Prison services

Tender description

The Ministry of Justice wishes to appoint awarding organisations whose qualifications will be used in adult prisons across England for seven specified curriculum areas. The use of those qualifications will be mandatory for the education providers appointed through the separate procurement processes when delivering learning in specified seven curriculum areas. Award of this contract will be undertaken as a services concessions contracts carried out in accordance with regulation 19 of the Concessions Contracts Regulations 2016. The requirement will be split into 7 separate lots and are as follows: — Lot 1 — English, — Lot 2 — English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), — Lot 3 — Mathematics, — Lot 4 — Information and Communication Technology (ICT), — Lot 5 — Catering and Hospitality, — Lot 6 — Construction, planning and the built environment, — Lot 7 — Cleaning and Facilities Management. The provision of qualifications for English MUST include all literacy skills based qualifications encompassing the core skills of: — reading, — writing, — speaking, — listening, — spelling, — punctuation, — grammar, — and all combinations or variations. The qualifications provided should cover Functional Skills (and their reformed successor qualifications) from Entry level through to Level 3. In addition, the offer should also include nationally recognised qualifications at levels 2 and 3, such as GCSE and A Level, but not limited to only those. The provision of qualifications for ESOL MUST include Entry level through to Level 2 inclusive. Currently, no level 3 ESOL Skills for Life provision is available with the major awarding bodies offering ESOL qualifications. Any ESOL qualifications should be based on the Adult Core Curriculum for ESOL and cover the core skills of reading, writing and speaking/listening. The provision of qualifications for Mathematics MUST include all numeracy skills based qualifications encompassing the core skills of: — Numbers, — Fractions, — Decimals and Percentages, — Money, — Measurement, Shape and Space, — 2D and 3D shapes, — Time, — Working with/ Sorting/ Extracting information, — Mathematical skills and Calculations, — Handling Data, — Statistics, — Probability, — Algebra, — Geometry, — and all combinations or variations. The qualifications provided should cover Functional Skills (and their reformed successor qualifications) from Entry level through to Level 3. In addition, the offer should also include nationally recognised qualifications at levels 2 and 3, such as GCSE and A Level, but not limited to only those. The provision of qualifications for Information and Communications Technology MUST include Functional Skills (and their reformed successor qualifications) from Entry level through to Level 3. This should include, but not be limited to, nationally recognised qualifications such as GCSE and A Level and equivalents. In addition, Information Technology qualifications will include user and software awards/certificates alongside those for computer science/computing. The provision of qualifications for Catering and Hospitality MUST include all qualifications at entry levels and levels 1, 2 and 3 and equivalents within the following suites of National Occupational Standards occupations: — Chef, — Cook, — Kitchen Assistant, — Waiter/Waitress, — Bar Staff, — Bar Supervisor, — Drinks Dispense Technician, — Barista, — Hospitality and Catering Team Members, — Hospitality and Catering Supervisors. The qualifications provided should include awards, certificates and diplomas relevant to the vocational area studied. Catering and Hospitality qualifications falling outside these National Occupational Standards occupations are not part of the specification. The provision of qualifications for Construction, planning and the built environment MUST include all qualifications at entry levels and levels 1, 2 and 3 and equivalents within the following National Occupational Standard occupations: — Bricklayer and Mason, — Plasterer, — Carpenter and Joiner, — Shopfitter, — Construction and Building Trade Supervisors, — Painter and Decorator, — Floor and Wall Tiler, — Construction/Maintenance Operatives, — Roof Tilers and Slaters, — Scaffolders, Stagers and Riggers, — Plumber. The qualifications provided should include awards, certificates and diplomas relevant to the vocational area studied. Qualifications falling outside these National Occupational Standards occupations are not part of the specification. The provision of qualifications for Cleaning and Facilities Management MUST include all qualifications at entry levels and levels 1, 2 and 3 and equivalents in the following suites of National Occupational Standards: — Cleaning Support Operative, — Specialist Cleaning Operative, — Service Enterprise Operative, — Combined Facilities Support Activities/Operative, — Elementary Cleaning Operative, — Cleaning Supervisor, — Waste Management Operative. The qualifications provided should include awards, certificates and diplomas relevant to the vocational area studied. Qualifications falling outside these National Occupational Standards occupations are not part of the specification.