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Terms of Reference

Border Enterprise Development Fund 2020

1. Background

On the 3rd of January 2020 Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD

announced an economic stimulus package for the Border Region. The Stimulus Package, which applies to

counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth, is designed to drive enterprise capability

across these counties. The purpose of this is to assist the Border Region build resilience in order to mitigate

the impact of market challenges, such as, Brexit and transition to a low carbon environment.

The Border Region Stimulus Package is comprised of four funding initiatives administered by Enterprise

Ireland, the Border Region Local Enterprise Offices and Science Foundation Ireland. The breakdown of the

Stimulus Package, by initiative, is presented below.

Funding Initiative Budget Allocation Lead Agency

Border Enterprise Development Fund €15 million EI

Brexit Business Transformation Fund €8.5 million EI

SFI Border Industry Fellowships €1.5 million SFI

LEOs – OECD Report Implementation and Climate €3 million LEOs and EI

2. The Border Enterprise Development Fund 2020

The €15m Border Enterprise Development Fund 2020 to be administrated by Enterprise Ireland, on behalf of

the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, will provide support for collaborative, enterprise

capability building projects, to advance entrepreneurship, productivity and innovation in the Border Region.

The aim of the fund is to improve the international competitiveness of enterprise in the Border Region in

the context of Brexit and other market challenges.

The Fund will build on initiatives, such as the Regional Enterprise Development Fund and the Regional

Technology Clustering Fund and is aligned to national enterprise policy, such as, Regional Enterprise Plans;

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Future Jobs Ireland; Climate Action Plan; Brexit Preparedness and Enterprise Ireland’s “Powering the

Regions” Border Region initiatives.

3. Objectives

To improve the international competitiveness of enterprise1 in the Border Region in the context of Brexit

and other market challenges, the objectives of the Border Enterprise Development Fund 2020 are to:

Support collaborative projects that will deliver initiatives which will have a positive impact on

entrepreneurial activity, and / or productivity, and/or innovative capability of enterprise;

Enhance collaboration to assist enterprise respond to economic and market challenges, such as

Brexit and transition to a low carbon economy; and

Enhance the productivity and new product development opportunities of SMEs in order to

increase the number of exporters, level of exports and to create and sustain employment in the

Border Region.

4. Fund Structure

To deliver on these objectives, the fund is comprised of two funding streams. The funding streams are

detailed below.

Stream 1: Support for Border Region Strengthening Projects to strengthen enterprise capability

and capacity in the Border Region. Projects should be focused on implementing local, county or

regional based initiatives. Initiatives will be aimed at addressing identified gaps in enterprise

capability and capacity or the purposes of facilitating and supporting:

o entrepreneurial activity;

o productivity; and/or

o the innovative capability of enterprise.

Projects will have funding requirements that range from €100k up to €500k, in eligible expenses,

per project towards capital and current costs.

Stream 2: Support for Strategic Change Projects with regional, multi-regional or national

collaborations with a focus on delivering increased enterprise capability in the Border Region.

Projects must focus on delivering capability and capacity building initiatives for enterprise. Under

this stream projects should seek to utilise infrastructure where available. Consideration will be

given to funding new buildings if an infrastructure gap is clearly demonstrable. Projects will have

1 The term enterprise refers to start-ups, micro-enterprise, SMEs and large companies.

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funding requirements that range from €500k up to €5m, in eligible expenses, per project towards

capital and current costs.

Note:

Funding will be available for a 3-year period following the date of approval2 3.

In exceptional cases, where a project is not physically located in the Border Region and its impact is

100 per cent focused on enterprise in the Border Region, consideration will be given to such

projects.

Advance payments may be available for projects where capital expenditure is €1 million or more. If

further detail is required, please contact your local Enterprise Ireland Regional Office.

Please note that funding for this call is subject to Ministerial approval.

Additional detail on each stream, including eligible costs, is presented in Section 10.

