Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Department for Education acting through the Education and Skills Funding Agency
Cheylesmore House South, Quinton Road
Coventry
CV1 2WT
esfaprocurement.help@education.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 12345678
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - UNITED KINGDOM
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
Buyer's address
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
one.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 above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://education.app.jaggaer.com
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Adult Education Budget Procurement contracts for services 2021/22
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80400000 - Adult and other education services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Adult Education Budget (AEB) is the major fund for adult learners, delivering skills provision for eligible adults aged 19+ from pre-entry to Level 3. AEB provision aims to engage adults in learning which provides the skills and learning they need for work, progression in work, an Apprenticeship or further learning.
The ESFA would like to invite potential contractors to apply for ESFA funded AEB contract for services for the delivery of adult education and training to learners in England that are resident outside of the devolved areas. The contracts will start on 1 August 2021 and run for the 2021/22 academic year.
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.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £157,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - UNITED KINGDOM
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Adult Education Budget (AEB) is the major fund for adult learners, delivering skills provision for eligible adults aged 19+ from pre-entry to Level 3. AEB provision aims to engage adults in learning which provides the skills and learning they need for work, progression in work, an Apprenticeship or further learning.
The ESFA would like to invite potential contractors to apply for ESFA funded AEB contract for services for the delivery of adult education and training to learners in England that are resident outside of the devolved areas. The contracts will start on 1 August 2021 and run for the 2021/22 academic year. Contracts awarded will be between the values of £150,000 and £3,000,000.
The procurement will fund the following provision:
Statutory entitlements
English and maths, up to and including Level 2, for individuals aged 19 and over, who have not previously attained a GCSE grade A* - C or grade 4, or higher, and/or
First full qualification at Level 2 for individuals aged 19 to 23, and/or
First full qualification at Level 3 for individuals aged 19 to 23.
Information technology (‘digital’) skills, up to and including Level 1, for individuals aged 19+, who have digital skills assessed at below Level 1.
Local Flexibility which supports delivery of flexible tailored provision for adults, including qualifications and components of these and/or non-regulated learning, up to Level 2, including Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAP) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Expansion of DWP’s SWAP: SWAP helps employers with immediate and future job needs by upskilling job seekers to fill locally identified vacancies. A SWAP placement has three main components: pre-employment training, work experience placements and a guaranteed job interview. The AEB funds the pre-employment training component.
National Skills Fund Level 3 Adult Offer: From April 2021, any adult aged 24 and over who wants to achieve their first full Level 3 qualification, which is equivalent to a technical certificate or diploma, or 2 full A levels, will be able to access hundreds of fully funded courses.
Supporting funding to provide extra support to address barriers that may prevent learners from engaging or continuing learning. This includes:
Learning support – available to providers to meet the cost of making reasonable adjustments, as part of the Equality Act 2010, for learners who have an identified learning difficulty or disability, to achieve their learning goal, and/or
Learner support – available to providers to support learners with a specific financial hardship, such as childcare or residential costs associated with learning.
Based on the best information available to the Authority at this time the overall anticipated value for the Contracts, as set out in this Contract Notice is
£157, 000, 000.00 (one hundred and fifty seven million pounds). This includes an allowance for the Contract Period including all possible extensions (which the Authority may exercise at its discretion) and performance management adjustments which may be implemented by the Authority in accordance with the Funding Rules (and Performance Management Rules)
Potential Contractors shall note that funding for the Contracts is only guaranteed for the period from the Agreement Date to 31 July 2022 and for any Learners recruited before that date to complete their Learning, provided that happens before 31 July 2023. The Authority anticipates that the combined value of the initial Contract Values of all the successful Potential Contracts will be £73,000,000.00 (seventy three million pounds).
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 August 2021
End date
31 July 2022
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
22 March 2021
Local time
10:00am
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.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)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
22 March 2021
Local time
10:30am
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.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 e-tendering 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 Contract Notice for additional information on this procurement and in relation to this 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.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Court of Justices, The Strand
London
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The Authority will incorporate a minimum voluntary 10 calendar day 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.