To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what criteria his Department used in the process which resulted in Adventure Capital Fund being awarded a contract to distribute grant funding; and if he will make a statement. (196228)

The criteria used to determine the new fund manager for the Futurebuilders programme were:

quality and efficiency of service;

quality of bidding organisation or consortium;

engagement with the Government's aims for the third sector; and

price.

The Cabinet Office used the European Union model known as the “competitive dialogue” process, which allowed the Cabinet Office to discuss its needs and requirements with a pool of potential bidders with the aim of selecting one or more solutions capable of meeting its needs.

The Adventure Capital Fund (ACF) submitted the tender that best met the set criteria for the re-tender and offered best value.