Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Department for Education
Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street
London
SW1P 3BT
CommercialDelivery.SKILLS@education.gov.uk
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/web/login.html
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at
https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html
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
Planning and Delivery Support for Providers of T Levels, including the T Level Transition Programme and Industry Placements
Reference number
project_7254
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80210000 - Technical and vocational secondary education services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This PIN is for the purpose of initiating the direct engagement with the market with regards to the supply of a support package for providers of T Levels, including the T Level Transition Programme (TLTP) and Industry Placements.
This PIN is for market engagement only. It does not signify the commencement of any procurement process and does not constitute any commitment by the Department for Education. If the Department for Education decides to commence any procurement process as contemplated by this notice, a separate notice will be published at the relevant time.
We will be holding a virtual supplier event on 29th November 2022. Please see below for details.
Background:
T Levels are 2-year technical qualifications launched in September 2020. They are taken after GCSEs and are broadly equivalent in size to three A Levels. They have been developed in collaboration with employers and education providers and combine classroom-based learning with a substantial industry placement. T Levels provide an opportunity for learners to gain the knowledge and skills they need to enter university, higher apprenticeships, or skilled employment. The first cohort graduated in August 2022 with a pass rate of 92%.
The rollout of T Levels has been gradual to ensure the quality of the programme, but from September 2023 we expect that more than 350 providers will be delivering T Levels, with 23 T Levels available. Alongside the development of T Levels, we have rolled out the T Level Transition Programme (TLTP), which provides a high-quality route onto T Levels for students who would benefit from the additional time and preparation before embarking on their preferred T Level.
The delivery of the support package will begin in September 2023. The contract will cover support until 31 August 2025, with the possibility of 2 x 1-year extensions to 31 August 2026 and 31 August 2027 respectively.
The Department will continue to monitor interest in T Levels and update assumptions on volumes (including number of eligible providers).
Required services:
The purpose of the support package is to ensure that providers of T Levels and TLTP are able to deliver high quality programmes, including sourcing suitable T Level Industry Placements and TLTP work experience for each learner. The package includes 3 strands of support. Each will be let as a separate lot:
Lot 1: Support with planning and delivering T Levels, including:
- provision of long-term support structures, including high-quality guidance resources and peer networks
- a point of contact for each provider
- development and delivery of events
- industry placements support
- monitoring of and reporting on providers’ progress, including industry placement sourcing
Lot 2: Support with industry placement employment engagement strategies, including:
- development of effective employer engagement strategy toolkits
- guidance on implementing successful employer engagement strategies
- direct hands-on support to embed engagement strategies using the toolkits
Lot 3: Support with planning and delivering TLTP, including:
- provision of long-term support structures, including high-quality guidance resources and peer networks
- regular contact for each provider preparing and delivering TLTP for the first time, and an ad hoc support facility for all providers
- development and delivery of events
- monitoring of and reporting on providers’ progress
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £6,700,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 1: Support with planning and delivering T Levels
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80211000 - Technical secondary education services
- 80212000 - Vocational secondary education services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
England
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 1: Support with planning and delivering T Levels, including:
- provision of long-term support structures, including high-quality guidance resources and peer networks
- a point of contact for each provider
- development and delivery of events
- industry placements support
- monitoring of and reporting on providers’ progress, including industry placement sourcing
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 2:Support with industry placement employment engagement strategies
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80211000 - Technical secondary education services
- 80212000 - Vocational secondary education services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 2: Support with industry placement employment engagement strategies, including:
- development of effective employer engagement strategy toolkits
- guidance on implementing successful employer engagement strategies
- direct hands-on support to embed engagement strategies using the toolkits
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Lot 3: Support with planning and delivering T Level Transition Programme
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80211000 - Technical secondary education services
- 80212000 - Vocational secondary education services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 3: Support with planning and delivering T Level Transition Programme, including:
- provision of long-term support structures, including high-quality guidance resources and peer networks
- regular contact for each provider preparing and delivering TLTP for the first time, and an ad hoc support facility for all providers
- development and delivery of events
- monitoring of and reporting on providers’ progress
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
5 December 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 PIN is for market engagement only. It does not signify the commencement of any procurement process and does not constitute any commitment by the Department for Education. If the Department for Education decides to commence any procurement process as contemplated by this notice, a separate notice will be published at the relevant time.
We will be holding a virtual supplier event on 29th November 2022, 09:00-10:30, via Microsoft Teams. The purpose of the event is to give you more information about our expectations for each of the three lots in this contract and give you the opportunity to ask questions. The Department would encourage the attendance of interested suppliers at the market engagement event as we are keen to speak to as many organisations as possible.
All communication and information will be released through Jaggaer. All information from the day, including Q&A, will be made available via Jaggaer to those who are unable to attend.
Please register for Jaggaer using the URL link below: https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html
Once registered, the supplier event area can be accessed by clicking “View Opportunities” on the main page. Event joining instructions will be issued following an expression of interest via the Messaging function. Please register no later than 24 hours before the event commences. The Jaggaer reference is ssq_323.
Suppliers wishing to do business with us should understand our expectation that they support and endorse our commitment to Equality & Diversity and take positive steps in their own organisation to demonstrate this, in compliance to the Equality Act 2010.
T Levels website: https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
Provider Support: https://support.tlevels.gov.uk/hc/en-gb
Employer Support: https://employers.tlevels.gov.uk/hc/en-gb
TLTP Framework for Delivery: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/t-level-transition-programme-framework-for-delivery-2022-to-2023
T Level Action Plan: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/t-level-transition-programme-framework-for-delivery-2022-to-2023