Costs

• Do the costs add up?

• Are the costs relevant to the activity?

• Does your project provide value for money?

• Have you kept within the ERDF allowable cost heading restrictions?

• Are all the costs (including your match funding) eligible for ERDF support?

• All expenditure, outputs and a final evaluation will need to be completed by 30 June 2015

• Does the ERDF requested and percentage agree?

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QUESTION 7Match Funding

• All match funding must be ‘clean’

• Written confirmation will be required at full application

• Contributions in kind are ineligible for ERDF, except for the donation of a building or land, where a clear valuation can be made

• Does the match funding add up?

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Scoring Criteria

• Important to read the Assessment Framework in conjunction of completing the EOI

• Four different scores available

• 3 – Full Description

• 2 – Partial Description

• 1 – Some Description

• 0 – No Description

• Projects must score a minimum of 30 points (50%) to pass the threshold to invited to Full Application

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First Stage Basic Eligibility Checks

• Is the EOI fully complete and signed?

• Is the applicant organisation eligible to apply?

• Is the location of activity within the eligible area ?

• Do the proposed start and end timescales align with the bidding guidance

• Do the activities clearly align with Local Investment Plan eligible activity?

• Do the activities fall into the ineligible or restricted categories listed in the ERDF PA2 guidance?

• Are the activities proposed more suitable for ESF funding?

• Does the activity fall within one of the PA2 Lisbon codes?

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Expression of Interest Process

1. District Launch – Wednesday 11th May

2. EOI’s to be submitted to District by set timetable – 4pm Friday 17 th June

3. EOI to undergo initial eligibility check Tuesday 21st June

4. EOI’s to be assessed by the ERDF Team/Districts – 28th and 29th June

5. Technical/Executive Group meetings to prioritise and endorse EOIs – late July

6. Districts to invite full applications from successful applicants and notify unsuccessful application – end July

7. Projects to return applications to Districts by set timetable – early Sept (tbc)

8. Applications sent to ERDF Team for assessment and appraisal – mid Oct

9. Project approved and contracted – earliest start date 1 January 2012

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Further Information

LinksERDF (Applying for funding) www.eastmidlandserdf.org.ukState Aid www.berr.gov.uk

ERDF TEAM – Priority Axis 2

Michelle Targett ERDF Contract Manager michelletargett@emd.org.uk 0115 947 1768

Kevin Hall ERDF Contract Officer kevinhall@emd.org.uk 0115 947 1733Martin Holland ERDF Contract Officer martinholland@emd.org.uk 0115 988 8403Adrian Matthews ERDF Contract Officer adrianmatthews@emd.org.uk 0115 947 1785

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Questions?