Future Leaders Programme for Directors of Children’s Services (UPON) Re-Procurement 2023

Tender description

The purpose of this PIN is to initiate market consultation and is not being used as a call for competition. The PIN is intended to: 1. Raise awareness with the market of a potential future procurement process for delivery of the DCS Future Leaders programme. To enable time for organisations to begin early discussions with the Department, and each other, as to how they may be able to deliver any future contract. 2. Inform the market that the Department will be undertaking market consultation activity on 19 July 2023. 3. Inform the market that the Department is intending to run an Open Procurement with the application of the Light Touch Regime. The services fall within the scope of Part 7 (Social and Other Specific Services) of Chapter 3 of the Public Procurement Regulations 2015, the so called “light touch regime” and the Department will utilise the flexibilities afforded by Regulation 76(1) (Principles of awarding contracts), in determining the procurement procedure to be applied. 4. The current contract will end on 31 March 2024. The scope for any future procurement will cover the content creation and delivery of a programme to support to new and future DCSs. The programme should ensure content reflects the changing needs of the children’s social care sector, and embeds the Department for Education’s reform strategy as outlined in Stable Homes, Built on Love . 5. We would be seeking to contract for an initial period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2026 with an option to extend the contract up to a maximum period of 2 further years. A mobilisation and implementation period is envisaged to run from early February until late March 2024. 6. Historically, the Department has funded the Programme up to a value of £1.1m (excluding VAT) per annum. We would anticipate, should any procurement be undertaken, that a similar maximum annual value would be made available. Please register on Jaggaer to access the Information Memorandum.