5. Legal basis

In accordance with Section 7 (1) (i) of the Industrial Development (Enterprise Ireland) Act 1998, this Fund

shall be administered by Enterprise Ireland, using funds made available for that purpose by the Department

of Business, Enterprise and Innovation with the consent of both the Minister for Business, Enterprise and

Innovation and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

6. State Aid Basis

Streams 1 and 2 are compatible with the internal market and not considered to be state aid because the aid

is received by the enterprises availing of the services delivered by the grantee companies / public body and

the amount of aid received by the enterprises availing of the services is sufficiently small to be exempt

under the EU Commission State Aid De Minimis Regulation 1407/2013.

In this context, the aggregate of subsidised4 services received by all end users of the relevant grantee

company / public body over fifteen years must be no less than the amount of grant monies received.

2 Except for eligible personnel costs. Approved projects under this fund have up to 24-months to appoint a person to the post after the date of grant approval. The post must be maintained for a 3-year period.3 Enterprise Ireland reserves the right to extend the funding period in exceptional circumstances on a case by case

basis.

4 Subsidised services are those which are delivered at a below market value cost to the end-users.

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The following general conditions apply to this funding:

1. For each enterprise availing of the services delivered by the grantee companies / public body, over

any three-year period, such subsidies cannot be of a value in excess of the end user’s De Minimis

entitlement5 under the EU Commission State Aid De Minimis Regulation 1407/2013.

2. The grantee company / public body shall maintain records of the subsidisation of services so that it

can ensure that the aggregate of all subsidies paid to all end users over the 15 years starting with

the project commencement date is at least equal to the amount of grant monies received under

this fund.

3. The grantee company / public body shall ask each end user to submit to it, on an annual basis, a De

Minimis declaration addressed to the grantee company stating the amount of De Minimis aid it has

received over the previous three years.

4. Where De Minimis supports from the State of a value equal to the De Minimis entitlement of an

enterprise availing of the services delivered by the grantee companies / public body have been

received, any further services can only be provided by the grantee company / public body to the

enterprise at market prices over the balance of the relevant three-year period.

7. Eligible Applicants6

To be eligible for funding applicants must be one of the following:

Applicants will be not for profit entities that are registered Designated Activity Company, (DAC) or

a Company Limited by Guarantee, (CLG) with the CRO under the Companies Act 2014 prior to

submission of their applications by 12 noon on 22nd of April 2020.

They must comprise national/regional, county and local stakeholders, with a purpose of

benefiting the wider needs of the community and region/nation as defined in funding Stream 1

and 2.

Be a public body, such as Local Authorities, Institutes of Technology and other agencies of the

State, that are involved in a collaborative proposal with enterprise and other local and regional

stakeholders, with a purpose of benefiting the wider needs of the community and region as

5 De Minimis Aid is small amounts of State Aid given to an enterprise which cannot exceed €200,000 over any three fiscal years to any company irrespective of size or location. De Minimis Aid can come from any State body, agency or department. If a Company is part of a group, then the €200,000 limit applies to the group. Such amounts of De Minimis Aid are regarded as falling outside the category of State aid that is banned by the EC Treaty and can be awarded to an enterprise without notification to or clearance from the European Commission.

6

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defined in funding Stream 1 and 2. Please note where a project is led by a public body, the

submitted project must be additional to the public body’s existing work programme.

The constitution of the applicant shall provide that:

No payment (other than reasonable and proper payments for services rendered, vouched

expenses or rent for premises let to the company) is transferred, or distribution is made, directly

or indirectly to a member; and

Upon a winding up or dissolution of the company, no transfer, payment or distribution may be

made to a member, but that instead, all net assets shall be given up or transferred to some other

institution or institutions having main objects similar to the main objects of the company and

which shall prohibit the distribute on of its or their income and property amongst its or their

members to an extent at least as great as is imposed on the company.

8. Ineligible Applicants

The Fund is not open to the following:

Applications that are received by Enterprise Ireland electronically after 12 noon on the call close

date.

Applications that do not meet the minimum eligible funding threshold, i.e. minimum of €100K in

eligible funding in Stream 1, or a minimum of €500K in eligible funding in Stream 2.

Applicants that are not an eligible public body or registered Designated Activity Company, (DAC) or

a Company Limited by Guarantee, (CLG) with the CRO under the Companies Act 2014 prior to

submission of their applications by:

12 noon on 22nd of April 2020

Applications from Tourism; Transport; and large infrastructural projects – e.g. Ports; Roads; By-

pass; etc.

