Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Department for Education
Sanctuary Buildings, 20, Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
ash.somerville@education.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 3700002288
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
Buyer's address
https://education.app.jaggaer.com
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://education.app.jaggaer.com
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
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to 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
Procurement of Providers for the National Professional Qualification (NPQ) for Special Education Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) Framework
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Department is seeking to appoint new lead providers under a framework agreement to deliver the National Professional Qualifications (NPQ) for Special Education Needs Coordinators (SENCOs). The successful providers will deliver the NPQ for SENCOs on this new framework agreement alongside providers appointed to the Department’s existing framework agreements to deliver NPQ services.
The framework agreement is anticipated to be awarded in January 2024 and will expire on 14 April 2028; The termination date aligns to the expiry date of the Department's existing framework for the provision of similar services and justifies the proposed period of the framework agreement.
The estimated total value of the framework agreement is £15,000,000 (excluding VAT).
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £15,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
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)
Main site or place of performance
England
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Services - Please refer to procurement documents for full requirements.
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
52
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 three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
The Department is seeking to appoint Providers to deliver the National Professional Qualification (NPQ) for Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs). Given the importance of this qualification, in addition to seeking Providers via an open process under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, the Department is proposing to procure additional capacity to deliver the qualification via the National Institute of Teaching (NIoT) and the NPQ Framework.
There is no cap on the number of providers that can be on the new framework agreement, providing that they meet the requirements as set out in the invitation to tender. The documents for which can be accessed via the Department’s eSourcing portal, Jaggaer.
Background
Delivering on the commitments set out in the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy (which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teacher-recruitment-and-retention-strategy), the Department has developed a suite of specialist and leadership NPQs to complete the golden thread of support, training and development available through a teacher’s entire career.
In the SEND and AP Improvement Plan, published in March 2023, the Department announced the decision to replace the current National Award for SEN Co-ordination (NASENCO) with a new leadership level NPQ for SENCOs as the mandatory qualification for SENCOs. First teaching of the new NPQ will begin in Autumn 2024.
The National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) provide training and support for teachers and school leaders at all levels, from those who want to develop expertise in high-quality teaching practice. The NPQ frameworks continue the robust method of design and development, building on the evidence base and expert guidance already established in the Early Career Framework (ECF) and the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Core Content Framework.
Since September 2020, new trainee teachers benefit from the new minimum entitlement set out in the ITT Core Content Framework, describing the fundamental knowledge and skills that all new entrants to the profession need to teach and support all children effectively. The Early Career Framework (ECF) entitles all early career teachers (ECTs) in England to access high quality professional development at the start of their career. Together with the NPQs, they complete the golden thread, running from initial teacher training through to school leadership, rooting teacher and school leader development in the best available evidence and collective wisdom of the profession.
The Department has developed and published a Content Framework outlining what the curricula of the NPQ for SENCOs must cover to enable SENCOs to understand and effectively perform their role in accordance with the statutory system and SEND Code of Practice:
Requirements
Providers appointed to the framework agreement will be responsible for designing and delivering the required Services for the NPQ for SENCOs (as outlined in Section 2A and 2B of the Service Requirements) under Call Off Contracts.
Successful Providers will be awarded a minimum of one Call Off Contract that covers the requirement to set up and mobilise the programme, including design curriculum content, as well as develop and host a User Digital Platform.
The curriculum content developed by Providers must cover all the knowledge and skills included in the Content Framework. The successful providers will be required to commence set up activity and mobilise in time to deliver training to the first cohorts for the NPQ for SENCOs in October 2024.
Full details of how to Tender and the Service Requirements can be found in the Procurement Documents which are available for download after expressing interest in the opportunity. Potential Providers should express their interest via the Department’s eSourcing portal, Jaggaer, here: https://education.app.jaggaer.com
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.2.3) 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
Open procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with several operators
In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years:
Please see section II Scope of the Procurement for justification.
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: 2023/S 000-025144
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
3 November 2023
Local time
12:00pm
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)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
3 November 2023
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 apply to this procurement (the “Regulations”). The Authority is basing it's procedure on the Open Procedure set out in Regulation 27 of the Regulations. Services of the nature of those covered by this procurement are designated as “Schedule 3” Services (the Social and Other Specific Services) under the Regulations and as such are not subject to the full requirements of the Regulations. The Authority is only bound by the application of the Regulations to the extent that they are applicable to Schedule 3 services. The procurement is covered by Regulations 74 to 76 (the Light Touch Regime).
Educational establishments that meet with the criteria listed below will be entitled (but not obliged) to access the framework at any time during the Contract Period.
Academy 16 to 19 sponsor led
Academy 16-19 converter
Academy alternative provision converter
Academy alternative provision sponsor led
Academy converter
Academy special converter
Academy special sponsor led
Academy sponsor led
City technology college
Community school
Community special school
Foundation school
Foundation special school
Free schools
Free schools 16 to 19
Free schools alternative provision
Free schools special
Further education
Local authority
Local authority nursery school
Non-maintained special school
Pupil referral unit
Secure units
Service children’s education
Sixth form colleges/ sixth form centres
Special post 16 institution
Studio schools
University technical college
Voluntary aided school
Voluntary controlled school
British schools overseas
Higher education institutions
Independent schools
Welsh establishment
Offshore schools
Other independent school
Other independent special school
Institution funded by other Government Department
Other international schools*
Further information, including the ECF and NPQ service requirements, can be found within the tender documents available at https://education.app.jaggaer.com/
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court
High Court, Royal Courts of Justice, The Strands London
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The Department will incorporate a voluntary minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of the Framework Agreement is communicated to Potential Providers. Potential Providers who are unsuccessful shall be informed by the Department 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 Framework Agreement has not been successfully resolved, The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by breach of the rules 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 Department 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 Framework Agreement is entered into.