Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Department for Education
Sanctuary Buildings, 20, Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
louise.holmes@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.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html
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/web/login.html
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to 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
Mandarin Excellence Programme
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The purpose of this Notice is to notify the market of the opportunity to bid for the next Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) due to commence in September 2021.
In 2015 the Department announced its intention to provide funding for at least 5,000 pupils to be taught Mandarin in schools in England. The Department is now looking to build upon the success of this initial pioneering programme.
Our intention for the scope of the re-procured MEP would be to continue delivery of Mandarin fluency with a minimum recruitment and retention of 1,800 Year 7 pupils commencing and continuing study annually from September 2021 to August 2024, with the potential to extend until August 2025. It will also maintain up to 20 PGCE Mandarin teachers.
This procurement process will fall under the Light Touch Regime as defined by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Regulation 74 - 77). The Department is managing this Procurement based upon the 'Open' tendering procedure as defined by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Regulation 27).
Potential Providers are invited to attend a Microsoft Teams facilitated Tender Information Session at 11:00-12:30 GMT on Thursday 25 March. The event will provide the opportunity to hear about the service requirement, the tender process and for you to submit questions. To register your attendance and receive dial-in details, please use the messaging facility in the eTendering Portal by Midday GMT on Wednesday 24 March. Attendance at the webinar is not mandatory and for Potential Providers that are not able to attend, the slides and Q&A log will be circulated via the messaging facility on the eTendering Portal.
Applications will be made using the Department's E-Tendering procurement system using the link below:
https://education.app.jaggaer.com. Potential Providers should that they have registered on here as a supplier, and registered for the opportunity in order to submit your bid.
For any support with registering and finding this opportunity, please use the 'Contact Us' details to contact the E-Tendering team.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £16,400,000
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
The Department is seeking a lead provider or consortia or similar entity to deliver the programme according to academic years, which will include, but is not limited to the following objectives:
- support the diverse geographical location of the schools (where necessary) to ensure the development of teaching and learning of Mandarin Chinese in schools across the country;
- ensure school-led development of the programme, translating centralised guidance and support into local practice;
- act as a grant administrator to manage and transfer up to £3,3 million per year of grant funding to schools on the programme
- provide a framework for the sustainability of Mandarin Chinese in England beyond the life of the programme;
- ensure experienced MEP schools act as hub leaders to implement successfully the step-up of teaching required within the life of the programme, and to be able to lead confidently additional new schools in following years.
- build upon the successes of work delivered to date by the current contract holders.
The contract period will be for up to 3 academic years (1st September 2021- 31st August 2024) subject to annual review and break clauses. From August 2024, there is an option to extend of up to 1 year, which will be exercised at the discretion of the Department and subject to contract performance and availability of funding.
Due to Government spending restrictions, the Department is required to seek funding approvals for proposed years 2 and 3 of the contract, as well as any potential extension year. Whilst this prevents us from having full approval for onward spend beyond 31st August 2022, it is our intention to seek this approval during year 1 of the contract. Before any subsequent year of continued delivery, the Department would aim to give the supplier at least 3 months’ notice.
The Contract is valued at a total of up to £16,400,000 (excluding VAT) over the full 4 - year term. This value is based on the maximum budget available and includes both payments to schools and the extension year, should this be exercised. This value includes up to £13.1 million of payment to be allocated directly to schools as grant funding each year. The value for year 1 of the contract must not exceed £4,100,000 (excluding VAT) which must include grant funding to schools).
The Department reserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not proceed with contract award. Accordingly, the Department will not be liable for any bid cost, expenditure, work or effort incurred by any organisation in acting on the basis of this Notice.
Please be aware that the Department reserves the right to terminate, amend, or reduce the scope of, any agreement should funding be withdrawn, changed or there is a significant change in government policy relating to the delivery of the programme and outputs required as part of this contract, by giving at least 3 months' notice. In addition, this procurement exercise, the service scope and the award of the contract is subject to any change in Ministerial priorities and DfE policy (in accordance with the Regulations).
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical/ Quality / Weighting: 65
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 10
Quality criterion - Name: Price / Weighting: 25
Price - Weighting: 25
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £16,400,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 September 2021
End date
31 August 2024
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The contract period will be for up to 3 academic years (1st September- 31st August 2024) with a possible extension of up to 1 year, which will depend on availability of government funding and contract performance.
Due to Government spending restrictions, the Department is required to seek funding approvals for proposed years 2 and 3 of the contract, as well as any potential extension year.
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.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
Tenderers must pass standard Mandatory and Discretionary Exclusion Criteria as set out in the Standard Selection Questionnaire and have sufficiently robust Financial Standing.
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
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.2) Contract performance conditions
There are a number of Key Performance Indicators and Service Levels that the Authority expects the Supplier to meet during the term of the contract. These are specified in detail in the Tender documentation.
three.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
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
16 April 2021
Local time
12:00pm
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
Tender must be valid until: 1 September 2021
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
19 April 2021
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
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.
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. These can be found in the eTendering portal mentioned above.
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.
Tenders and all supporting documentation for the contract must be in English and priced in sterling.
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
Department for Education
London
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Department for Education
London
Country
United Kingdom