Applications which include or relate to activities that Enterprise Ireland considers as ineligible or as

involving an unacceptable reputational risk. Ineligible activities include activities relating to:

The gambling sector, including ‘gaming’ (as defined in the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956).

Adult entertainment.

Tobacco products.

9. Funding

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Funding will be available for a 3-year period following the date of approval7 8 . Section 4 note (page

3) applies.

Enterprise Ireland will fund up to 80% of eligible grant expenditure over the period of funding.

Projects must focus on delivering capability supports for enterprise in the first instance.

Consideration will be given to capital funding if an infrastructure gap is clearly demonstrable.

The activity being proposed for funding must be additional to the activities currently being

undertaken, if any, and additional to activities, if any, currently funded by the State.

The continuance of funding throughout the funding period shall be contingent upon delivery of

agreed milestones for the project. Funding milestones shall be set and agreed with Enterprise

Ireland.

The funding is subject to justification of costs and the evaluation criteria detailed in Section 16.

Enterprise Ireland reserves the right to reduce or disallow proposed funded costs, or to schedule

some or all of the costs in stages over the term of the funding.

Enterprise Ireland shall make no commitment to funding the successful applicant after the three-

year period of funding.

Collaborative partners can include institutions or companies in Northern Ireland (or worldwide),

but direct funding cannot be provided under this fund to these collaborative partners.

Please note that funding for this call is subject to Ministerial approval.

All successful projects for funding must commence within 12 months of approval.9 Time extensions beyond

the agreed funding period will be subject to review and decision by the Enterprise Ireland approving

committee.

10. Eligible Costs for Stream 1 and 2 Projects

Stream 1: Support for Border Region Strengthening Projects to strengthen enterprise capability and

capacity in the Border Region. Projects should be focused on implementing local, county or regional based

initiatives. Initiatives will be aimed at addressing identified gaps in enterprise capability for the purposes of

facilitating and supporting:

o entrepreneurial activity;

o productivity; and/or

o the innovative capability of enterprise.

7 Except for eligible personnel costs. Approved projects under this fund have up to 24-months to appoint a person to the post after the date of grant approval. The post must be maintained for a 3-year period.8 Enterprise Ireland reserves the right to extend the funding period on a case by case basis.9 However, in the case of key personnel, they can be recruited up to 24 months from the acceptance of the offer.

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Projects will have funding requirements that range from €100k up to €500k, in eligible expenses, per

project towards capital and current costs.

Stream 1 will be seeking Regional Strengthening Projects that align with any of the five Pillars of Future Jobs

Ireland and/or Enterprise Ireland’s “Powering the Regions” Border Region initiatives.

Examples of projects envisaged include:

Strengthening the enterprise capability support, in line with the Fund’s objectives, around existing

incubation/enterprise hubs. This can include linked/shared service models, that leverage and add

value to the existing infrastructure and the suite of enterprise supports available through the

enterprise agencies, and other bodies.

Provision of acceleration supports, including pre-acceleration supports, to drive entrepreneurship

activity and the capability of SMEs to scale, internationalise and respond to market challenges such

as Brexit.

Projects to stimulate and support entrepreneurship activity within enterprise and an

entrepreneurship culture locally or regionally, including initiatives specially targeted at under-

represented groups (e.g. female entrepreneurship).

Innovative approaches to support enterprise activity in collaboration with existing agencies and

supports, in the area of entrepreneurial activity, and / or productivity, and/or the innovative

capability of enterprise, in order to build resilience market challenges, such as, Brexit and

transitioning.

Stream 1 Eligible Costs

All eligible costs are required to be directly related to the implementation of the work programme. Cost

categories include:

Renovation/Refurbishment: A maximum grant of up to 80% of eligible costs towards

renovation/refurbishment is available. Eligible costs are the building modification costs and related

architectural and engineering design costs. Enterprise Ireland will allow modification costs under the

following headings:

Internal structural work such as manufacturing conversion to office space and vice versa

Test kitchen facilities

Upgrade of Broadband/Wi-Fi access

Equipment/Fit-out including hardware (including PCs and laptops) and software

Hot desk Facilities

Architectural Design costs

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Networking facilities

Modifications may not include works that can be considered by Enterprise Ireland as

routine/minor/wear and tear/maintenance work etc.

