Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Department for Education
Sanctuary Buildings Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
Contact
Chloe Lewis
Telephone
+44 12345678
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
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
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
The National Fast Track Child and Family Social Work Training Programme
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 Authority wishes to procure a supplier to design and deliver a high quality, specialised, fast track child and family social work education programme with the objective of enhancing the knowledge and skills most needed in front line child protection social work, and providing a pipeline of high-quality social workers across English Local Authorities (“LA").
The successful Contractor will be responsible for the recruitment, training and support of Participants to enable them to become effective and specialised child and family social workers. This is in furtherance of the Government’s aim to ensure that there is a highly capable social worker for every child and family in England who needs one.
The Programme will commence on or around 1 September 2023 and last for an initial period of up to 3 cohorts, lasting up to a maximum of 5 years each, with the first cohort of participants qualifying between September 2025 and Aug 2026 and each cohort running concurrently. The option to extend by up to 2 additional cohorts will be solely at the Authority’s discretion and will be subject to satisfactory Contractor performance, Ministerial approval, and the availability of funding
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £54,700,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 75100000 - Administration services
- 79340000 - Advertising and marketing services
- 79600000 - Recruitment services
- 80300000 - Higher education services
- 85300000 - Social work and related services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKC - North East (England)
- UKD - North West (England)
- UKE - Yorkshire and the Humber
- UKF - East Midlands (England)
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
- UKH - East of England
- UKI - London
- UKJ - South East (England)
- UKK - South West (England)
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Authority is procuring the Services using a light touch procedure which is based on the competitive procedure with negotiation.
Potential Suppliers must submit their Initial Tenders with their SSQ responses.
Full instructions in relation to the preparation and submission of SSQs and Initial and Final Tenders are set out in the Volume 1 (SSQ and SSQ Instructions for Potential Suppliers) and Volume 2 (ITPN) of the Procurement Documents.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £54,700,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
1 September 2022
End date
31 October 2030
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Up to a maximum of 2 cohorts based on a cohort by cohort basis.
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.2.14) Additional information
N/A
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
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
For full instructions in relation to the performance of the Contract Potential Suppliers are referred to Volume 3 (Conditions of Contract)
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
Competitive procedure with negotiation
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: 2021/S 000-031334
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
22 August 2022
Local time
5:00pm
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
Duration in months: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
The Services that are the subject of this procurement are captured by PCR 2015 Chapter 3, Section 7 (Social and Other Specific Services); the so called “Light Touch Regime.
The Authority is procuring this requirement using the Competitive Procedure with Negotiation (“CPN”) as set out in Regulation 29 but with amendments. A CPN would usually be conducted by way Potential Suppliers submitting an SSQ. Following the evaluation of those SSQs, shortlisted Potential Suppliers would be invited to submit their Initial Tender, and these would be evaluated prior to negotiation commencing. Whilst the Authority intends to conduct this procurement process in accordance with those principles, in the sequencing in which it will undertake evaluation of SSQs and thereafter Initial Tenders, Potential Suppliers should note that, in this instance, they will be required to submit their Initial Tender with their SSQ Response and by the same deadline.
The Authority intends to run a Potential Supplier Event in the week commencing 6 June 2023 to provide further clarity on the requirements of the Contract. Details of how to register for this event can be found @ https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dfe-fast-track-to-social-work-procurement-launch-event-tickets-344231645117
In addition to this event the Authority also intends to run further event(s) in the week commencing 13 June 2023. The additional event(s) will be offered to provide Potential Suppliers with:
Greater clarity on the design of the Pricing Schedule and on how to complete it to the required standard. Details of how to register for this event can be found @ https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dfe-ftsw-capability-session-pricing-schedule-tickets-344234814597
An understanding of what to expect when negotiating with a Public Sector body and advice on how to approach responding to the technical requirements of a Public Sector tender to maximise your opportunity of success. Details of how to register for this event can be found @ https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dfe-ftsw-capability-session-negotiation-and-technical-questions-tickets-344237432427
Potential Suppliers are referred to the Procurement Documents accompanying this Contract Notice for additional information on this procurement and in relation to this Contract Notice.
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 Supplier in proceeding or participating in this procurement, including if the procurement process is terminated or amended by the Authority.
The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulation 2006 may apply to these Services. Potential Suppliers should refer to paragraph 10 of Volume 2 (ITPN) for further information.
The Authority reserves the right to withdraw from or discontinue the procurement process, which shall include the right to not award the Contract as a result of this call for competition.
HM Government requires that contracts awarded by Government Departments with a value exceeding 10000 GBP are published online (http://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder). The Authority may use its discretion to redact information to protect key commercial interests or on prescribed grounds (see Volume 1 (SSQ Instructions for Potential Suppliers) in the Procurement Documents).
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strands
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The Authority will incorporate a voluntary minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of the Contract is communicated to Potential Suppliers. Potential Suppliers who are unsuccessful shall be informed by the Authority as soon as possible after the decision has been made as to the reasons why they were unsuccessful. If any clarification regarding the award of the Contract has not been successfully resolved, The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No. 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by breach of the regulations to take legal action
Any such action must be brought within the applicable limitation period. Where a contract has not been entered into, the Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the Authority to amend any document and may award damages.
If a contract has been entered into the Court may, depending on the circumstances, award damages, make a declaration of ineffectiveness, order the Authority to pay a fine, and/or order that the duration of the contract be shortened. The purpose of the voluntary standstill period referred to above is to allow the parties to apply to the Courts to set aside the award decision before the Contract is entered into.