Tender

Apprenticeship Training and Assessment Framework 2025

Westmorland and Furness Council

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-037436

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04bd0e

Published 19 November 2024, 5:35pm

Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Westmorland and Furness Council

South Lakeland House, Lowther Street

Kendal

LA9 4DQ

Contact

Mrs Maxine Moran

Email

Maxine.Moran@cumbria.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 7584538416

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKD1 - Cumbria

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/

Buyer's address

https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=00fb28b1-87a6-ef11-8132-005056b64545

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert/Index?advertId=00fb28b1-87a6-ef11-8132-005056b64545

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

Apprenticeship Training and Assessment Framework 2025

Reference number

DN752710

two.1.2) Main CPV code

80000000 - Education and training services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Westmorland and Furness Council are issuing an Invitation to Tender for a new Apprenticeships Framework for the period 1st April 2025 - 31st March 2029 (initial 4-year term plus 2 x optional extensions of up to 12 Months each).

The Council is looking to establish a framework of high quality Apprenticeship Training Providers in order to deliver a range of apprenticeships for its workforce, utilising the apprenticeship levy.

The Council are allowing other contracting authorities and schools and other permissible users to access this Framework, with our prior permission/consent (Please see information in V1.3 Additional Information below).

Further details of the Framework are included in the Invitation to Tender documents available via The Chest. All clarifications regarding the tender documents must be directed via the messages area of the project dashboard. Any queries regarding using The Chest - https://procontract.due-north.com - please use the support available from the home page.

The Submission deadline is the 19th of December 2024 at 12 Noon

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £15,000,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes

UKD1 - Cumbria

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Council is looking to establish a framework of high quality Apprenticeship Training Providers in order to deliver a range of apprenticeships for its workforce, utilising the apprenticeship levy.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 90

Cost criterion - Name: Financials / Weighting: 10

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £15,000,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Start date

1 April 2025

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Westmorland and Furness Council proposes an Invitation to Tender for a new Apprenticeships Framework for the period 1st April 2025 - 31st March 2029 (initial 4-year term plus 2 x optional extensions of up to 12 Months each).

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

two.2.14) Additional information

Suppliers wishing to express an interest and obtain access to the tender documents should go to www.the-chest.org.uk and click on current opportunities from the navigation area on the left of the screen. On the next screen enter the contract Reference (DN752710) in the box labelled 'contains' then click search. Click on the Blue link for the contract title to view the opportunity. To express an interest you will need to login. if you are not already registered on the www.the-chest.org.uk you will need to return to the home page and click on Register. Register FREE link in the navigation area on the left of the screen. Registration is free of charge and your username and password will be emailed to you.

Westmorland and Furness Council is fully supportive of all aspects of diversity including ethnicity, race, religion, age, disability and sexual orientation. In this respect Westmorland and Furness Council welcomes expressions of interest from ethnic minority, disabled and other diverse business communities and the voluntary sector. Economic operators are therefore required to fully comply with all statutory obligations/applicable legislation and there will be a requirement to participate in the Authority's supplier audits on all aspects of diversity.

The Contracting Authority expressly reserves the right: (i) not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice; and (ii) to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the tendering competition; and in no circumstances will the Contracting Authority be liable for any costs incurred by the candidates.

If the Contracting Authority decides to enter into a Contract with the successful supplier, this does not mean that there is any guarantee of subsequent contracts being awarded. Any expenditure, work or effort undertaken prior to contract award is accordingly a matter solely for the commercial judgement of potential suppliers. The Contracting Authority reserve the right to use any electronic portal during the life of the agreement. The value provided in Section II.1.5 is only an estimate. We cannot guarantee to suppliers any business through this contract. Under this procurement the contractor is required to actively participate in the economic and social regeneration of the locality of and surrounding the place of delivery for the procurement. Accordingly contract performance conditions may relate in particular to social and environmental considerations.

All schools in W&F See Link – https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/schools-and-education/find-school-near-you?page=1

CUMBRIA COMMISSIONER FIRE & RESCUE AUTHORITY, Carleton Hall, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 2AU

Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Carleton Hall, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 2AU

Cumbria Constabulary, Carleton Hall, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 2AU

Cumberland Council, Cumbria House, 117 Botchergate, Carlisle, Cumbria CA1 1RD

Lancashire County Council, County Hall, Preston PR1 8XJ

Northumberland County Council, County Hall, Morpeth NE61 2EF

North Yorkshire Council, County Hall, Northallerton DL7 8AD

Lake District National Park Authority, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal LA9 7RL

Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board* Chorley House Lancashire Enterprise Business Park Lancashire Road, Leyland PR26 6TT

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust* Westmorland General Hospital, Burton Road, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 7RG

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust* Ncic Trust Hq Pillars Building Cumberland Infirmary, Infirmary Street, Belle Vue CA2 7HY

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust* Sceptre Point, Sceptre Way, Walton Summit, Preston PR5 6AW

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust* St Nicholas Hospital, Jubilee Road, Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE3 3XT

North West Ambulance Service, Ladybridge Hall HQ, Chorley New Road, Bolton BL1 5DD

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, Pemberton House, Colima Avenue, Sunderland Enterprise Park, Sunderland SR 5 3XB

Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Open procedure

four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system

The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement

Framework agreement with several operators

In the case of framework agreements, provide justification for any duration exceeding 4 years:

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No

four.2) Administrative information

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date

19 December 2024

Local time

12:00pm

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

19 December 2024

Local time

12:00pm

Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: No

six.3) Additional information

The Council are allowing other contracting authorities and schools and other permissible users to access this Framework, with our prior permission/consent (Please see below additional information).