Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Department for Education
Sanctuary Buildings, 20, Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://education.app.jaggaer.com/
one.3) Communication
Access to the procurement documents is restricted. Further information can be obtained 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
DCS/Aspirant Leadership 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 DCS/Aspirant Leadership Programme (currently branded as Upon) is in the last year of delivery and the contract expires in March 2024. We are now seeking to appoint a suitably experienced organisation to deliver the next iteration of the leadership programme from April 2024.
The Department for Education has funded a national DCS/Aspirant leadership programme since 2020. The programme comprises 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.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £2,500,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 85000000 - Health and social work services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
UK
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Description of Services
The programme aims to equip DCSs in their first year in the role with the necessary skills and support needed to be exemplary leaders, whilst simultaneously creating a pipeline of effective future DCSs via the Aspirant strand. The programme will also seek to improve diversity amongst DCSs by recruiting Aspirants from a range of protected characteristics and socio-economic backgrounds, leading to greater DCS diversity as they progress through their careers.
The programme will need to flex and adapt to the changing landscape of the sector and the needs of DCSs whilst simultaneously creating a pipeline of future leaders who will be ready to become the effective, strategic and resilient leaders the sector needs. DCS will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to drive sustainable strategic improvement that will contribute to the improvement in outcomes for children and families.
Both programme strands will embed child and family centred thinking to help support the delivery of children’s services within LAs. Content will also need to align with central government policy, including the recommendations from Stable Homes, Built on Love report.
Contract Term
The initial contract period will run until December 2026 and will be structured into the following:
• A set up period estimated to commence end of January 2024 (to last no longer than 12 months)
• Programme Delivery: 1st April 2024 - 31 March 2026
• Aspirant Coaching Period: Up to 9 month coaching period from 31 March 2026 – 31 December 2026
Contract Value
Funding available is structured as follows:
• £300k will be made available for the set up period, separate to the Programme Delivery Budget.
• Funding of up to £1.1m (VAT exclusive) will be made available each year for the first 2 years of Programme Delivery, including any activity undertaken in the Aspirant Coaching Period.
The Requirements 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".
To register your interest to tender and view the tender documents, you will need to be registered as a supplier on the DfE Jaggaer eTendering portal, available at
https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html
Once registered the information will be accessible via the ‘View Opportunities’ link on the Homepage. Select the Opportunity Notice for DCS/Aspirant Leadership Programme; (ITT_2563) and this will take you directly to the live tender. The closing date for submitting your tender is 12pm NOON 23rd October 2023.
A Bidder Engagement Event will be held on 20 September 2023 to provide an overview of the procurement requirements. This will be an online event hosted on Microsoft Teams.
To book a place, please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dcsaspirant-leadership-programme-bidders-launch-event-tickets-705442727187
Following the publication of the If you cannot / or do not intend to attend the Bidder Event, we would welcome your comments/questions via Jaggaer by Tuesday 19th September, 12pm. Please use the Jaggaer e-procurement system https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html to submit any questions you may have about the requirements and tendering procedure at this time.
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: £2,500,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
33
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
The contractual term is set to expire in December 2026 with a possible extension(s) of up to two further Programme Delivery Periods of the DCS and Aspirant Strand. Any extension will be subject to satisfactory performance during the initial contract term, please refer to the Award Form of the Contract for further information
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 four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
23 October 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
Tender must be valid until: 23 April 2024
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
23 October 2023
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
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
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.