Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Essex County Council
County Hall, Market Road
Chelmsford
CM1 1QH
Contact
Mr Andrew Beaver
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKH3 - Essex
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
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
CO0299 Multiply - Lot 4 - January 2024
Reference number
DN705423
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The purpose of this competition for Lot 4 “Full qualifications” is to invite bids to create and deliver new intensive and flexible Maths Functional Skills Qualification courses targeted at adults 19+ who have not previously attained a GCSE Grade 4/C or Level 2 maths qualification.
In line with the Department for Education definition, Functional Skills qualifications should enable the learner to develop confidence in using mathematics and provide a foundation for progression into employment or further technical education and develop skills for everyday life, where the skills gained can be applied to solve mathematical problems. The purpose of Level 1 and Level 2 Functional Skills Mathematics qualifications is to demonstrate a sound grasp of mathematical skills at the appropriate level and the ability to apply mathematical thinking effectively to solve problems successfully in the workplace and in other real-life situations.
Experience shows that skills providers in general commit 100% of their adult education budget in the Autumn term or risk reductions in subsequent years. ECC will encourage successful bidders to link with other Multiply providers from other Lots over time to encourage bite size learners from other Lots to progress to full qualifications throughout the year, particularly outside of the Autumn term.
Multiply in Essex is keen to fund additional Maths Functional Skills Qualifications at NVQ 1 and NVQ 2 under this Lot. This aims to help adults to progress in learning and employment.
Consideration would be given to funding additional Maths Functional Skills Qualifications at Entry Levels 1, 2 and 3, although bidders would need to provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate how these courses would generate exceptional impact and align with Multiply outcomes.
Functional Skills Qualifications should be accredited by a recognised national awarding body. To avoid duplication with Adult Education Budget (AEB) funding qualifications, these should begin throughout the academic year, rather than at the standard September start.
Expected duration of training courses is up to 55 guided learning hours.
Learners will be expected to sit a recognised examination at the end of the course to quantify their learning and provide them with certification as proof of their new skills.
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: £119,712.50
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH3 - Essex
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The purpose of this competition for Lot 4 “Full qualifications” is to invite bids to create and deliver new intensive and flexible Maths Functional Skills Qualification courses targeted at adults 19+ who have not previously attained a GCSE Grade 4/C or Level 2 maths qualification.
In line with the Department for Education definition, Functional Skills qualifications should enable the learner to develop confidence in using mathematics and provide a foundation for progression into employment or further technical education and develop skills for everyday life, where the skills gained can be applied to solve mathematical problems. The purpose of Level 1 and Level 2 Functional Skills Mathematics qualifications is to demonstrate a sound grasp of mathematical skills at the appropriate level and the ability to apply mathematical thinking effectively to solve problems successfully in the workplace and in other real-life situations.
Experience shows that skills providers in general commit 100% of their adult education budget in the Autumn term or risk reductions in subsequent years. ECC will encourage successful bidders to link with other Multiply providers from other Lots over time to encourage bite size learners from other Lots to progress to full qualifications throughout the year, particularly outside of the Autumn term.
Multiply in Essex is keen to fund additional Maths Functional Skills Qualifications at NVQ 1 and NVQ 2 under this Lot. This aims to help adults to progress in learning and employment.
Consideration would be given to funding additional Maths Functional Skills Qualifications at Entry Levels 1, 2 and 3, although bidders would need to provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate how these courses would generate exceptional impact and align with Multiply outcomes.
Functional Skills Qualifications should be accredited by a recognised national awarding body. To avoid duplication with Adult Education Budget (AEB) funding qualifications, these should begin throughout the academic year, rather than at the standard September start.
Expected duration of training courses is up to 55 guided learning hours.
Learners will be expected to sit a recognised examination at the end of the course to quantify their learning and provide them with certification as proof of their new skills.
This Lot will fund only one Maths Functional Skills Qualification per learner at each qualification level. Grant funding will not cover resits for failed exams; any resit taken would need to be funded by alternative means.
Learners will not be permitted to be enrolled if they are already enrolled in another Maths Functional Skills Qualification course, whether funded through Multiply or not.
Only substantive learning will be accepted for this tender and will be recorded in the Individualised Learner Record (ILR). Substantive learning (formal or informal) is learning being delivered in two or more hours.
Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that Multiply training / learning will not be subject to Ofsted inspections.
Outreach activities (a.k.a. non-substantive learning) should not be recorded in the ILR. Instead, contact details (name, address, email, phone number & date of birth) should be collected from those engaged to enable follow up and marketing at a later date.
Potential learners that are not ready for Maths Functional Skills Qualifications should be referred to bite-size Multiply provision under other Lots.
Grant Agreements shall not exceed 12 months.
Service Providers should act in accordance with the Southend Essex and Thurrock (SET) Safeguarding Adults Guidelines. This details the process of how to report incidents and safeguard vulnerable adults. Service Providers should also be aware of and implement procedures around reporting domestic abuse, honour-based abuse, forced marriage and other forms of hidden harm. Service Providers must have their own safeguarding policy which should be kept updated.
The maximum cost per learner for this requirement (Lot 4) is £17.50 per guided learning hour, if the proposal is found to exceed the maximum cost per learner, ECC reserves the right to reject the proposal.
Bidders may bid above a minimum value of £10,000 and up to a maximum of £100,000 in this mini competition, if the bid does not fall within this range, ECC reserves the right to reject the proposal.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 100
Price - Weighting: 0
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
Restricted procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the setting up of a dynamic purchasing system
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 000-016343
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
CO0299 Multiply
Lot No
4
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
27 February 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 7
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 7
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 7
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Keir Training & Recruitment Limited
217 London Road
Grays
RM20 3JT
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH3 - Essex
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £95,550
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
CO0299 Multiply
Lot No
4
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
27 February 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 7
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 7
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 7
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Opportunities Workshop Limited
12 Northgate Street
Ipswich
IP1 3DB
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH14 - Suffolk
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £24,062.50
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
CO0299
Lot No
4
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
27 February 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 7
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 7
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 7
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
The International Education Group Limited (TiEGr)
14 Maypole Street, Newhall
Harlow
CM17 9JJ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKH3 - Essex
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £100,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Royal Courts of Justice
London
WC2A 2LL
Country
United Kingdom