Scope
Reference
PA0005
Description
Using Government funding, provided by the Department for Education, Suffolk County Council (SCC) are looking to appoint a selection of learning and training providers to deliver a range of Skills Bootcamps across a Norfolk and Suffolk geography during the financial year 2025/26.
SCC will be the contract holders and, working closely alongside Norfolk County Council, will act as a consortium for ongoing programme development, monitoring and reporting throughout the year to ensure that delivery meets and addresses local needs as well as the funding criteria and requirements of the Department for Education.
The Norfolk and Suffolk Skills Bootcamp Programme will provide a range of training courses aligned directly with the recruitment and skills needs of employers.
Providers must start service delivery to enable at least 50% of learner starts by 30th September 2025.
Bids working in partnership including as a consortium are welcomed, however a nominated lead will be required, along with a clear division of roles and responsibilities.
Total value (estimated)
- £5,100,000 excluding VAT
- £6,120,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 8 August 2025 to 30 September 2026
- Possible extension to 30 September 2027
- 2 years, 1 month, 24 days
Description of possible extension:
Contracts can be extended by up to 12 months, subject to the availability of funding and satisfactory performance of the supplier(s).
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Contracts can be extended by up to 12 months, subject to the availability of funding and satisfactory performance of the supplier(s).
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
Contract locations
- UKH14 - Suffolk
- UKH15 - Norwich and East Norfolk
- UKH16 - North and West Norfolk
- UKH17 - Breckland and South Norfolk
Lot constraints
Description of how multiple lots may be awarded:
There is no limit on how many lots each Tenderer can bid for and/or be awarded.
The Tenderer with the lowest Price per Quality Point (PQP) for each lot will, providing they meet the minimum quality thresholds and that we are able to proceed, be awarded a contract.
Where possible, additional awards will be made in each lot - subject to minimum quality thresholds being met, the availability of funding, and alignment with the Department for Education priority programmes highlighted in the tender documentation.
In doing so, we will look to ensure there is sufficient coverage across the total geographical area of both Norfolk and Suffolk.
Lot 1 (was LOT-0001). Developing Talent for Infrastructure
Description
Our aim is to support the equipping of individuals with the skills needed to support the delivery and maintenance of physical infrastructure across Suffolk and Norfolk. It includes training in areas such as construction, engineering, welding, arboriculture, landscaping, and retrofit. The objective is to ensure local people can access employment opportunities linked to infrastructure investment and development.
Sectors and activities include:
• Construction and the Built Environment
• Engineering and Technical
• Welding
• Arboriculture and Landscaping
• Retrofit
Please note, the value stated here includes the option 12-month extension.
Lot value (estimated)
- £1,756,000 excluding VAT
- £2,107,200 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations, contract dates and options are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 2. Developing Talent for Technology Application and Convergence
Description
Our aim is to integrate digital, AI, clean tech, robotics, and satellite applications with existing industries to drive growth in key sectors. It targets sectors like coding, agri-tech, Artificial Intelligence, and advanced manufacturing. The goal is to drive innovation and productivity by enabling the workforce to apply and adapt to technological change across key growth sectors.
Sectors and activities include:
• Digital: Coding and programming
• Agri-tech
• Digital: Artificial Intelligence
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Creative and Design
Please note, the value stated here includes the option 12-month extension.
Lot value (estimated)
- £2,472,000 excluding VAT
- £2,966,400 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations, contract dates and options are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Lot 3. Developing Talent to underpin Growth and Employment
Description
This cross-sector theme addresses broader workforce needs that support economic growth and employment across Suffolk and Norfolk. It includes training in logistics, leadership and management, early years and education, digital marketing, health and social care, catering and hospitality, and customer service. It also embeds sustainability, efficiency, and net-zero practices, and includes core employment skills to help individuals enter and progress in the labour market.
Sectors and activities include:
• Transport and Logistics
• Leadership and Management
• Business and Administration
• Early Years and Education
• Digital Marketing
• Health and Social Care
• Catering and Hospitality
• Customer Service
• Embedding Sustainability, Efficiency and Net-zero practices
• Employment Skills
• Marine
• Sport
• Visitor Economy
• Other
Please note, the value stated here includes the option 12-month extension.
Lot value (estimated)
- £872,000 excluding VAT
- £1,046,400 including VAT
Same for all lots
CPV classifications, contract locations, contract dates and options are shown in the Scope section, because they are the same for all lots.
