Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
CPD - Supplies and Services Division
303 Airport Road West
BELFAST
BT3 9ED
ssdadmin.cpd@finance-ni.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
Buyer's address
https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
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
DfE Disability Support for Participants on Training for Success (TfS) and ApprenticeshipsNI (AppsNI)
Reference number
694984
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80400000 - Adult and other education services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Following a competition advertised in the Official Journal of the EU in 21/12/2016 the Department for Economy entered into a contract with 5 suppliers primarily for Disability Support Services to the Departments Training for Success and ApprenticeshipsNI programmes. This contract was procured in line with the provisions of Schedule 3, ‘light touch regime’, within the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The contract, valued at £4.5 million, was originally let as a two year contract on 31/07/2017. While there was two one year extensions available to cover provision it was originally not envisaged that they would be used. However, this was not the case and both extensions were used modifying the contract value to £6.75 million. The current contract is due to expire 31/07/2021 however, due to the Public Heath restrictions that have been in place in 2020 and extended throughout the early part of 2021, as a result of the Covid Pandemic, the Department have been unable to complete the work required under this contract. It has therefore become necessary to further Modify this contract until 31/12/2021 at a cost of £2.05 million under regulation 72(1)(c) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended)
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: £6,750,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKN0 - Northern Ireland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Department for the Economy is committed to the development of a highly skilled, flexible and innovative workforce which will contribute to the twin goals of social inclusion and economic success for Northern Ireland. The quality and effectiveness of training for both young people and adults are crucial elements of that process. The purpose of this contract is to provide Disability Support Services to the Departments Training for Success and ApprenticeshipsNI programmes.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
This Contract commenced on award (1 August 2017) and is running until 31 July 2021. The Client availed of both the
options to extend this Contract for two further periods of one year each with the contract due to expire 31 July 2021.
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
This voluntary transparency notice has been published to alert economic operators of the Department for Economy intention to further modify the Disability Support for Participants on Training for Success (TfS) and ApprenticeshipsNI (AppsNI) contract under Regulation 72(1)(c) of the Public Contract Regulations (as amended). The modification will take the form of an extension from 31/07/2021 until 31/12/2021 at a cost of £2.05 million. A modification notice will be published after the modification has been formalised.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
This voluntary transparency notice has been published to alert economic operators of the Department for Economy intention to further modify the Disability Support for Participants on Training for Success (TfS) and ApprenticeshipsNI (AppsNI) contract under Regulation 72(1)(c) of the Public Contract Regulations (as amended). The modification will take the form of an extension from 31/07/2021 until 31/12/2021 at a cost of £2.05 million. A modification notice will be published after the modification has been formalised.
Following a competition advertised in the Official Journal of the EU in 21/12/2016 the Department for Economy entered into a contract with 5 suppliers
• The Cedar Foundation
• Clanrye
• Disability Action
• Sensory Learning Support
• Ulster Supported Employment Limited
Primarily for Disability Support Services to the Departments Training for Success and ApprenticeshipsNI programmes. This contract was procured in line with the provisions of Schedule 3, ‘light touch regime’, within the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The contract, valued at £4.5 million, was originally let as a two year contract on 31/07/2017. While there was two one year extensions available to cover provision it was originally not envisaged they would be used. However, this was not the case and both extensions were used resulting in the contract being modified to the value of £6.75 million. The current contract is due to expire 31/07/2021 however, due to the Public Heath restrictions that have been in place in 2020 and extended throughout the early part of 2021, as a result of the Covid Pandemic, the Department have been unable to complete the work required under this contract. It has therefore become necessary to further Modify this contract until 31/12/2021 at a cost of £2.05 million under regulation 72(1)(c) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended). The need for modification has been brought about by circumstances which the authority could not have foreseen; the modification does not alter the overall nature of the contract; and any increase in price does not exceed 50% of the value of the original contract.
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: 2016/S 246-450002
Section five. Award of contract/concession
Contract No
694984
Title
DfE Disability Support for Participants on Training for Success (TfS) and ApprenticeshipsNI (AppsNI)
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
31 July 2017
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
The Cedar Foundation
Belfast
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKM - Scotland
Internet address
https://www.cedar-foundation.org
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Clanrye
Belfast
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKN0 - Northern Ireland
Internet address
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Disability Action
Belfast
lauramccartney@disabilityaction.org
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Internet address
https://www.disabilityaction.org/
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Sensory Learning Support
Belfast
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Internet address
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Ulster Supported Employment Limited
Belfast
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKN - Northern Ireland
Internet address
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £6,050,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £6,050,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The value of the modification for the maximum 5 months at a cost of £2.05 Million. The original value of the contract awarded in 2017 was £6.75 million.
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
UK Contracting Authorities do not have a review procedure in place. Economic Operators have access to the NI Courts and Tribunal Service if they wish to issue a claim against a contract modification or contract award under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as amended.
Belfast
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The UK does not have any special review body with responsibility for appeal/... mediation procedures in public procurement competitions. Instead; any challenges are dealt with by the High Court, Commercial Division, to which proceedings may be issued regarding alleged breaches of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended)