Tender

Higher Education Provider for the Step Up To Social Work Programme

  • Wirral Borough Council

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-008304

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03b505

Published 22 March 2023, 11:44am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Wirral Borough Council

Marriss House, 3rd Floor South Wing Hamilton Street

Birkenhead

CH41 5AL

Contact

Corporate procurement

Email

tenders@wirral.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 1516662000

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKD6 - Cheshire

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://www.wirral.gov.uk/

Buyer's address

http://www.wirral.gov.uk/

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=62a73e56-f3c7-ed11-8120-005056b64545

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/Advert/Index?advertId=62a73e56-f3c7-ed11-8120-005056b64545

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

Higher Education Provider for the Step Up To Social Work Programme

Reference number

DN658770

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 80400000 - Adult and other education services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Learn Together Partnership is seeking, through Wirral Borough Council, creative and innovative tenders for the effective delivery of the learning outcomes of the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work. The successful tenderer will have current experience of delivering a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work and is capable of delivering this programme in line with the 15 month timescales given above. A curriculum outline must be completed for the Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work must be completed by all tenderers.

Wirral act as the lead LA for the Learn Together Partnership (RP), we will be submitting our bid for cohort 8 of the Step Up To Social Work Programme, after 7 previous successful cohorts we have completed.

The Step Up to Social Work programme provides an accelerated entry route into social work for high-achieving graduates and career changers. The programme has successfully trained over 2000 social workers since 2010. Step Up to Social Work is delivered through the development of a work-based 14-month postgraduate diploma programme, led by groups of local authorities working in Regional Partnerships (RPs) who contract the learning element with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). Award of the diploma enables candidates to apply for registration as a qualified social worker. The scheme targets high calibre individuals who already have experience of working with vulnerable children, young people or adults who want to train as social workers

We are looking for a HEI provider to deliver to academic aspect of the programme.

This contract will run year to year as the programme is only 15 months long, but we may wish to extend up to 5 years. Cohort 8 is due to begin January 2024 and will come to end in March 2025. If successful with future bids, we will also host cohort 9 which will run from January 2026 and end in March 2027.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKD6 - Cheshire
  • UKD7 - Merseyside

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Learn Together Partnership is seeking, through Wirral Borough Council, creative and innovative tenders for the effective delivery of the learning outcomes of the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work. The successful tenderer will have current experience of delivering a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work and is capable of delivering this programme in line with the 15 month timescales given above. A curriculum outline must be completed for the Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work must be completed by all tenderers.

Wirral act as the lead LA for the Learn Together Partnership (RP), we will be submitting our bid for cohort 8 of the Step Up To Social Work Programme, after 7 previous successful cohorts we have completed.

The Step Up to Social Work programme provides an accelerated entry route into social work for high-achieving graduates and career changers. The programme has successfully trained over 2000 social workers since 2010. Step Up to Social Work is delivered through the development of a work-based 14-month postgraduate diploma programme, led by groups of local authorities working in Regional Partnerships (RPs) who contract the learning element with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). Award of the diploma enables candidates to apply for registration as a qualified social worker. The scheme targets high calibre individuals who already have experience of working with vulnerable children, young people or adults who want to train as social workers

We are looking for a HEI provider to deliver to academic aspect of the programme.

This contract will run year to year as the programme is only 15 months long, but we may wish to extend up to 5 years. Cohort 8 is due to begin January 2024 and will come to end in March 2025. If successful with future bids, we will also host cohort 9 which will run from January 2026 and end in March 2027.

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

Duration in months

44

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 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

3 May 2023

Local time

12:00pm

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

3 May 2023

Local time

12:00pm


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: No

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

High Court

Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Country

United Kingdom