Published date: 14 June 2022

This notice was replaced on 30 September 2022

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Awarded contract (published 7 March 2023)

Closed early engagement


Contract summary

Industry

  • Education and training services - 80000000

Location of contract

SW1P 3BT

Procurement reference

tender_308888/1078887

Published date

14 June 2022

Closing date

28 June 2022

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes


Description

The Department for Education is seeking early engagement on our proposal to procure support for local authorities (LAs) to fulfil their statutory sufficiency duty. The proposed support will be delivered in the Financial Years 2022-25 and will relate to delivery of sufficient childcare places for children aged 0-14, or up to 18, where applicable.

The Department for Education will secure support to assist LAs to meet the challenges they face in securing sufficient high-quality childcare. This will enable the LAs to continue to meet the needs of the parents in their area and discharge their statutory sufficiency duties on behalf of the Secretary of State.

The Department for Education wishes to engage with potential providers to refine our requirements and test their viability, so that we can deliver support in the most efficient way, ensuring an effective service that is value for money.

Our requirements are based around three core aims:
1. Reactive support to respond quickly to sufficiency crisis.
If an LA is failing to meet its statutory sufficiency duty, or is at imminent risk of doing so, and lacks the capability to mitigate the problem through its own means
2. Preventative/improvement support for longer term sufficiency.
To put LAs in a better position to manage their current and future sufficiency needs.
3. Seed funding

For implementing recommendations set out through either the above crisis intervention or for prevention/improvement work where no other funds are available.

To facilitate this market engagement, we intend to host a virtual event aimed at potential providers on 23rd June at 10:00, which will summarise our initial plans and provide an opportunity to ask questions and offer feedback.
Additionally, we are also issuing a questionnaire to additional feedback where needed.

To engage with this consultation process, either to attend the event or to receive a copy of the questionnaire, please contact the e-mail address below who will provide the details.


More information

Additional text

Any subsequent commercial activity will be advertised as appropriate via Contracts Finder.

This Early Engagement Notice (EEN) is for information only, and the department reserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not award contract(s). The information contained in this notice, including information relating to the nature and scope of the authority requirements, the service classification of this requirement from the list of CPV codes, is only indicative of the authority's current thinking and is neither exhaustive nor binding. The authority reserves the right at its absolute discretion to amend it at the time of issue of any further notices or at any other time.

This EEN is not a binding statement of intent; it outlines the Authority's intention to engage with the supply market on an open and formal basis to develop potential options for this scheme if that is what is decided.


About the buyer

Address

Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
England

Email

MHGP.DELIVERY@education.gov.uk