Education and training services

Tender description

This is a Prior Information Notice (PIN) for social and specific services in accordance with Directive 2014/24/EU Article 24. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) intends to establish a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) to procure Work Focused Activities in Jobcentre Plus Districts in England, Scotland and Wales. The DPS is for the procurement of social and other services referred to in Regulation 74 of the Public Contracts Regulations (2015) and as such, the intention is to use a light touch regime, rather than the full regime described in Regulation 34 (Dynamic Purchasing System). As set out in the Green Paper ‘Improving Lives: Work, Health and Disability’, published in October 2016, the department is looking to deliver a number of new proofs of concept’ (PoC) to improve the support that it can offer and to understand what best works. Update June 2019. Update due to In Work Progression (IWP) Service Line addition. Please see suppliers instructions in VI.3) Additional Information of how to apply and see updated attachments containing details of the IWP Service Line. This DPS will present opportunities for organisation, with a focus on innovation and local specialist support, to be involved and test the development of new approaches for employment and health related activity. This will be key to building evidence to support the delivery of future provision at both national and local level. At this stage we cannot confirm or guarantee any future business through the DPS but it is anticipated that there will be some limited numbers of proof of concepts in specific parts of the country in the next 6-12 months. However, it is expected that as the DPS develops the activity will increase involving most, if not all, parts of the country. All information will be issued to potential suppliers via the BravoSolution e-Procurement platform. Subject to decisions, the anticipated duration for this new programme is from October 2018, for four (4) years. This National DPS is for DWP. It may also be open to the Department of Health and Social Care, Ministry of Justice, the Scottish and Welsh Governments and Local Authorities. Estimated funding for Test and Learn for 2018-2019, excluding VAT, will be up to 2 000 000 GBP. Thereafter funding for DPS procurement will be annually agreed (amounts to be confirmed), and may include monies from other funding streams. Potential suppliers should note that the Contracting Authority reserves the right to cancel this procurement at any stage and not to award a DPS Agreement. If the Contracting Authority decides to enter into a DPS 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. Any order placed under this DPS will form a separate contract under the scope of this DPS between the supplier and the specific requesting contracting body. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to use any electronic portal during the life of the agreement.