Note:

Regarding such modification costs, the groups must own the building or must hold a lease

of not less than 15 years remaining on the lease.

Renovations / Refurbishment projects shall commence within 18 months of the date of

grant offer. The final claim must be submitted to Enterprise Ireland within 30 months of the

date of grant offer.

Equipment must be less than 5 years old; hardware and software must be new.

Enterprise Ireland will fund reasonable external finish costs needed to deliver the project.

All eligible costs exclude VAT10.

Personnel: A maximum grant of up to 80% of eligible salary, or €64,000 per year, whichever is the

lesser over a period of no more than 3 years. Salary (excluding employers PRSI, bonus and

commission) is capped at €80,000 per annum, per person. New additional personnel11 must have

fixed term contracts and be employed directly by a successful applicant to drive the various

elements of the work programme over the period of funding. Roles for which funding has been

approved by Enterprise Ireland must be clearly assigned with responsibilities relating to the

implementation of the work programme12. The person must be appointed within 24 months from

the offer date and the post must be maintained for a period of 3 years from the date of

recruitment.

Overheads: Support for eligible overheads to a maximum of 30% of the total eligible salary costs.

Travel: A maximum grant of €39,000 or 80% of eligible costs, whichever is the lesser, over the

period of funding to support domestic and foreign travel which can be shown to have been

reasonably incurred and wholly for the implementation of the work programme. This also includes

attendance and participation at trade fairs. All air travel costs incurred must be for economy seat

fares. All travel expenses are subject to Enterprise Ireland’s current rate of travel and subsistence

(see Appendix 1 for further details).

Promotional Activities: A maximum grant of €9,000 or 80% of eligible costs, whichever is the lesser,

over the period of funding to support communication activities required to implement its work

10 Where applicants can certify through the Revenue Commissioners that they have unrecoverable VAT, it may be deemed an eligible expense under this fund. 11 A maximum of six personnel can be supported for funding to drive the various elements of the work programme.12Only key management personnel or key technical personnel charged with the management and delivery of the overall project or specific elements of the proposed project will be eligible for support.

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programme by a successful applicant. This may include awareness events, promotional material

and website costs (excluding design).

Consultancy Support: A maximum grant of €150,000 over a maximum 3-year period or 80% of

eligible costs whichever is the lesser, over the period of funding. The maximum daily rate of up to

€900 per day, (subject to agreement with Enterprise Ireland) to support the hiring of appropriate

external experts required to drive key elements of the work programme.

Rental of Temporary Project Space: Where it is necessary to rent a temporary premises in the

initial phase to commence the delivery of the project, the cost of renting/leasing this

accommodation will be eligible at a grant rate of 80% of actual expenditure from the effective start

date of the project (call close date)13. This rental/lease support will be provided for up to 2 years

only. The space is to be used for the purposes of the project only and there must be a commercial

lease/licence in the name of the grantee in place. Capital expenditure required to adopt the

premises or purchase equipment may be allowed up to a maximum €20k limit overall. Purchased

equipment should have a function in the delivery of the project in both the temporary and

permanent project space.

VAT: Where applicants can certify through the Revenue Commissioners that they have

unrecoverable VAT, it may be deemed an eligible expense under this fund.

Please note that eligible expenditure can only be incurred after the date of Call Close.

Applicants should be aware that there is no certainty that an eligible application will be approved, even

where a deposit or expenditure has been paid.

Stream 2 Overview

Support for Strategic Change Projects with regional, multi-regional or national collaborations with a focus

on delivering increased enterprise capability in the Border Region. Projects must focus on delivering

capability and capacity building initiatives for enterprise. Under this stream projects should seek to utilise

infrastructure where available. Consideration will be given to funding new buildings if an infrastructure gap

is clearly demonstrable. Projects will have funding requirements that range from €500k up to €5m, in

eligible expenses, per project towards capital and current costs.

