Scope
Procurement reference
T2689
Procurement description
Belfast City Council requires agile and flexible Employability and Skills solutions to be able to respond to challenges and opportunities within the labour market.
Sufficient flexibility within the delivery of Employability & Skills interventions is required to take account of:
a) Emerging needs.
b) New initiatives and areas of development e.g. skills interventions within the Local Economic Partnership, Labour Market Partnership etc.
c) Specialist employability and skills delivery.
d) To test new areas of work as agreed.
e) Sectors that are not covered within the current Employment Academy Framework (T2474)
f) To pick up overflow of delivery if the current Contractors on T2474 are working to full capacity
On this basis, the Council is setting up an "Open Framework", which would allow an open, fair, and transparent way of procuring the above services in the most efficient way possible.
There will be no guarantee of any work for those Contractors on the new Open Framework, and any future call-offs will not be initiated until the following happens sequentially (which is designed to provide budgetary control):
1. Workplan and budget approval.
2. When agreed, a direct award or mini-competitions will then undertaken.
3. Delegated authority approval prior to awarding the call-off contract.
An Open Framework will provide an opportunity for SMEs and Social Enterprises/Not-for-Profits to secure a place on the Framework, with the opportunity re-opening at various stages for new entrants to apply/re-apply.
The Framework will be split into 5 Lots:
1. Lot 1 – Care Sectors (Health/Social Care/Education/Playwork/Childminding)
2. Lot 2 – Customer Services (Leisure/Hospitality/Retail/Tourism/Beauty)
3. Lot 3 – Practical Sectors (Transport/Green Economy/Construction/Manufacturing)
4. Lot 4 – Professional and Business Services Sectors (Business/Technology)
5. Lot 5 – Employability Support (language/Soft Skills/Capacity Building)
The Council intends that this Framework Agreement will form part of a scheme of successive framework agreements on substantially the same terms (the “Open Framework Scheme”). The total duration of the Open Framework Scheme shall not exceed 8 years from the commencement date of the first framework awarded under the scheme.
The Open Framework is intended to commence in October 2026 and will be awarded for an initial period of two years until October 2028. Full details on the Framework period can be found in the ITT document.
Total value (estimated, excluding VAT)
6000000 GBP to 6000000GBP
Contract dates (estimated)
01 October 2026, 00:00AM to 30 September 2028, 23:59PM
Extension end date (if all the extensions are used): 30 September 2029
Is a framework being established?
Yes
Is this an open framework scheme?
Yes
Lots
Divided into 5 lots
Care Sectors
Lot number: 1 Description
Lot 1 of the Framework will cover requirements under various Care Sectors, including:
- Health Care and/or Social Care
- Education and/or Childcare/Playwork
- Childminding
It is expected that training provision within Lot 1: Care Sectors will typically consist of the following core elements:
- Delivery of vocational skills, licences and/or qualifications where applicable to provide participants with the skills and qualifications required for employment, self-employment and ‘better job’ opportunities available.
- Employability skills development such as motivation, team working, communication skills, interview skills, confidence building etc. in order to help optimise employment outcomes for the individual.
- Addressing remaining employment barriers facing participants including development of interpersonal skills, confidence building etc.
- Using a differentiated approach, where appropriate, to deliver training for those who are newly unemployed to compete for vacancies within the labour market.
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80500000 - Training services
- 80530000 - Vocational training services
- 80521000 - Training programme services
- 80400000 - Adult and other education services
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services
Lot value (estimated)
500000 GBP Excluding VAT
600000 GBP Including VAT
Sustainability
Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Contract start date (estimated)
01 October 2026, 00:00AM
Contract end date (estimated)
30 September 2028, 23:59PM
Extension end date (estimated)
30 September 2029, 23:59PM
Can the contract be extended?
Yes
Description of extensions
Under the Open Framework Scheme, the first Framework will have the option to be extended for an additional year.
Participation
Conditions of participation
Modern Slavery Statement.
GDPR Compliance.
Safeguarding.
Insurances.
Please see ITT document for further information.
Conditions of participation
Previous Company Experience.
Please see ITT document for further information.
Award criteria
Type: quality
Name
Proposed Approach & Methodology (Scenario Based)
Weighting: 80
Weighting type: percentageExact
Type: cost
Name
Cost
Weighting: 20
Weighting type: percentageExact
Customer Service Sectors
Lot number: 2 Description
Lot 2 of the Framework will cover requirements under various Customer Service Sectors, including:
- Leisure
- Hospitality
- Retail
- Tourism
- Beauty
It is expected that training provision within Lot 2: Customer Service Sectors will typically consist of the following core elements:
- Delivery of vocational skills, licences and/or qualifications where applicable to provide participants with the skills and qualifications required for employment, self-employment and ‘better job’ opportunities available.
- Employability skills development such as motivation, team working, communication skills, interview skills, confidence building etc. in order to help optimise employment outcomes for the individual.
- Addressing remaining employment barriers facing participants including development of interpersonal skills, confidence building etc.
- Using a differentiated approach, where appropriate, to deliver training for those who are newly unemployed to compete for vacancies within the labour market.
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80500000 - Training services
- 80530000 - Vocational training services
- 80521000 - Training programme services
- 80400000 - Adult and other education services
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services
Lot value (estimated)
250000 GBP Excluding VAT
300000 GBP Including VAT
Sustainability
Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Contract start date (estimated)
01 October 2026, 00:00AM
Contract end date (estimated)
30 September 2028, 23:59PM
Extension end date (estimated)
30 September 2029, 23:59PM
Can the contract be extended?
Yes
Description of extensions
Under the Open Framework Scheme, the first Framework will have the option to be extended for an additional year.
