Published date: 30 September 2022

This notice was replaced on 2 November 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 future opportunity - This means that a potential contract has passed its approach to market date. A buyer can choose to consider any supplier interest or convert this notice into an opportunity ready for live procurement.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Pre-school education services - 80110000

Location of contract

S1 2FJ

Value of contract

£825,000

Procurement reference

tender_308888/1078890

Published date

30 September 2022

Approach to market date

31 October 2022

Contract start date

23 January 2023

Contract end date

31 March 2025

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes


Description

The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to notify the market of the Department for Education's (DfE) intention to undertake a procurement exercise for a Local Authority Childcare Sufficiency Support Contract in Autumn 2022.

The DfE is seeking to procure expert professional services support (including peer support) for local authorities (LAs) to fulfil their statutory sufficiency duties. The proposed support will be delivered in the Financial Years 2022-25 and will relate to delivery of sufficient childcare and early education places for children aged 0-14, or up to 18, where applicable.

We require a supplier who can offer support to LAs in restoring or improving childcare sufficiency in their local areas through a mixed package of tailored support to diagnose sufficiency issues and assist LAs in implementing and embedding sustainable improvements. We envisage this would be delivered by:
1. Providing reactive support and challenge to LAs identified as failing (or at imminent risk of failing) in their duty to secure sufficient childcare for parents to work or participate in education or training, and for children eligible for the early education entitlements.
2. Providing proactive preventative and improvement support and challenge to LAs to facilitate the maintenance or improvement of local childcare sufficiency.
3. Where appropriate, assessing applications for, and administering discrete project funding of up to £20,000 per LA to support LAs in implementing recommendations made during the reactive or proactive support activity at 1 and 2 above.
4. Identifying, assessing and prioritising LAs with support and development needs that would be suitable for, and able to participate effectively in the preventative/improvement component of the support contract.
5. Evaluating support activity and funding outcomes.
6. Providing a project management function to coordinate the above support activity, and contract management activity required by the DfE.


More information

Previous notice about this procurement

Procuring support to enable LAs to secure sufficient childcare

  • Early engagement
  • Published 14 June 2022

Links

Additional text

This Open procurement in accordance with Regulation 27 of PCR 2015 will be conducted electronically via Jaggaer e-tendering portal. No hard copy documents will be issued; all communications with DfE will be carried out via the portal.

Bidders will be required to register on Jaggaer portal:

https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html



For any assistance with the portal, bidders should contact the Jaggaer helpdesk:

help_UK@jaggaer.com

Please note that this PIN is not a call to competition and the DfE is not bound to enter into any procurement activity because of it. With procurement being dependant on ministerial priorities, funding for these Services is subject to change at DfE's absolute discretion.


About the buyer

Address

2 St. Paul's Place, 125 Norfolk Street
Sheffield
S1 2FJ
England

Email

craig.heatley@education.gov.uk