Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
THE ASSOCIATION OF NORTH EAST COUNCILS LIMITED
Northern Design Centre, Abbots Hill, Baltic Business Quarter
Gateshead
NE83DF
UK
Contact person: Carly Ivers
Telephone: +44 01916380040
E-mail: professional.services@nepo.org
NUTS: UKC
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.nepo.org/
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://www.open-uk.org/
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
NEPO514 - External Training Provision
Reference number: NEPO514
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80530000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
NEPO is seeking to establish a Pseudo DPS for External Training Provision. The existing NEPO Framework will expire 31st January 2024. It is anticipated the future iteration will also operate as a multi-disciplinary Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) and will be available to both NEPO Member Authorities and Contracting Authorities nationally.
The Solution will be procured as a 'Pseudo DPS' using a flexible approach based on the concept of Regulation 34 via Schedule 3, under the principles set out in Regulation 74-77 ('The Light Touch Regime').
The purpose of the prior information notice (PIN) is to provide advance notice to the marketplace for the future opportunity and the intentions of NEPO to hold a market consultation meeting with suppliers to help shape the future framework agreement. NEPO are not advertising this PIN as a mechanism to reduce future procurement timescales.
NEPO intends to publish a soft market testing questionnaire via the Open eTendering system. The questionnaire will be used to assess interest in the tendering opportunity and to gain information and insight from the market to help shape the future NEPO514 Framework Agreement design. The soft market testing questionnaire will be made accessible via the Open eTendering system on Wednesday 9th August 2023 with a submission deadline of 12 p.m. on Monday 21st August 2023.
Suppliers wishing to access and complete the soft market testing questionnaire must first register on the eTendering system using the following link https://www.open-uk.org
Guidance for how to create an account, search for opportunities and respond are included within the Supplier's Hub. If you require further support, please email open.support@nepo.org.
In addition, NEPO intends to hold a group market consultation meeting. The Group Market consultation meeting is advertised openly via this PIN and will take place on Tuesday 22nd August 2023. Suppliers wishing to register attendance must do so by registering via this link https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nepo514-external-training-provision-market-engagement-tickets-691669280437?aff=oddtdtcreator no later than 12 p.m. on Monday 21st August 2023. The group Market Consultation will be no longer than 60 minutes and NEPO intend to conduct this session virtually through online meeting platform applications. NEPO anticipates this virtual meeting session will take place via Microsoft Teams or alternative online platforms.
Attendance at market consultation is optional and does not provide suppliers with an advantage in any future related procurement. Attendance also does not constitute as an intention to tender for any future related procurement. Please note the above dates may be subject to change depending on availability and supplier uptake.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
General Requirements
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80530000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
General Training Requirements
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Building Maintenance, Construction & Highways Training
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80530000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Building Maintenance, Construction & Highways Training
Lot No: 3
II.2.1) Title
Corporate and Workforce Development Training
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80530000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Corporate and Workforce Development Training
Lot No: 4
II.2.1) Title
Education & Schools Training
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80530000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Education & Schools Training
Lot No: 5
II.2.1) Title
Health & Safety Training
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80530000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Health & Safety Training
Lot No: 6
II.2.1) Title
Hospitality & Catering Training
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80530000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Hospitality & Catering Training
Lot No: 7
II.2.1) Title
ICT Training
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80530000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
ICT Training
Lot No: 8
II.2.1) Title
Safeguarding Training
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80530000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Safeguarding Training
Lot No: 9
II.2.1) Title
Social Care (Adult's & Children's) Training
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80530000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Social Care (Adult's & Children's) Training
Lot No: 10
II.2.1) Title
Social Worker Training
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80530000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Social Worker Training
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
13/10/2023
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
NEPO is a Central Purchasing Body as defined in the Public Contract Regulations 2015 (PCR15). The agreement will be available for use by all NEPO Members. A list of member organisations is available in the About section of the NEPO website at: www.nepo.org
This agreement will also be made available to all current and future NEPO Associate Members. Current Associate Members are listed in the Associate Member section of the NEPO website at: www.nepo.org/associate-membership/list
NEPO intends to make the resulting agreement available for use by all Contracting Authorities throughout all administrative regions of the UK (as defined by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015) including but not limited to Government Departments and their Agencies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies, Central Government, NHS Bodies, Local Authorities, Emergency Services, Coastguard Emergency Services, Educational Establishments, Registered Social Landlords and Registered Charities who have a need to purchase the above services.
Please see the following websites for further details:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/Localcouncils/index.htm
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
https://www.gov.uk/check-a-university-is-officially-recognised/recognised-bodies
http://www.schoolswebdirectory.co.uk/localauthorities.php
http://www.ukschoolsdirectory.net
https://www.gov.uk/find-school-in-england
https://education.gov.scot/ParentZone
http://hwb.wales.gov.uk/
https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/open-academies-and-academy-projects-in-development
http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/institutions/
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/workprovide/unicoll/heis/
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/workprovide/unicoll/fecs/
http://www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/AcuteTrustListing.aspx
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/nhswalesaboutus/structure
http://www.scottishambulance.com/TheService/organised.aspx
http://www.hscni.net/index.php?link=trusts
http://www.scottishambulance.com/AboutUs/HowWeOrganised.aspx
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/A-ZOfCentralGovernment/index.htm
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations
http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/gov.htm
http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/local-councils-in-northern-ireland
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/02/2421/1
https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/contact
https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/articles/list-public-bodies-which-ni-public-procurement-policy-applies
https://www.ons.gov.uk/
https://www.police.uk/forces/
http://www.police-information.co.uk/index.html
http://www.psni.police.uk/index.htm
http://www.scotland.police.uk/
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency http://www.fireservice.co.uk/information/ukfrs
http://www.gov.scot/Topics/archive/law-order/Police/PoliceServiceofScotland
http://www.fire.org.uk/fire-brigades.html
http://www.nifrs.org/areas-districts/
http://www.firescotland.gov.uk/your-area.aspx
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/current-registered-providers-of-social-housing
http://directory.scottishhousingregulator.gov.uk/pages/default.aspx
https://gov.wales/topics/housing-and-regeneration/publications/registered-social-landlords-in-wales/?lang=en
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/housing-associations
http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/About_us/Regulation/Registering_charities_index.aspx
http://www.oscr.org.uk/
https://idea.org.uk/ http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/registerhomepage.aspx
http://www.sell2wales.gov.uk/Search/search_Auth.aspx
http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom/factsandfigures/housingplanning1/facts/socialhousing/?id=1822644
A complete list of permissible users is shown on the NEPO website below:
https://www.nepo.org/associate-membership/permissible-users
Organisations wishing to access the NEPO agreement will be required to register as a NEPO Associate Member in the first instance.
Further information can be found at: www.nepo.org
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
10/08/2023