Planning

Future Leaders Programme

  • Department for Education

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-017696

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03d852

Published 21 June 2023, 4:04pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Department for Education

Sanctuary Buildings, 20, Great Smith Street

London

SW1P 3BT

Email

Jess.ROBERTS@education.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 12345678

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://education.app.jaggaer.com/

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority

one.5) Main activity

Education


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Future Leaders Programme

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 80000000 - Education and training services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Future Leaders programme is currently in the last year of contract delivery. DCS Future Leaders is aimed at newly recruited Directors of Children’s Services (DCS) and those aspiring to the role. The programme is comprised of two strands:

• to provide leadership development training and support to DCSs in their first year within the role;

• to provide training for aspirant DCSs, to equip participants with the skills and knowledge needed for the challenging DCS role, creating a pipeline of skilled, confident, and capable strategic leaders.

Further Information:

A full specification of the services required would be published as part of procurement documents at Tender stage. Key elements of the service we may procure for include:

- Aspirant Strand delivery: Design, develop and deliver the Aspirant programme strand.

- DCS Strand delivery: Design, develop and deliver the DCS programme strand.

- Attraction and Promotion: Design and run programme attraction, including the development of a brand identity. Ensure this generates a diverse pipeline of programme applicants.

- Recruitment and Selection: Design and run a recruitment process for the Aspirant strand, ensuring candidates meet criteria.

- Programme Management and Governance: Develop strong programme management and governance in order to ensure the programme delivers requirements and against KPIs.

- Evaluation and Continuous Improvement: Contribute to the evaluation of the programme, and seek content improvement via feedback from participants, LA Chief Executives, Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) and DfE.

A more detailed Information Memorandum on the market consultation can be found on the Department’s e-procurement solution (Jaggaer).

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £2,200,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 80400000 - Adult and other education services
  • 80500000 - Training services
  • 85000000 - Health and social work services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The purpose of this PIN is to initiate market consultation and is not being used as a call for competition. The PIN is intended to:

1. Raise awareness with the market of a potential future procurement process for delivery of the DCS Future Leaders programme. To enable time for organisations to begin early discussions with the Department, and each other, as to how they may be able to deliver any future contract.

2. Inform the market that the Department will be undertaking market consultation activity on 19 July 2023.

3. Inform the market that the Department is intending to run an Open Procurement with the application of the Light Touch Regime. The services fall within the scope of Part 7 (Social and Other Specific Services) of Chapter 3 of the Public Procurement Regulations 2015, the so called “light touch regime” and the Department will utilise the flexibilities afforded by Regulation 76(1) (Principles of awarding contracts), in determining the procurement procedure to be applied.

4. The current contract will end on 31 March 2024. The scope for any future procurement will cover the content creation and delivery of a programme to support to new and future DCSs. The programme should ensure content reflects the changing needs of the children’s social care sector, and embeds the Department for Education’s reform strategy as outlined in Stable Homes, Built on Love .

5. We would be seeking to contract for an initial period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2026 with an option to extend the contract up to a maximum period of 2 further years. A mobilisation and implementation period is envisaged to run from early February until late March 2024.

6. Historically, the Department has funded the Programme up to a value of £1.1m per annum. We would anticipate, should any procurement be undertaken, that a similar maximum annual value would be made available.

How to engage:

At this stage, interested market suppliers should ensure they are registered on the Department’s e-procurement solution (Jaggaer). The Department will engage with the market and administer any procurement via Jaggaer.

Jaggaer registration information can be found at https://education.app.jaggaer.com

The Department intends to hold one market engagement event on 19 July 2023.

This will be a session at which representatives from the contracting authority will provide detailed information to potential suppliers about the proposed scope of the services and how we intend they will be procured. To book a place at this event please visit Eventbrite. The deadline to book a space is 11:00pm on the 14 July 2023.

The Department intends to issue the Invitation to Tender and full tender package via the Jaggaer portal https://education.app.jaggaer.com. No hard copy documents will be issued and all communications with the Authority (including submission of Tender responses) must be conducted via the e-Sourcing Portal.

Interested suppliers must ensure they are registered on the Jaggaer portal in order to participate in this procurement. Please ensure that the person who will be conducting the communications for your bid is the official contact in your Jaggaer registration.

Further information will be included in the ITT pack that will be openly available when the competition is activated.

All associated bidder questions and/or clarifications must be communicated through the Jaggaer E-Sourcing portal, adhering to Public Contracts Regulations 2015, section 18, transparency requirements.

two.2.14) Additional information

The publication of this notice does not signify the commencement of any procurement process and does not constitute any commitment by the Department for Education to undertake any procurement exercise.

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

8 September 2023


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes