The National Archives wishes to invite tenders for the development of a business plan to enable the Cataloguing Grants Programme established in 2006 to become sustainable in the longer term.

In 2006 and 2007, the Cataloguing Grants Programme has been funded by the Pilgrim Trust and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation: both organisations have contributed £100,000 in each of the two years.  The programme has been administered on behalf of the two trusts by the National Archives, which has the specialist expertise required to evaluate the cataloguing proposals submitted for funding.  Funding at this level has enabled grants to be offered only in selected regions of the UK in each of the two years.  In 2006, grants were offered in London, Scotland and NW England, and 70 bids worth a total of £1.3m were received, indicating the strong demand for funding of this kind.

TNA now wishes to develop a business plan to enable the programme to be extended to the whole of the UK, implying annual funding of at least £500,000.  It also wishes to establish the fund on a more sustainable basis, so that the programme is not critically dependent upon the continuing financial support of an individual funder.  Because of the difficulties of securing substantial endowment funding it is felt that the scheme should operate on a rolling fund basis, and aim to have secure funding in place for 3-5 years ahead. The business plan should recommend the most appropriate delivery mechanism for the scheme to achieve these objectives.

The consultant will be required to undertake the following actions:
·       undertake desk research to collate evidence of the need for a national cataloguing grants programme and present the findings in the form of an advocacy document to be used with potential funding bodies, which will be used in tandem with a separate evaluation of the 2006 scheme to be undertaken after the current round of projects are completed;
·       meet with the existing partners in the scheme and gain an understanding of their motives and ambitions for the programme;
·       identify potential additional funders and work with TNA and the existing funders to explore their possible interest in joining a funding partnership to the support the programme;
·       consider alternative delivery mechanisms for the cataloguing grants programme, including the existing informal arrangement by which the Pilgrim Trust acts as banker for the scheme; the establishment of a new specialist trust for this specific purpose or for wider archival purposes; and the adaptation of an existing charitable body such as the National Manuscripts Conservation Trust or the National Council on Archives;
·       submit a detailed plan for achieving a sustainable rolling national cataloguing grants programme that identifies trusts who would be willing to be approached and the nature of the commitment they might be prepared to make and recommends a management structure for a future cataloguing grants programme.

It is envisaged that tenders should provide for 15-20 working days undertaking the work identified and writing up the results.  Within TNA, Nicholas Kingsley, Head of National Advisory Services, and Christine Lawrence, Grants Manager, will support the consultant's work.  The deliverables must be submitted to the National Archives by 1 June 2007.  The consultancy is being funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.

Consultants wishing to tender for this work should submit a short proposal (not more than 10 pages) to Nicholas Kingsley, Head of National Advisory Services, The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU, setting out their proposed approach to the task, their relevant knowledge, experience and skills, their proposed timetable for the project, and their tender amount.  Tenders should also give the name and contact details of two referees who can be contacted.  Tenders should be received by 2 March 2007.  Consultants who are interested in submitting a tender can telephone Nicholas Kingsley on 0208 392 5330 x2062 for an informal discussion of the project.  Copies of project documentation relating to the 2006 round can be supplied on request.

Nicholas Kingsley
Head of National Advisory Services
The National Archives
Kew
Richmond
Surrey TW9 4DU


http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

0208 392 5330 x2062
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