- Scope of the procurement
- Lot 1. Building strong and inclusive communities
- Lot 2. Providing a good education up to level 2
- Lot 3. Moving residents into employment and supporting career progression
- Lot 4. Meeting future skills needs at level 3 and above through upskilling and reskilling
- Lot 5. Innovation
Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
West Midlands Combined Authority
16 Summer Lane
Birmingham
B19 3SD
Telephone
+44 3453036760
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKG - West Midlands (England)
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://wmca.bravosolution.co.uk/go/5876175501949857BCCF
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://wmca.bravosolution.co.uk/go/5876175501949857BCCF
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
WMCA Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support Flexible Procurement System
Reference number
TESES FPS
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This notice is being used to inform the market of the establishment of a Flexible Procurement System (FPS) for Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support by West Midlands Combined Authority, which will from this point on be known as the WMCA Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support Flexible Procurement System (TESES FPS).
WMCA have opted to establish an FPS under the Light Touch Regime rules, within the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR, 2015) to deliver our Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support services provision. An FPS is an overarching agreement that allows FPS Providers who are admitted onto it to subsequently compete for Call-off Contracts through further competitions. It operates in a similar way to a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) but will have set windows for evaluation of Applications to join. This will allow WMCA to continually expand our network of providers and welcome new FPS Providers that are able to meet our requirements for the duration of the FPS.
The TESES FPS will follow-on from the WMCA Adult Skills Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), established in November 2022, to offer an expedient route to market and direct access to the provider base for WMCA’s Skills and Employment Support requirements. The refresh of this route to market has been made in order to align with WMCA’s Employment and Skills Strategy and to streamline the bidding process for employment and skills providers. Through engagement with key stakeholders, WMCA identified where improvements could be made to the Adult Skills DPS for the benefit of WMCA, our providers and our residents.
The FPS will include five categories of delivery, linked to pillars within the Employment and Skills Strategy. In order to be included on 4 of the categories, Applicants will be required to demonstrate their understanding and capability of delivering in those category areas. The categories will include;
- Building strong and inclusive communities
- Providing a good education up to level 2
- Moving residents into employment and supporting career progression
- Meeting future skills needs at level 3 and above through upskilling and reskilling
- Innovation
Although this FPS is being established in order to facilitate immediate and easy access to the Adult Skills and Employment Support Market, WMCA will not be mandated to use it for every requirement.
Once established, Call-off Competitions will be run under this FPS in order to find suitable FPS Providers to deliver individual Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support provision Call-off Contracts. Call-off Contracts will be awarded to the successful FPS Provider/s in line with the award criteria stated in the Call-off ITT documents, which will be formulated using the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) principle, comprising of Technical, Commercial and (if applicable) Social Value criteria.
The deadline for submission of initial applications is Monday 31st March 2025 at 23:59. Once initial applications have been evaluated and FPS Agreements awarded to successful applicants, the FPS will re-open for further applications.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £1,000,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: 5
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Building strong and inclusive communities
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Every part of the region should have a strong local offer of numeracy, literacy, language and digital skills for communities that supports good health & well-being, builds confidence, improves inclusion & integration, develops key life skills and prepares learners for employment, self-employment or further learning.
A place-based approach should ensure a focus on first engagement opportunities for communities under-represented in learning and disadvantaged in the labour market, providing a clear pathway towards level 2.
This offer will take place in community settings as short first steps provision with a progression pathway onto an Adult and Community Education Service.
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
End date
23 February 2029
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Providing a good education up to level 2
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Every part of the region should have a strong local offer that provides any residents who need it with a good education up to level 2. This should include:
A comprehensive offer of high quality, locally available opportunities to improve literacy and numeracy, including through statutory entitlements e.g. Functional Skills Qualifications
A purpose-driven offer of English language learning up to level 2 that supports the cultural capital, social capital and vocational development of learners as they improve their language skills
A digital skills offer that helps residents access online support services needed for health, welfare, training or employment
Integrating vocational training at level 2 as a component to support progression to further learning, work or in-work progression. This should target those occupations where high vacancy demand exists, where there is a greening of job roles to support net zero and in occupations likely to have a higher proportion of workers without qualifications
The offer should be relevant and adaptable to the 47% of adult residents without foundation skills qualifications who are in work. Flexible and accessible delivery models should enable learners to study alongside wider commitments. Strong partnership arrangements and personalised support should ensure clear progression pathways into level 2 provision or good work.
