Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Department for Education
Sanctuary Buildings, 20, Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
sendbaea.commercial@education.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Strengthening the Supported Internships Programme
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
DfE’s vision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is the same as for all children and young people – that they achieve well in their early years, at school and in college; they find employment; lead happy, fulfilled lives; and experience choice and control.
Supported Internships (SIs) are a work-based study programme for 16-24 year olds with SEND who have an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan, who want to move into employment and who need extra support to do so. SIs are designed to equip young people with the skills they need to secure and sustain employment through learning in the workplace.
The DfE is considering its commissioning approach for the delivery of the ‘Strengthening the Supported Internships Programme’ contract. We want to build the capacity of the programme and are aiming to double the number of SIs from c.2,250 internship enrolments per annum to c.4,500 per annum by 2025.
The Department wishes to assess market capability and capacity to administer and deliver a response. A virtual pre-market engagement event will take place on Wednesday 9 March and further details of the event will be shared with all those who have registered.
Please register an interest in attending (max two per organisation) to: sendbaea.commercial@education.gov.uk by Friday 4 March 2022.
As part of the market engagement, we wish to test views on areas such as:
• expertise and capacity required to successfully manage this potential opportunity
• delivery model, e.g. single supplier, consortium, framework, lots, managed service or any other appropriate vehicle
• mode of delivery to ensure local, regional, and national coverage
• potential barriers / challenges / issues to successful delivery and potential solutions
• effective partnership working between employers, education providers, local authorities etc.
• other potential opportunities which could be included in this programme
• key success factors of this programme and how to ensure the greatest positive impact for young people with SEND, their parents / carers, local authorities, employers and supported internships providers
• value for money
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £6,400,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
• Support to Local Authorities to establish and develop SEND employment forums, including payment and administration of section 14 grants
• Delivery of accredited job coach training programmes and training in systematic instruction
• Engaging and supporting employers to offer high quality work placements
• Establishing a sustainable audit process, to measure the quality of SI provision against a Quality Assurance framework
two.2.14) Additional information
This notice does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services for the Department. The procurement of any services will be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The purpose of this PIN is to stimulate early market interest and invite interested parties to take part in preliminary market consultations.
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
1 April 2022
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes