Online 'dating agency' for 2012 contracts puts LDA on the shortlist for innovation award

CompeteFor - a groundbreaking online resource that allows companies to compete for business opportunities linked to the 2012 Games - is a finalist in the Government Computing Awards for Innovation.

Developed by the London Development Agency with the support of leading consultants Hedra, the online resource has been shortlisted in the 'Best Project - government to business category.' The winners of the will be announced at a Gala Dinner held at Madame Tussauds on the evening of Thursday 24 April, 2008. The service was launched nationwide in January.

CompeteFor matches companies of all sizes to thousands of opportunities supplying London 2012 contractors. By registering online businesses will be able to apply for contracts that are part of the estimated 75,000 future business opportunities - around £6 billion of work expected to be allocated by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and London Organising Committee (LOCOG).

CompeteFor will also match companies with local Business Link support services, helping to boost the long-term competitiveness of London businesses.

Geoff Newton, Head of Olympic Opportunities at the LDA, said:

"Developing an electronic brokerage service that could be adopted nationwide was a real challenge and we are delighted that our work has been recognised. The service will help open up the 2012 supply chain for all UK businesses particularly small to medium sized ones and utilises the national Business Link network to help improve their capability to supply."

"Launching this service before the majority of contracts are advertised shows how the LDA and the 2012 Games are already delivering a lasting Olympic legacy."

Richard Goold, Director at Hedra said:

"We are delighted that Hedra, the LDA and the CompleteFor Project have been recognised for the work that has been achieved. This is a project Hedra is very proud to have been a part of."

The CompeteFor service is delivered with support from London 2012 and co-funded by the English regional development agencies and devolved governments in N. Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

How CompeteFor works

ODA and LOCOG will advertise their direct contract opportunities online through CompeteFor and direct London 2012 contractors appointed will be encouraged to advertise their supply chain opportunities through the system. For example, the Olympic Stadium construction contractor ‘Team Stadium’ has opened the service with an advert for their site accommodation cleaning contract.

Companies at every level of the London 2012 supply chain will be encouraged to advertise their supplier opportunities through CompeteFor.

After registering basic company information any interested business can view the opportunities advertised. Companies can then complete a business profile, which involves answering a series of simple questions, to be able to compete for opportunities.

A company's business profile is automatically tested against a small number of minimum standards in areas such as health and safety. If these requirements are not met the company is automatically referred to tailored, local business support provided by Business Link.

Once a company's profile is successfully published on CompeteFor they are automatically matched to opportunities which suit their business and invited, by email, to apply for them by filling out a short, tailored application form. The buyer advertising the contract then selects a shortlist of companies and invites them to formally tender through the buyer’s own procurement system.

Details of the winning bidder(s) are published on CompeteFor and unsuccessful bidders receive feedback from the buyer. Throughout the process local business support agencies are on hand to help companies maximise their chances of success.

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For media enquiries, please contact Andreas Christophorou at the LDA Media Team on 020 7593 8444, email: andreaschristophorou@lda.gov.uk.com. For public enquiries, please call 020 7593 9000.
 
Notes to Editors

1. Hedra a leading consulting, solutions and service company is now part of Mouchel, a consulting and business services group. Hedra is the largest consultancy specialising in UK public services, with a significant private sector capability. Our clients include central government, local government, NHS, Ministry of Defence, aerospace, transport, utilities and energy and a wide range of public service agencies. Our capabilities include business change and transformation, customer services, corporate services, procurement and supply chain, information management and systems engineering services. We help organisations to set corporate direction, build their organisational capacity and deliver solutions that drive effectiveness and efficiency. Our commitment is to deliver outcomes and benefits that drive superior performance. www.hedra.com
2. The London Development Agency works to improve quality of life for all Londoners and drive sustainable economic growth.
3. For more information about the awards see The GC Awards for Innovation 2008.