Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
YPO
41 Industrial Park
Wakefield
WF2 0XE
Contact
Cotracts Team
Telephone
+44 1924885903
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://procontract.due-north.com/
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://procontract.due-north.com/
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://procontract.due-north.com/
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
YPO - 001086 Apprenticeships
Reference number
001086
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
YPO are looking for providers to be appointed onto a Framework Agreement for the provision of Apprenticeship Standards and Associated Training. The Framework is designed to meet the needs of all public sector organisations which includes YPO’s internal requirements. YPO may seek to introduce collaborative partners to this Framework throughout its duration to support growth.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £10,000,000,000
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 routes are as prescribed by the ‘Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education’. These were defined using labour market information regarding the size and nature of occupations grouped to reflect shared requirements for occupationally related skills and knowledge.
The routes are listed on the left hand side of the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education’ website:
https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/
YPO will list all routes, along with standards which are approved for delivery, and providers will have the ability to select which standards region they are able to deliver in when bidding for the framework.
The routes will be as listed by the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education guidance.
The framework will replicate the structure that is provided by the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education. If the structure is amended by the institute then the framework structure will be amended to run in-line on the next quarter update.
Please be advised that the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education has the ability to change the title of routes and move standards into alternative routes based on feedback from contracting authorities, YPO reserve the right to follow the same process based on the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education direction.
Any new routes will be added onto the framework on a quarterly basis with the subsequent standards aligned under them.
On a quarterly basis YPO will add on new developed standards as they appear on the above website, the number of standards will continue to grow and will be updated in the documents.
Providers will be able to bid for all live standards that have been listed from the beginning of the framework and all new standards that are added by the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education throughout the duration of the framework.
The standards are each listed on the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education website and can be found at:
https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/
At the point of the framework being published there will be:
- 11 regions
- 15 routes
- 646 standards
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 50%
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 10%
Price - Weighting: 40%
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 August 2023
End date
31 July 2027
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
There is a possibility that this framework will be renewed after 3.5 years from the commencement date.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The Framework Agreement will cover the period from 1st August 2023 to 31st July 2026, with the option to extend for up to an additional 12 months (subject to an annual review and KPI performance). A decision to extend the framework beyond this initial term will be taken by April 2026 and will be dependent on satisfactory completion of all aspects of the contract to date, the current market conditions for this category and YPO’s contracting structures. The maximum contract period will therefore be four years, from 1st August 2023 to 31st July 2027.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
YPO is managing this procurement process in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR). This is a Framework Agreement being procured under the Light Touch Regime (LTR) procedure therefore subject to the limited regulation and will be conducted in accordance with regulations 74 to 76 PCR2015.
YPO are creating a national framework to meet the needs of the public sector apprenticeship scheme. This is a renewal of the existing framework which went live in 2018. The framework will be flexible and allow for the addition of new standards and the flexibility to add new providers across each of the standards throughout the life of the framework.
Standards updating process;
The route and standards will be amended in-line with the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education list of routes and standards. Providers will have the ability to join the framework at any time throughout its period or bid for any new routes/standards as they are added.
The framework will go live on approximately the 1st August 2023 and YPO will add any new standards as prescribed by the institute of apprenticeship on a quarterly basis. Only standards that are listed as ‘Approved for Delivery’ will be added onto the solution.
The framework will be updated with the relevant new standards on a monthly basis where possible (subject to standards being approved for delivery). If YPO feel that these timescales don’t run in-line with market changes we will give a months notice to amend these time periods. The apprenticeship market is changing and developing across all of the public sector and YPO want to ensure that we can meet the needs of both providers and customers.
Please refer to the Apprenticeship Framework - Appendix 4 year timetable (Reference 1086) within the YPO tendering portal at https://procontract.due-north.com/ where each round is highlighted accordingly.
New providers to the framework process;
YPO will re-open the procurement process for new providers to bid to be a part of the framework on a quarterly basis. However, YPO reserve the right to re-open more or less frequently if YPO feel that these timescales do not run in line with market changes or customer demands. YPO will give a months notice to amend these time periods. The apprenticeship market is changing and developing across all of the public sector and YPO want to ensure that we can meet the needs of both providers and customers.
New providers will be able to bid for previously listed standards on the framework and new standards that were added.
There is no limit to the number of providers that will be allocated onto each standard.
Please refer to the Apprenticeship Framework – Appendix E - 4 year timetable (Reference 1086) within the YPO tendering portal at https://procontract.due-north.com/ where each round is highlighted accordingly.
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
Organisations must ensure that they are not in breach of any of the mandatory or discretionary exclusions contained in Regulation 57 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Please refer to the
Tender Documentation/ Online Tender located on our E-Procurement system. The web address can be found under ‘Procurement Documents’ in ‘Communication’ section in this notice.
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
Please refer to the Framework Agreement Terms and Conditions located on our E-Procurement system. The web address can be found under Procurement Documents in ‘Communication’ Section in this notice.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Restricted procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with several operators
In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years:
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
31 July 2027
Local time
11:55pm
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)
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published: There is a possibility that this framework will be renewed after 3.5 years from the commencement date.
six.3) Additional information
YPO are purchasing on the behalf of other contracting authorities. Please see the below link
for details: https://www.ypo.co.uk/about/customers/permissible-users .
YPO will incorporate a standstill period at the point of notification of the award of the contract
is provided to all bidders. The standstill period will be for a minimum of 10 calendar days, and
provides time for unsuccessful tenderers to challenge the award decision before the contract
is entered into. The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 provide for aggrieved parties who
have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High
Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of England and Wales
London
Country
United Kingdom