Participation
Conditions of participation
Modern Slavery Statement.
GDPR Compliance.
Safeguarding.
Insurances.
Please see ITT document for further information.
Conditions of participation
Previous Company Experience.
Please see ITT document for further information.
Award criteria
Type: quality
Name
Proposed Approach & Methodology (Scenario Based)
Weighting: 80
Weighting type: percentageExact
Type: cost
Name
Cost
Weighting: 20
Weighting type: percentageExact
Practical Sectors
Lot number: 3 Description
Lot 3 of the Framework will cover requirements under various Practical Sectors, including:
- Transport
- Green Economy
- Construction
- Manufacturing
It is expected that training provision within Lot 3: Practical Sectors will typically consist of the following core elements:
- Delivery of vocational skills, licences and/or qualifications where applicable to provide participants with the skills and qualifications required for employment, self-employment and ‘better job’ opportunities available.
- Employability skills development such as motivation, team working, communication skills, interview skills, confidence building etc. in order to help optimise employment outcomes for the individual.
- Addressing remaining employment barriers facing participants including development of interpersonal skills, confidence building etc.
- Using a differentiated approach, where appropriate, to deliver training for those who are newly unemployed to compete for vacancies within the labour market.
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80500000 - Training services
- 80530000 - Vocational training services
- 80521000 - Training programme services
- 80400000 - Adult and other education services
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services
Lot value (estimated)
1000000 GBP Excluding VAT
1200000 GBP Including VAT
Sustainability
Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Contract start date (estimated)
01 October 2026, 00:00AM
Contract end date (estimated)
30 September 2028, 23:59PM
Extension end date (estimated)
30 September 2029, 23:59PM
Can the contract be extended?
Yes
Description of extensions
Under the Open Framework Scheme, the first Framework will have the option to be extended for an additional year.
Participation
Conditions of participation
Modern Slavery Statement.
GDPR Compliance.
Safeguarding.
Insurances.
Please see ITT document for further information.
Conditions of participation
Previous Company Experience.
Please see ITT document for further information.
Participation
Conditions of participation
Modern Slavery Statement.
GDPR Compliance.
Safeguarding.
Insurances.
Please see ITT document for further information.
Conditions of participation
Previous Company Experience.
Please see ITT document for further information.
Award criteria
Type: quality
Name
Proposed Approach & Methodology (Scenario Based)
Weighting: 80
Weighting type: percentageExact
Type: cost
Name
Cost
Weighting: 20
Weighting type: percentageExact
Professional and Business Services Sectors
Lot number: 4 Description
Lot 4 of the Framework will cover requirements under various Professional and Business Services Sectors, including:
- Technology
- Business
It is expected that training provision within Lot 4: Professional and Business Services sectors will typically consist of the following core elements:
- Delivery of vocational skills, licences and/or qualifications where applicable to provide participants with the skills and qualifications required for employment, self-employment and ‘better job’ opportunities available.
- Employability skills development such as motivation, team working, communication skills, interview skills, confidence building etc. in order to help optimise employment outcomes for the individual.
- Addressing remaining employment barriers facing participants including development of interpersonal skills, confidence building etc.
- Using a differentiated approach, where appropriate, to deliver training for those who are newly unemployed to compete for vacancies within the labour market.
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80500000 - Training services
- 80530000 - Vocational training services
- 80521000 - Training programme services
- 80400000 - Adult and other education services
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services
Lot value (estimated)
500000 GBP Excluding VAT
600000 GBP Including VAT
Sustainability
Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Contract start date (estimated)
01 October 2026, 00:00AM
Contract end date (estimated)
30 September 2028, 23:59PM
Extension end date (estimated)
30 September 2029, 23:59PM
Can the contract be extended?
Yes
Description of extensions
Under the Open Framework Scheme, the first Framework will have the option to be extended for an additional year.
Participation
Conditions of participation
Modern Slavery Statement.
GDPR Compliance.
Safeguarding.
Insurances.
Please see ITT document for further information.
Conditions of participation
Previous Company Experience.
Please see ITT document for further information.
Award criteria
Type: quality
Name
Proposed Approach & Methodology (Scenario Based)
Weighting: 80
Weighting type: percentageExact
Type: cost
Name
Cost
Weighting: 20
Weighting type: percentageExact
Employability Support
Lot number: 5 Description
Lot 5 of the Framework will cover requirements relating to Employability Support, including areas such as:
- Language
- Soft Skills
- Capacity Building
It is expected that interventions within Lot 5: Employability Support will consist of:
- Employability skills development such as motivation, team working, communication skills, interview skills, confidence building etc.
- Support to employers to help them to provide work opportunities leading to sustainable employment.
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80500000 - Training services
- 80530000 - Vocational training services
- 80521000 - Training programme services
- 80400000 - Adult and other education services
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services
Lot value (estimated)
3750000 GBP Excluding VAT
4500000 GBP Including VAT
Sustainability
Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Contract start date (estimated)
01 October 2026, 00:00AM
Contract end date (estimated)
30 September 2028, 23:59PM
Extension end date (estimated)
30 September 2029, 23:59PM
Can the contract be extended?
Yes
Description of extensions
Under the Open Framework Scheme, the first Framework will have the option to be extended for an additional year.
Participation
Conditions of participation
Modern Slavery Statement.
GDPR Compliance.
Safeguarding.
Insurances.
Please see ITT document for further information.
Conditions of participation
Previous Company Experience.
Please see ITT document for further information.
Award criteria
Type: quality
Name
Proposed Approach & Methodology (Scenario Based)
Weighting: 80
Weighting type: percentageExact
Type: cost
Name
Cost
Weighting: 20
Weighting type: percentageExact