Stream 2 will be seeking Strategic Change Projects that align with Future Jobs Ireland, and in particular:

Pillar 1 - Embracing innovation and technological change;

Pillar 2 – Improving SME productivity; and

13 Enterprise Ireland will pay approved renting/leasing retrospectively. Eligible costs will not include bank charges and administration costs.

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Pillar 5 – Transitioning to a low carbon economy.

Projects should align with the Strategic Objectives set out within the Regional Enterprise Plans and

Enterprise Ireland’s “Powering the Regions” Border Region initiatives.

Examples of projects envisaged include (but are not confined to):

Projects that will increase enterprise capability and capacity to support entrepreneurial activity and

/ or the productivity and / or the innovative capability of enterprise, within and or across enterprise

sectors, in the Border Region.

Projects that will build capability to assist companies in Border Region to build resilience to

economic and market challenges, such as, Brexit and transitioning to a low carbon economy.

Innovative approaches to delivering initiatives that will enhance productivity of enterprise in the

Border Region.

Projects to stimulate and support start-ups, including the promotion of female entrepreneurship.

Scaling existing regional projects that would drive additionality in the impact of existing enterprise

capability building initiatives in line with the Fund’s stated objectives

Projects building on existing collaborative initiatives amongst groups of companies and other

stakeholders, including HEIs that have the potential to drive enterprise capability in the Border

Region.

Eligible Costs under Stream 2

All eligible costs are required to be directly related to the implementation of the work programme.

Cost categories include:

New Build Costs: All submitted projects should seek to utilise available infrastructure in the Border

Region. Consideration will be given to capital funding if an infrastructure gap is clearly

demonstrable.

o Funding of new building eligible costs will be limited to a maximum of 80% of the Enterprise

Ireland approved costs per project. New build projects shall commence within 18 months of the

date of grant offer. The final claim must be submitted to Enterprise Ireland within 30 months of

the date of grant offer.

o Enterprise Ireland will provide a maximum grant of 80% of eligible expenditure, towards the

purchase of an existing building and modification of same to create dedicated space for the

project.

o Eligible costs are the building purchase cost, building modification costs and related

architectural and engineering design costs. The purchase of land is not an eligible expense.

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o Enterprise Ireland will support the construction of a new stand-alone building or an extension

to an existing building to create dedicated space for the project. Site purchase costs for the

new-build or expansion are not eligible costs for support. Own labour/own management costs

related to the construction are not eligible costs for support. Eligible costs are construction

costs and the related architectural and engineering design costs.

Enterprise Ireland will fund reasonable external finish costs needed to deliver the project.

Renovation/Refurbishment Cost: A maximum grant of up to 80% of eligible costs towards

renovation/refurbishment. Enterprise Ireland will allow modification costs under the following

headings:

Internal structural work such as manufacturing conversion to office space and vice versa

Test kitchen facilities

Upgrade of Broadband/Wi-Fi access

Equipment/Fit-out including hardware (including PCs and laptops) and software

Hot desk Facilities

Architectural Design costs

Networking facilities

Modifications may not include works that can be considered by Enterprise Ireland as

routine/minor/wear and tear/maintenance work etc.

o Renovations / Refurbishment projects shall commence within 18 months of the date of grant

offer. The final claim must be submitted to Enterprise Ireland within 30 months of the date of

grant offer.

o Regarding modification costs the groups must own the building or must hold a lease of not less

than 15 years remaining on the lease

o Equipment must be less than 5 years old; hardware and software must be new.

o Enterprise Ireland will fund reasonable external finish costs needed to deliver the project.

o All eligible costs exclude VAT14.

Personnel: A maximum grant of up to 80% of eligible salary, or €64,000 per year, whichever is the

lesser over a period of no more than 3 years. Salary (excluding employers PRSI, bonus and

commission) is capped at €80,000 per annum, per person. Such new additional personnel15 must

have fixed term contracts and be employed directly by a successful applicant to drive the various

elements of the work programme over the period of funding. Roles for which funding has been

approved by Enterprise Ireland must be clearly assigned with responsibilities relating to the

14 Where applicants can certify through the Revenue Commissioners that they have unrecoverable VAT, it may be deemed an eligible expense under this fund. 15 A maximum of six personnel can be supported for funding to drive the various elements of the work programme.

