Published date: 23 June 2021

Last edited date: 23 June 2021

This notice was replaced on 17 May 2023

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

Awarded contract (published 17 May 2023)

Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Vocational training services - 80530000

Location of contract

Any region

Value of contract

£750,000

Procurement reference

tender_211041/973724

Published date

23 June 2021

Closing date

3 May 2021

Closing time

5pm

Contract start date

1 June 2021

Contract end date

30 May 2025

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Restricted procedure (above threshold)

A two-stage procedure, where the first stage is used to select suppliers, who are then invited to bid in the second stage.

This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

The impact of Covid-19 restrictions has increased the likelihood of EPAOs failing due to reduced flow of current business and decreased apprenticeship starts leading to reduced future business.
Through the implementation of an Emergency EPA policy we aim to mitigate the risks of failed EPAOs and to allow apprentices to complete their apprenticeships. We would consider the situation to be an emergency if there were learners due for EPA within three months of the date of failure of the EPAO and there was no alternative EPAO available.
1. Our existing policy agreed with previous Ministers allows the ESFA to procure for an emergency EPAO on a case by case basis. This provision was developed primarily to mitigate the risks where a standard had no EPAO and one could not be found, rather than to mitigate risks around EPAO failure. Covid-19 restrictions and impacts have altered the context so that this option does not allow us to be sufficiently prepared for potential multiple failures of organisations.
2.An emergency EPA policy must meet the following aims:
- To allow an emergency EPAO to deliver a robust, quality assessment of occupational competency if required
- To minimise the reputational impact to the apprenticeships programme by providing a high-quality service that would be able to respond quickly to identified demand.
- To deliver high quality assessment which represents value for money to the employer and the taxpayer.
- To minimise operational impacts on the employer, training provider, apprentice and ESFA.

More information

Links

Award information

Awarded date

20 May 2021

Contract start date

1 June 2021

Contract end date

30 May 2025

Total value of contract

£750,000

This contract was awarded to 4 suppliers.

Training Qualifications UK

Address

Dunham House, Cross Street, Sale, Greater Manchester, M33 7HH, UNITED KINGDOM

Reference

No reference - other

Supplier is SME?

No

Supplier is VCSE?

No

Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance Ltd

Address

Highfield House, Heavens Walk,, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN4 5HZ, UNITED KINGDOM

Reference

No reference - other

Supplier is SME?

No

Supplier is VCSE?

No

Open Awards

Address

17 De Havilland Drive, Liverpool, Liverpool, L24 8RN, UNITED KINGDOM

Reference

No reference - other

Supplier is SME?

No

Supplier is VCSE?

No

Occupational Awards Limited

Address

The Catalyst, Baird Lane, York, North Yorkshire, YO10 5GA, UNITED KINGDOM

Reference

No reference - other

Supplier is SME?

No

Supplier is VCSE?

No

About the buyer

Contact name

Department for Education

Address

Sanctuary Buildings, 20, Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
England

Telephone

44

Email

esfaprocurement.help@education.gov.uk