Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Department for Education acting through the Education and Skills Funding Agency
Cheylesmore House South, Quinton Road
Coventry
CV1 2WT
UK
Telephone: +44 12345678
E-mail: esfaprocurement.help@education.gov.uk
NUTS: UKG
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
Address of the buyer profile: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://education.app.jaggaer.com
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://education.app.jaggaer.com
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Education
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Delivery of Traineeships Reforms and Expansion Programme
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Department for Education acting through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (the Authority) is undertaking a procurement in order to support the expansion of the traineeships reform and expansion programme (the ‘Traineeship Programme’). Through this procurement, the Authority intends to award contracts to quality training providers who will deliver traineeships in England for those aged nineteen (19) to twenty-four (24) in order to meet the increased demand from young people who, as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, may have fewer employment choices available to them.
The Authority is conducting a light touch procurement in accordance with Section 7 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) applying the principles of the open procedure as set out in the PCR 2015 and more particularly within the procurement documents, with an accelerated timetable.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
380 500 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Authority is seeking to appoint contractors to deliver traineeships in order to support the high-quality growth of the Traineeship Programme, as set out in the framework for delivery of traineeships 2020-2021.
The Traineeship Programme is a national programme which is funded from the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s Adult Education Budget (AEB) for programmes delivered to those aged nineteen (19) to twenty-four (24). The AEB funds learner participation, and learner and learning support. The principal purpose of traineeships within the AEB is to engage young adults and provide the skills and learning they need to equip them for work, an apprenticeship or further learning.
Potential contractors will need to demonstrate in their tender how they can quickly establish strong relationships with employers, Jobcentres, the National Careers Service (NCS), Local Enterprise Partnerships and other local partners to recruit learners, including through referrals from Jobcentres, and to tailor the Traineeship Programme to real-time needs of the Learner and local labour market.
Potential contractors are referred to the specification at section 2 of the procurement documents for full details of the requirements of the Traineeship Programme and the obligations they will be required to fulfil if they are awarded a contract.
The Authority intends to award contracts for a period to commence at the end of January 2021 and expiring on 31 July 2023 (the ‘Contract Period’) subject to earlier termination in accordance with the terms of the form of contract in the procurement documents (the ‘Contract’). Potential contractors are referred to section II.2.11) below for information about potential extensions to the contract period.
Potential contractors should note that the estimated value of the contracts as set out in section II.1.5) for the entire contract period including all possible extensions is GBP 380.5 million. Potential contractors are referred to the Read Me First in the procurement documents which sets out further information on how this figure is broken down.
Potential contractors shall note that funding for the contracts is only guaranteed for the period from the 1 February 2021 to 31 July 2021 and that the total funding anticipated to be allocated to successful potential contractors at contract award will be GBP 65 million across nine geographical regions as detailed in the Read Me First in the procurement documents.
Potential contractors should note that the Authority does not guarantee any level of funding, or even funding at all beyond 31 July 2021. Potential contractors should further note that the contract value stated in this OJEU contract notice is an estimate and does not put, and should not be interpreted as putting the Authority under any obligation to award contracts up to this or any value.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 66
This contract is subject to renewal: No
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
As detailed in the contract, the Authority may, in its absolute discretion and subject always to available funding, extend the contract period for any further period or periods not exceeding three (3) years in total. Further, the Authority may extend the contract for such a period as may be necessary for learners recruited by the contractor prior to the relevant expiry date to complete their learning programmes.
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
- Accelerated procedure
Justification:
As set out in II.1.4) this is a light touch procurement and as such is not subject to the full requirements of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
In July 2020, in response to Covid-19 and as part of the summer economic update, the chancellor announced a significant expansion of traineeships as part of his plan for jobs to help an increased number of young people to prepare for and find work.
The Authority is using an accelerated timetable for this procurement to support the Plan for Jobs through the expansion of the Traineeship Programme to enable the provision of traineeships in order to meet the increased demand from young people who, as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, may have fewer employment choices available to them. Using an accelerated timetable for this procurement will enable the Authority to award contracts to potential contractors in order to deliver a total of circa 20 000 traineeship starts by eligible learners between 1 February 2021 and 31 July 2021.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
28/10/2020
Local time: 17:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 4 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
29/10/2020
Local time: 12:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.3) Additional information
1) The Authority is conducting a light touch procurement applying the principles of the open procedure as set out in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (‘PCR’) and more particularly in the procurement documents, with an accelerated timetable. Services of the nature of those covered by this procurement are designated as ‘Schedule 3’ Services (‘the Social and Other Specific Services’) under the PCR and as such are not subject to the full requirements of the regulations. The Authority is only bound by the application of the PCR to the extent that they are applicable to Schedule 3 services. The procurement is covered by Regulations 74 to 76 (the ‘Light Touch Regime’).
2) Interested economic operators (Potential contractors) are required to register on the Authority’s eTendering portal. Applicants can access this system at https://education.app.jaggaer.com where the details of how to register and the terms of free registration are provided.
3) Potential contractors are referred to the procurement documents accompanying this OJEU contract notice for additional information on this procurement and in relation to this OJEU contract notice.
4) The Authority reserves the right to withdraw from or discontinue the procurement process, which shall include the right to not award a contracts or contracts as a result of this call for competition.
5) Tenders and all supporting documentation for the contract must be in English and priced in sterling.
6) The Authority will not be liable for any bid costs, expenditure, work or effort incurred by a potential contractor in proceeding or participating in this procurement, including if the procurement process is terminated or amended by the Authority.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Court of Justices, The Strand
London
UK
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
The Authority will incorporate a minimum voluntary 10 calendar days standstill period at the point that information on the award of the contracts is communicated to potential contractors. Unsuccessful potential contractors shall be informed by the Authority as soon as possible after the decision has been made. If a requested clarification regarding the award of the contract has not been successfully resolved, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by the breach of the rules to take legal action. Any such action must be brought within the applicable limitation period. Where a contract has not been entered into, the Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the Authority to amend any document and may award damages. If the contract has been entered into the Court may, depending on the circumstances, award damages, make a declaration of ineffectiveness, order the Authority to pay a fine, and/or order that the duration of the contract is shortened. The purpose of the standstill period referred to above is to allow the parties to apply to the Courts to set aside the award decision before the contract is entered into.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
05/10/2020