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implementation of the work programme16. The person must be appointed within 24 months from

the offer date and the post must be maintained for a period of 3 years from the date of

recruitment.

Overheads: Support for eligible overheads to a maximum of 30% of the total eligible salary costs.

Travel: A maximum grant of €39,000 or 80% of eligible costs, whichever is the lesser, over the

period of funding to support domestic and foreign travel which can be shown to have been

reasonably incurred and wholly for the implementation of the work programme. This also includes

attendance and participation at trade fairs. All air travel costs incurred must be for economy seat

fares. All travel expenses are subject to Enterprise Ireland’s current rate of travel and subsistence

costs.

Promotional Activities: A maximum grant of €9,000 or 80% of eligible costs, whichever is the lesser,

over the period of funding to support communication activities required to implement its work

programme by a successful applicant. This may include awareness events, promotional material

and website costs (excluding design).

Consultancy Support: A maximum grant of €150,000 over a maximum 3-year period or 80% of

eligible costs whichever is the lesser, over the period of funding. The maximum daily rate of up to

€900 per day, (subject to agreement with Enterprise Ireland) to support the hiring of appropriate

external experts required to drive key elements of the work programme.

Rental of Temporary Project Space: Where it is necessary to rent a temporary premises in the

initial phase to commence the delivery of the project, the cost of renting/leasing this

accommodation will be eligible at a grant rate of 80% of actual expenditure from the effective start

date of the project (Call close date) post approval. This rental/lease support will be provided for up

to 2 years only. The space is to be used for the purposes of the project only and there must be a

commercial lease/licence in the name of the grantee in place. Capital expenditure required to

adopt the premises or purchase equipment may be allowed up to a maximum €20k limit overall.

Capital equipment must be new and form part of the project and must be transferable to the new

premise.

VAT: Where applicants can certify through the Revenue Commissioners that they have

unrecoverable VAT, it may be deemed an eligible expense under this fund.

Please note that eligible expenditure can only be incurred after the date of Call Close.

16 Only key management personnel or key technical personnel charged with the management and delivery of the overall project or specific elements of the proposed project will be eligible for support.

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Applicants should be aware that there is no certainty that an eligible application will be approved, even

where a deposit or expenditure has been paid. Therefore deposits/ expenditure paid prior to approval are

at the applicant(s) own risk.

Note for Stream 1 and 2 re Capital costs for New Build and Refurbishment/Renovations:

Enterprise Ireland can approve up to 80% of total eligible grant expenditure (as defined in section 10) over

the period of funding. Capital costs for New Build and Refurbishment/Renovations supported will be limited

to a maximum of 80% of the total approved funding by Enterprise Ireland. For example, an approved

project with €1m of eligible expenses maybe approved funding of €800k by Enterprise Ireland. Based on

this, the maximum support for capital costs for New Build and Refurbishment/Renovations will be limited

to 80% of €800k – i.e. €640k.

Balance of funding 17 of minimum 20% may be from the private, community or public sector (including HEIs

and Local Authorities). The balance of funding of 20% can be in cash or in-kind (with a cash min. of 10%). *

* Note: In-kind contribution will only be accepted in the form of the following:

Notional value of a premises if donated by one of the parties i.e. market value of potential lease

over the period proposed (the applicant groups must own the building or must hold a lease of not

less than 15 years).

Salary costs of staff seconded full time to the project by one of the applicant group members.

11. Application Process

The Border Enterprise Development Fund 2020 is a competitive offer. Applications for funding will be

invited through a public call for submission of projects. The call will be announced in the national and

regional press. All applications will be subject to an assessment and selection process.

Completed applications can be downloaded from the Enterprise Ireland website and must be submitted

electronically in Word format to Enterprise Ireland at [email protected] by 12 noon on

22nd of April 2020. Late applications will not be accepted.

On receipt of an application, an email will be sent to confirm that Enterprise Ireland has received the

application form. After the deadline for receipt of applications, and when initial checks are carried out,

17 This reference to funding is a reference to overall project funding.

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mailto:[email protected]

each application will be acknowledged within three working days. Applicants who do not receive either

acknowledgement should immediately contact [email protected].