A place-based approach should ensure a focus on those areas/people with the lowest skill levels and lowest levels of participation in adult education.
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
End date
23 February 2029
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Moving residents into employment and supporting career progression
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Every part of the region should have a strong into-work offer aligned to local labour market opportunities. This should include provision that supports:
young people to transition into the labour market
unemployed adults into good work
economically inactive adults into the labour market, including those who have a health condition or disability
in-work progression out of low pay, including for those in the gig economy and on zero hours contracts
people in employment, experiencing systemic disadvantage due to disabilities, gender, ethnic background or other characteristics
retraining for career change, including for those without good foundation skills
Working with specialist providers and in partnership with employers, the offer will deliver the skills that businesses need, providing clear progression pathways into good work alongside effective wraparound support for learners.
The offer should include flexible delivery models that are accessible for residents who work shifts or who can only attend at weekends and/or evenings.
A place-based approach should ensure a focus on those areas/people with high levels of labour market insecurity, including unemployment, inactivity, in-work poverty and/or risk of redundancy.
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
End date
23 February 2029
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Meeting future skills needs at level 3 and above through upskilling and reskilling
Lot No
4
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Every part of the region should have a higher-level skills offer aligned to regional economic priorities. This should include:
A strong and broad offer at level 3, accessible to those in employment and affordable for those in low paid work
A flexible modular offer at level 4/5 aligned to the requirements of businesses, to support retraining or career progression
An accessible leadership and management offer at level 4 and above that supports SMEs to improve productivity and growth and is targeted on residents currently under-represented in L&M training
Working with universities, colleges, specialist providers and in partnership with employers, the offer will serve the growing requirement for higher level skills across the region – to strengthen business, improve productivity and attract inward investment.
The offer should be accessible for those in work, with more part-time, evening, weekend and hybrid delivery to fit around work and wider commitments of learners.
A place-based approach will ensure that higher-level skills opportunities are closely aligned to local/regional economic opportunities and strategies, including Plan for Growth and Investment Zones.
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
End date
23 February 2029
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Innovation
Lot No
5
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Whilst remaining with the overall objectives and requirements of Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support services, WMCA want the capacity and capability to innovate in the delivery of skills and employment support across the region. This innovation approach may not fit within the descriptors of the other four categories but will incorporate the space to test and learn.
The types of activities we’re likely to see included, but not exclusively, are:
- AI and Data Driven Approaches
- Gamification and Immersive Learning
- Flexible and Customised Learning Paths e.g. modular, micro-credentials and badging
- Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeships
- Technical Education
- Inclusive and Accessible Training Solutions for Disadvantaged Groups
- Sustainability and Green Skills
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation Skills
- Community-Based and Peer Learning Initiatives
- Test and Learn Programmes to Pilot New Training Approaches
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
End date
23 February 2029
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.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
Selection Criteria for inclusion on this FPS can be found in '2. WMCA Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support FPS-Application Guidance Document'
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
WMCA requires its FPS Providers to be in a healthy financial position, therefore a Credit Check will be undertaken on Applicant's using Creditsafe.
Applicant's are also required to not have any overdue debt with either West Midlands Combined Authority or the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) / Department for Education (DfE)
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
A Credit Score of 30 and above and the absence of any overdue debt owed to WMCA or ESFA/DfE will confirm that you meet the economic and financial standing requirements.
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
4 questions will be used to evaluate a provider’s technical and professional ability to deliver Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support provision.
These questions can be found at Questions 3.3(a) to 3.3(d) of '3. WMCA Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support FPS-Selection Questionnaire'
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
Applicants will be required to achieve a total score across all questions of 20 or above in order to meet the minimum threshold for technical and professional ability
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 setting up of a dynamic purchasing system
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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2025/S 000-002746
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
31 March 2025
Local time
11:59pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.3) Additional information
WMCA will be holding a virtual Market Engagement Event via Microsoft Teams on 25th February 2025 from 1-2pm.
The aim of the event is to provide further information on the TESES FPS, including;
• An introduction to the FPS
• Our Strategy
• The FPS Specification
• How to apply to join the FPS
• Question and answer session
If you are interested in attending, please use the below link to register your attendance. Once registered, you will then be sent the link to join the event.
We strongly advise that you attend this event if you are interested in applying to join the FPS, however, if you are unable to attend, the session will be recorded and shared along with the slides afterwards.
If you have any questions, please email EmploymentSkillsHealthCommunities@wmca.org.uk
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
West Midlands Combined Authority
Birmingham
Country
United Kingdom