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Lot 1 (was LOT-0001). Developing Talent for Infrastructure
Lot 2. Developing Talent for Technology Application and Convergence
Lot 3. Developing Talent to underpin Growth and Employment
Confirmation that the Tenderer has, or can commit to obtain, prior to the award of the contract, the levels of insurance cover indicated in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire, and that the cost of insurances has been included in the costs/prices submitted within the Tender submission.
Technical ability conditions of participation
Lot 1 (was LOT-0001). Developing Talent for Infrastructure
Lot 2. Developing Talent for Technology Application and Convergence
Lot 3. Developing Talent to underpin Growth and Employment
UK General Data Protection Regulations
- Tenderer does not pose a Data Protection risk to the Council (that cannot be mitigated).
Relevant experience and contract examples
- Tenderer provides evidence demonstrating technical ability to perform the services as defined in the tender documentation.
Experience of sub-contractor management
- Tenderer provides evidence demonstrating how they have previously maintained healthy supply chains with their sub-contractor(s) (if applicable).
Organisational standards
- Tenderer is registered with the UK Register of Learning Providers.
Health and safety
- Tenderer provides their H&S Policy Statement together with an explanation of their H&S arrangements (which should follow a recognised H&S Management system).
Procurement Specific Requirements
- Tenderer provides policy and procedure(s) demonstrating compliance with Part 2 (The Management of Safeguarding) of Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance
- Tenderer provides policy and procedure(s) demonstrating how they will implement the Prevent duty, as set out in the Prevent Duty Guidance for FE institutions in England and Wales, and embed British Values to ensure learners are protected from the risks of radicalisation and extremism as part of their wider safeguarding responsibilities.
- Tenderer provides details on which employer(s) they are working with to deliver the skills bootcamps programme. The response must include a letter of support from each employer, along with details of how they are supporting the programme. For example:
• Bid planning/design
• Supporting delivery through mentoring, employer workshop
• Guaranteed interviews for live vacancies
• Sponsoring own employees on a skills bootcamp
Particular suitability
Lot 1 (was LOT-0001). Developing Talent for Infrastructure
Lot 2. Developing Talent for Technology Application and Convergence
Lot 3. Developing Talent to underpin Growth and Employment
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
25 June 2025, 11:59pm
Tender submission deadline
7 July 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders to be submitted electronically via Suffolk Sourcing:
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/suffolksourcing/aspx/ProjectManage/18857
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
1 August 2025
Recurring procurement
Publication date of next tender notice (estimated): 2 January 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Quality - Planning and Delivery: 85% weighting | Further details are available within the tender documentation. |
Quality |
| Quality - Social Value: 15% weighting | Further details are available within the tender documentation. |
Quality |
Weighting description
The following criteria will be scored in line with the following weightings:
Quality - Planning and Delivery: 85%
Quality - Social Value: 15%
The following criteria will not be scored but will be used in a Price per Quality Point (PQP) formula:
Charges - Price per participant
To determine the overall PQP, the price per participant will be divided by the total quality score (out of 100).
The Tender with the lowest PQP within each lot will, providing it meets the minimum quality thresholds specified in...
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
Suffolk County Council has joined the government's Devolution Priority Programme.
This process has the potential to lead to the establishment of a county combined authority for Norfolk and Suffolk, with strategic powers, headed by an elected mayor. A consultation is under way. Government has also invited participation by Suffolk in Local Government Review. This process has the potential to lead to unitary local government in Suffolk. One of these changes could happen without the other. This risk is declared as a known risk as we do not yet understand the implications of that potential re-organisation.
The contract may be assigned or novated or otherwise transferred to any successor authority(ies) to Suffolk County Council or to any joint body incorporating or formed by any such successor. The County Council or a successor authority or joint body may order services on behalf of other local authorities serving any area within Suffolk's current geographical boundaries. Impacts may also include modifications to the contract.
In addition, our Preliminary Market Engagement also highlighted the risk of external factors including policy changes and/or evolving standards during the course of delivery, which require curriculum adjustments. Awarded contract(s) may require amendment/modification due to this risk.
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Light touch
Reduced tendering period
Yes
Light touch contract - no minimum
Contracting authorities
Suffolk County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHVH-1657-HHMV
Endeavour House, 8 Russell Road
Ipswich
IP1 2BX
United Kingdom
Region: UKH14 - Suffolk
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Norfolk County Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDYH-3246-XWTR
County Hall, Martineau Lane
Norwich
NR1 2DH
United Kingdom
Email: sourcingteam@norfolk.gov.uk
Region: UKH15 - Norwich and East Norfolk
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government