12. Eligibility

All applications will be screened for eligibility for the fund. Ineligible applicants will be informed within two

weeks of the deadline for receipt of applications. Ineligible applicants will not be put forward for

evaluation.

13. Closing Date / Time for Applications

Completed applications must be received by

12 noon on 22nd of April 2020

Applications received after 12 noon on the date of the call close will not be considered.

14. What will an application consist of?

All applicants will be required to submit a fully completed and signed application form which clearly

addresses the required project evaluation criteria as set out in Section 16.

Limited support documentation will be accepted to provide clarity on the project for the evaluation

committee. Support documentation will be restricted to building plans and or drawings, artist’s

impressions, project costing and financial projections, as appropriate. However, these will not form part of

the evaluation. It is essential that all key facts are presented in the application form as this will form the

basis of the evaluation process.

15. Evaluation Process

The evaluation process will consist of 3 stages:

Stage 1:

Eligible applications received will be assessed and a preliminary score against the stated evaluation

criteria by Enterprise Ireland will be awarded.

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mailto:[email protected]

Due diligence and project evaluation will be completed by Enterprise Ireland and a Commercial

Evaluator during this stage. Please note Enterprise Ireland reserves the right to employ an external

Commercial Evaluator to assist in the evaluation process.

The output of Stage 1 will be inputted into Stage 2.

Stage 2:

An Evaluation Panel will assess all eligible applications against the stated evaluation criteria based

on the detail submitted. All applicants will be invited to pitch their proposal to this panel.

The Evaluation Panel will rank projects in order of merit. Enterprise Ireland reserves the right to

reduce or disallow proposed costs, or to schedule some or all of the costs in stages over the term of

the funding.

Shortlisting is based on ranked score providing applicants score a minimum 60% or higher (up to

the Evaluation Panel approval capacity of €15m in the current call)18.

Stage 3:

The project shortlisting will be presented to Enterprise Ireland’s Investment Committee. The

Investment Committee will recommend projects for approval to the Enterprise Ireland Board. The

Enterprise Ireland Board will approve funding to successful projects.

16. Evaluation criteria to be applied to the proposed fund applications

To ensure a balanced regional spread across the Border Region, Enterprise Ireland will target a €2m

allocation, at a minimum, for the best ranked project/s from the Border North East (Louth, Cavan and

Monaghan) and Border North West (Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim) which have attained a minimum score of

60% or higher in the evaluation process.

All other funding will be awarded to the highest scored and ranked applications following the evaluation

process.

All applications will be evaluated against the following criteria:

Evaluation Criteria Weighting1 Impacts, Value for Money and Project Delivery 20%2 Collaboration and Participation 20%

3 Viability and sustainability 15%

18 That is funding is based on a system of the higher the ranking in terms of scoring, the higher the priority in terms of funding.

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4 Building Regional Strengths 20%

5 Capability Building 25%

Total 100%

Applicants that are being considered for support must have attained a minimum 60% of the score available

at this stage.

Where two or more applicants have the same score, the scores attained by each of those applicants in the

following criteria, by order, will determine the ranking of the applicants:

The applicant with the highest score under ‘Impacts and Value for Money’.

If the scores are still even, the applicant with the highest score under ‘Capability Building’.

If the scores are still even, the applicant with the highest score under ‘Viability and Sustainability’.

Impacts, Value for Money and Project Delivery – 20%

Demonstrate impact in the Border Region in line with the Fund’s objectives.

Demonstrate that projects can commence and start implementation in 2020. As part of this,

applicants should demonstrate the structure and resources to deliver against KPIs.

Demonstrate how the project can deliver economic impacts and benefits to enterprises within the

region within a 3-year period.

Demonstrate value for money. As part of this, demonstrate how the project will have a positive

impact on entrepreneurial activity, and/or productivity and/or innovative capability, in enterprises

in the Border Region.

Demonstrate how a proposal fits with existing public and private infrastructure in the Border

Region.

Collaboration and Participation – 20%

Evidence of collaboration between stakeholders to develop and implement the proposal.

Demonstrable industry support/need/benefit.

