Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Department for Education
Sanctuary Buildings, 20, Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
Craig.HEATLEY@education.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 0000000000
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
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
Local Authority Childcare Sufficiency Support Contract
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80110000 - Pre-school education services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to notify the market of the Department for Education’s (DfE) intention to undertake a procurement exercise for a Local Authority Childcare Sufficiency Support Contract in Autumn 2022.
The DfE is seeking to procure expert professional services support (including peer support) for local authorities (LAs) to fulfil their statutory sufficiency duties. The proposed support will be delivered in the Financial Years 2022-25 and will relate to delivery of sufficient childcare and early education places for children aged 0-14, or up to 18, where applicable.
We require a supplier who can offer support to LAs in restoring or improving childcare sufficiency in their local areas through a mixed package of tailored support to diagnose sufficiency issues and assist LAs in implementing and embedding sustainable improvements. We envisage this would be delivered by:
1. Providing reactive support and challenge to LAs identified as failing (or at imminent risk of failing) in their duty to secure sufficient childcare for parents to work or participate in education or training, and for children eligible for the early education entitlements.
2. Providing proactive preventative and improvement support and challenge to LAs to facilitate the maintenance or improvement of local childcare sufficiency.
3. Where appropriate, assessing applications for, and administering discrete project funding of up to £20,000 per LA to support LAs in implementing recommendations made during the reactive or proactive support activity at 1 and 2 above.
4. Identifying, assessing and prioritising LAs with support and development needs that would be suitable for, and able to participate effectively in the preventative/improvement component of the support contract.
5. Evaluating support activity and funding outcomes.
6. Providing a project management function to coordinate the above support activity, and contract management activity required by the DfE.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £825,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80000000 - Education and training services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This Open procurement in accordance with Regulation 27 of PCR 2015. Potential suppliers will be assessed based on Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) principles against technical, social value and price criteria.
two.2.14) Additional information
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a73ca294-a47f-401b-9c80-42c5a1db8376
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
31 October 2022
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
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This Open procurement in accordance with Regulation 27 of PCR 2015 will be conducted electronically via Jaggaer e-tendering portal. No hard copy documents will be issued; all communications with DfE will be carried out via the portal.
Bidders will be required to register on Jaggaer portal:
https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html
For any assistance with the portal, bidders should contact the Jaggaer helpdesk:
Please note that this PIN is not a call to competition and the DfE is not bound to enter into any procurement activity because of it. With procurement being dependant on ministerial priorities, funding for these Services is subject to change at DfE’s absolute discretion.