Published date: 18 February 2021

This notice was replaced on 18 February 2021

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

Awarded contract (published 24 June 2021)

Closed early engagement


Contract summary

Industry

  • Education and training services - 80000000

Location of contract

South West

Procurement reference

tender_264021/926765

Published date

18 February 2021

Closing date

18 March 2021

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes


Description

The purpose of this notice is to notify the market of a forthcoming procurement opportunity for delivery of education and training to adult learners' resident in Somerset, through a single ESFA funded Community Learning contract for services.

The existing ESFA funded Community Learning contract for services in Somerset will come to an end on 31 July 2021. As a result, a competitive procurement exercise under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 for a single ESFA funded Community Learning contract for services will open week commencing 15 March 2021. The contract will start on 1 August 2021 and cease on 31 July 2022. Subject to the outcome of the Further Education reform White paper, and affordability, the ESFA may include a right to extend the contract for a limited period.

The procurement will be open to providers who are seeking to deliver education and training provision funded by ESFA Community Learning to adults' resident in Somerset. Providers do not need to be listed on the Register of Training Organisations as this is due to be decommissioned. Providers will need to meet the quality standards that will be set out in the procurement documents.

The procurement will fund:

- delivery of ESFA funded Community Learning services to adult learners' resident in the geographical area of Somerset only. ESFA funded Community Learning funding is focused on people who are disadvantaged and least likely to participate in learning, including those in rural areas and people on low incomes with low skills. For many learners, this is a first step towards further learning, voluntary work and / or paid employment.

- delivery in Somerset only, which is comprised of a two-tier non-metropolitan county, administered by Somerset County Council and five district councils, and two unitary authority areas. The five districts of Somerset are West Somerset, South Somerset, Taunton Deane, Mendip, and Sedgemoor. The two unitary authorities are North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset.

- any Contractor to whom we award a contract must provide flexible timetabling and modes of teaching and learning (for example, evening classes, bite sized delivery, and drop-in sessions) to attract those furthest from learning, and/or with mild to moderate mental health issues or other disadvantages.

There will be a market engagement webinar on Thursday 25 February 2021 - 9.45am to 10.45am. The webinar will communicate the procurement requirements to potential bidders and answer any queries that may help support your bid.

Reservations to attend the Market Engagement Webinar should be made by emailing your interest to our mailbox: ESFAProcurement.HELP@education.gov.uk

The webinar will be delivered through the TEAMS platform with an audio and visual presentation, followed by a question and answer session.

Once you have emailed your interest, we will reply to your email with joining instructions so you can attend the webinar.


More information

Additional text

There will be a market engagement webinar on Thursday 25 February 2021 - 9.45am to 10.45am. The webinar will communicate the procurement requirements to potential bidders and answer any queries that may help support your bid.

Reservations to attend the Market Engagement Webinar should be made by emailing your interest to our mailbox: ESFAProcurement.HELP@education.gov.uk

The webinar will be delivered through the TEAMS platform with an audio and visual presentation, followed by a question and answer session.

Once you have emailed your interest, we will reply to your email with joining instructions so you can attend the webinar.


About the buyer

Address

Cheylesmore House, Quinton Road
Coventry
CV1 2WT
England

Telephone

+448450194170

Email

ESFAProcurement.HELP@education.gov.uk

Website

https://www.gov.uk/Department-for-Education