Appropriate industry/3rd level/R&D linkages locally, regionally and nationally.

Building linkages between different sectors and subsectors on convergence opportunities and other

issues, e.g. between the MNCs and exporting/sub supply SMEs, and between micro enterprise and

other businesses and interests.

Promoting public and private partnership, e.g. collaboration with other players (e.g. EI, LEO,

Regional Skills Fora, Education & Training Board (ETB), Higher and Further Education Institutes, and

Chambers of Commerce etc).

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Viability and sustainability – 15%

Demonstrate a clear path toward self-sustainability.

Workable business /project plan with cash flows, including other sources of finance for project

identified.

Proven track record of promotors in delivering and implementing projects.

Building Regional Strengths – 20%

Building on existing or potential geographical strengths by sectors.

Projects which build on existing enterprise capability to have a positive impact on entrepreneurial

activity and / or the productivity and/or the innovative capability of enterprise in the Border

Region.

Leveraging of existing public/private infrastructure in the area.

Credible value proposition for the Border Region.

Capability Building - 25%

Define the key enterprise capability building initiatives.

Define the target enterprise audience for these initiatives and potential impact from it.

Outline how this initiative will build innovation in target companies in the region.

Additionality of these initiatives to enterprise in the region.

How the initiatives will build resilience in enterprise in the region to respond to market challenges.

17. Post Approval Stage

Enterprise Ireland will inform each applicant company of the non/funding decision in their case. In the case

of successful applicants, a formal letter of offer will be issued.

18. Programme Reviews

Enterprise Ireland will undertake an internal programme review no more than two years after the

commencement of the Fund. In addition, monitoring will be undertaken of each successful applicant in

relation to achievement of agreed performance metrics annually. There is a requirement for projects to:

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Supply updates, progress reports and financial information on request within 2 weeks of receiving

such requests from Enterprise Ireland; and

Meet with Enterprise Ireland, as necessary, to report on project progress.

19. Procurement Guidelines

Successful Applicants should be aware that the public funding of expenditures of private bodies gives rise

to procurement obligations for those bodies (e-tenders). This is particularly so where the public funding

represents in the region of 80% of the contract costs as is the case in this Fund. The extent of those

obligations will depend on the value and type of the expenditure.

In general, the higher the value of the expenditure, the greater the obligation.

For these purposes, expenditures may be divided into a number of categories. First, there is the

categorisation of above or below threshold contracts. The thresholds are set out in the European Union

(Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 284 of 2016)

Accordingly, expenditures (a) over €209,000 (excluding VAT) for goods and/or services contracts and (b)

over €5,225,000 (excluding VAT) for construction works contracts, bring the relevant contract within the

terms of the 2016 Regulations.

Where the value of the relevant works, goods or services supply contract is below the relevant threshold

then less prescriptive requirements which are set out in the Government Procurement Guidelines of July

2017 apply (OGP-Procurement-Guidelines-Web-Version-LINKS).

20. False Statements

If, for the purposes of obtaining aid under this Fund, a person or business entity knowingly makes a false or

misleading statement or withholds essential information, the person who made such false statements or

withheld essential information shall be liable for the full amount of the funds paid on, on discovery or

reasonable suspicion of any circumstances all further funding will be withheld.

21. Information and Publicity

Prospective applicants should note that details of awards, including total grant approved, made under this

Fund may be publicly referenced. Successful applicants will also be required to participate in the

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Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation’s / Enterprise Ireland’s media and marketing activities

relating to this fund. Successful applicants will be required to acknowledge funding provided by Enterprise

Ireland on behalf of the Business, Enterprise and Innovation.

22. Confidentiality

Enterprise Ireland will not release any information received as part of this application except for evaluation

as set out above or as may be required by law, including the Freedom of Information (FOI) Acts 2014, the

Data Protection Acts 1998 and 2003 and the General Data Protection Regulation 2018.

As part of its evaluation process, the application will be given to an assessment panel which will include

external assessors as well as Enterprise Ireland employees. All external assessors will have signed a

confidentiality agreement with Enterprise Ireland.

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· web viewcompleted applications can be downloaded from the enterprise ireland website and must...

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