Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Welsh Government
Corporate Procurement Services, Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
CPSProcurementAdvice@gov.wales
Telephone
+44 3000623300
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKL - Wales
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://wales.gov.uk/?skip=1&lang=en
Buyer's address
https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0007
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Apprenticeships Commissioning Programme Wales Framework Agreement
Reference number
F022/2020/2021
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Through work-based learning the Apprenticeship Programme will deliver to individuals the skills necessary to embark on successful careers and for employers the relevant skilled people to meet the current and future needs of their businesses and the Welsh economy. Commencing on 1 August 2021 the Apprenticeship framework will run for 4 years until 31 July 2025 (with the option of an extension of up to two years until 31 July 2027).
The Framework will be procured under the light touch regime, implemented through regulations 74 - 77 as applied to Schedule 3 services of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) using a quasi-open procedure.
Please be advised that costs are fixed as set out in the Programme Specification, as such, there is no Commercial evaluation element to this tender.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £1,050,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80500000 - Training services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKL - Wales
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The purpose of the Apprenticeships Programme is to support people in Wales through high quality learning, in order to provide employers with the relevant skilled people to meet the current and future needs of the Welsh economy.
Apprenticeships offer employed learners the opportunity to pursue a Foundation Apprenticeship, Apprenticeship, or Higher Apprenticeship framework. Degree Apprenticeships are excluded from this procurement.
Each framework specifies the learning activities, including, qualifications covering occupational competencies, the relevant technical knowledge, Essential Skills Wales and Employment Rights and Responsibilities (ERR).
The Client is committed to aligning the Apprenticeship Programme to the needs of the Welsh economy as outlined in its policy and action plan published in February 2017 - Aligning the Apprenticeship model to the needs of the Welsh economy 2017. The focus is on aligning and raising the level of the skills market designed to meet employer needs with a system that is responsive to industry changes, particularly in the sectors that drive growth and prosperity. The policy reflects the step change towards higher level technical and professional skills, promoting efficiency and portability within our priority sectors.
The Welsh Government is of the view that the option to extend the framework beyond four years is likely to be desirable. Individual participants may be on a vocational Apprenticeship programme for up to four years. In the event the maximum term of the framework mirrors the maximum duration of a vocational Apprenticeship programme, this is likely to result in many apprentices having their learning disrupted as they may be obliged to transfer from an unsuccessful legacy provider to a successful bidder when a future replacement framework is procured. Adopting a 4 year fixed term framework agreement with the ability to extend up to a maximum of 6 years should provide Welsh Government with the opportunity to limit the number of displaced apprentices that may arise if the procurement process had to be repeated more regularly.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: technical / Weighting: 100
Price - Weighting: 0
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Throughout the duration of the Agreement or Programme Commission, the Client may seek to continue to improve the Apprenticeship Programme and to sharpen its focus. To this end, a number of flexibilities and options (including but not limited to varying or introducing new Services and pilot schemes) have been incorporated into the Agreement and the Programme Specification. Priorities will be reviewed regularly by the Client and Welsh Government Officials and may be revised. This will inform future allocations. Changes to the Programme Specification will be implemented in accordance with the terms of the Agreement as per sections 7.4, 26, 30 of the Invitation To Tender; B.10, B.16-B.26 pf the Programme Specification and 4.2 of the Framework Agreement
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: Yes
Identification of the project
Apprenticeships Wales is part funded by European Social Fund (ESF) money, administered under the European Structural and Investment Funds Programmes 2014-2020.
two.2.14) Additional information
The value range is anticipated to be Min GBP 400m to Max GBP 1.05 billion over the term of the agreement, further details are included in the tender 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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2020/S 162-395340
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
22 March 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 22
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 9
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 22
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 22
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Gower College Swansea
Tycoch Road, Sketty
Swansea
SA29EB
Telephone
+44 1792284121
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKL14 - South West Wales
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Cardiff & Vale College
City Centre Campus, Dumballs Road, Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF105BF
Telephone
+44 2920250350
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKL22 - Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
NEATH PORT TALBOT COLLEGE
NEATH PORT TALBOT COLLEGE, DWR-Y-FELIN RD
NEATH
SA107RF
Telephone
+44 000000000
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKL17 - Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Pembrokeshire College
Merlins Bridge
Haverfordwest
SA611SZ
Telephone
+44 1437753272
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKL14 - South West Wales
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Coleg Cambria
Grove Park Road
Wrexham
LL127AB
Telephone
+44 1244831531
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Grwp Llandrillo Menai
Grwp Llandrillo Menai, LLANDUDNO ROAD Rhos on Sea
COLWYN BAY
LL284HZ
Telephone
+44 1492546666
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKL1 - West Wales and the Valleys
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Cambrian Training Company
Ty Cambrian, Unit 10 Offa's Dyke Business Park
Welshpool
SY218JF
Telephone
+44 1938555893
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
ACT Training
Ocean Park House, East Tyndall Street
Cardiff
CF245ET
Telephone
+44 0000000000
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKL22 - Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Educ8 Training Group Ltd
Tredomen Park, Ystrad Mynach
Hengoed
CF827EH
Telephone
+44 1443749000
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
ITEC Training Solutions
ITEC House, Penarth Road
Cardiff
Cf118tt
Telephone
+44 2920663800
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKL - Wales
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £1,050,000,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £1,050,000,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
(WA Ref:109411)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
Telephone
+44 2079477501
Country
United Kingdom