Social and other specific services – public contracts
Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
North Lanarkshire Council
Civic Centre, Windmillhill Street
Motherwell
ML1 1AB
UK
E-mail: corporateprocurement@northlan.gov.uk
NUTS: UKM84
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00010
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/esop/pts-host/public/pts/web/login.html
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
Flexible Framework for Vocational and Skill Based Interventions
Reference number: NLC-CPT-25-111
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
North Lanarkshire Council (the “Council”) propose to establish a Flexible Framework Agreement with multiple external learning Contractors to deliver vocational and skill-based interventions across a variety of subject areas. Provision will be accessible to all North Lanarkshire schools however is primarily sought for senior phase pupils (S4-S6).
The aim of this Framework is to enhance the employability skills and post school pathways that will better equip our young people for the world of work. A significant focus of this framework will be to ensure adequate specialist provision is available for our schools and programmes supporting pupils from priority and target groups.
The proposed Framework duration is 4 years. There will be annual entry points to allow new applicants to join the Framework for academic years 2026-27, 2027-28, and 2028-29. This framework will not include vocational and skills-based interventions delivered by further education colleges/universities or any provision delivered under school college partnership arrangements.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
5 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80000000
80200000
80340000
80212000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM8
Main site or place of performance:
North Lanarkshire
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
In accordance with The Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, Regulation 74, the Council is seeking to put in place a Flexible Framework Agreement with multiple external learning Contractors for the provision of vocational education and skill-based courses for young people across all of North Lanarkshire’s school establishments.
.
The primary aim of this framework is to enhance the curricular offering linked to young people’s employability skills and post school pathways, that will better equip our young people for the world of work.
.
A key focus of this provision will be on young people pursuing well designed study courses that:
.
-better equips young people for the world of work
-meets their clear career aspirations linked to local labour market information
-develop meta skills identified by employers as essential when recruiting young people
-equip young people with the experiences and attributes to develop their employability skills
-have a strong focus on work related learning and occupational development.
-are levelled in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) e.g. City and Guilds, Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC), Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI)
.
The offering will focus on the following areas:
.
-Universal Offer – Mainstream Pupils
-Additional Offer – ASN Pupils
-Intensive Offer – Vulnerable Pupils
.
Desirable subject areas for these pupils include however is not exhaustive:
.
-Acting & Theatre Performance
-Automotive Engineering
-Beauty Care
-Civil Engineering
-Construction
-Creative Digital Media
-Dance
-Digital Game Development
-Early Learning & Childcare
-Employability Skills
-Engineering
-Food & Drink Technology
-Hairdressing
-Health & Safety
-Health & Social Care
-Hospitality
-It Hardware
-IT Software
-Make Up Artistry
-Music Technology
-Professional Cookery
-Rural, Horticultural & Outdoor Skills
-Scientific Technologies
-Sensory Arts
-Sound Production
-Sports Development
-Uniformed Service
.
Tenderers may make proposals for courses in one or more subject areas if they are an approved/accredited centre within a recognised skills sector and have delivery staff/trainers with relevant qualifications to deliver to school pupils within their sector.
.
Contractors must be available to deliver courses during the Council’s academic year: August – June.
.
Full information on the Details of Requirements to be applied within the Framework Agreement are detailed in ITT Annex 1 available via the Buyers Areas within PCS-Tender.
.
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
5 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
Additional information PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE EXCLUSION GROUNDS:
Economic Operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.4) Objective rules and criteria for participation
Full details of the objective rules and criteria for participation are contained within the ITT document. Please refer to I.3 Communication within this Notice.
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Please refer to the ITT documentation for all contract performance conditions.
III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Justification for any framework agreement duration exceeding 4 years: The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreementThe Framework is for a maximum of 4 years. There has a flexible approach and annual entry points to allow new applicants to join the Framework for academic years 2026-27, 2027-28, and 2028-29..
IV.1.10) Identification of the national rules applicable to the procedure:
Information about national procedures is available at: (URL)
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2015/446/part/2/chapter/3/crossheading/social-and-other-specific-services
IV.1.11) Main features of the award procedure:
Single-stage procedure.
.
Tenders must be submitted via PCS-T only.
.
Further entry points will adhere to the same Tender Application process.
.
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
09/12/2025
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 30479. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
A sub-contract clause has been included in this contract. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2363
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
Refer to Annex 2 of the ITT Document located within the PCS-Tender for further information on the Councils Community Benefit expectations within the Framework Agreement.
(SC Ref:814144)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Scottish Courts, Edinburgh, UK
Edinburgh
UK
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/court-locations/hamilton-sheriff-court
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
Review procedure Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures: An economic operator that suffers, or is at risk of suffering, loss or damage attributable to a breach of duty under the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 or the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, may bring proceedings in the Sheriff Court or the Court of Session.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
18/11/2025