Pre Market Engagement - New Apprenticeship Entrant Training

Tender description

Network Rail (NR) is looking to procure a main provider to provide Rail engineering technician (level3) apprenticeships via suppliers registered (or have an active registration application) on Apprentice Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Network Rail would like to take this opportunity to seek further engagement and interest from the market to understand the appetite and capability of suppliers to fulfil a national contract with localised delivery for up to 8 years. ESFA rules must be adhered to. The service scope is attached to this notice. (NOT SURE WE CAN ATTACH SCOPE WHEN WRITING THIS SO MAY NEED TO ASK THEM TO REQUEST IT IF NOT) Network Rail will hold a Supplier Day, location to be confirmed on the 16th of October 2023 where Suppliers will learn more about this opportunity and have a face to face meeting with the project team. Network Rail have limited attendance to two attendees per organisation. Network Rail would like to use this session to understand from providers: 1. How could you deliver the technical aspects of the discipline specific RET standard? 2. Can you deliver the technical skills training yourselves? 3. If you subcontract this element, how will you maintain the 25% ESFA rule? 4. If you could deliver within 25% due to the breadth of apprenticeship training provision you offer, what would you do if this changes (either by a reduction in your total provision or tighter rules introduced by the ESFA) 5. Are there some elements in our scope that we could potentially separate from the apprenticeship? If you are interested in attending the supplier day please email paul.norman2@networkrail.co.uk with the names and contact details for the attendees. Lot 1: Network Rail Training (NRT) has a requirement to outsource its New Entrant Apprenticeship Tender (NEAT). NRT are looking for a training provider who will provide a service as a Main provider for the Rail Engineering Apprenticeships for Network Rail. These services include, but are not limited to; 1. Enrolment activities and monthly ILR (Individual Learner Record) returns 2. Individual learner focus (Additional Learning Needs diagnosis, Individual Learner Plan, Functional Skills Training) 3. Leadership, management & behavioural training 4. Outdoor team building and behavioural training 5. Engineering knowledge training: For Level 3 Rail Engineering Technician (RET) Apprenticeship; Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Technician Knowledge (RETK) 6. Monitoring of progress 7. Safeguarding and welfare 8. Quality, governance and continuous improvement 9. Engineering competence training: For Level 3 Rail Engineering Technician (RET) Apprenticeship; Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering Technician Competence qualification 10. Working collaboratively with Network Rail to source End Point Assessment of Level 3 Rail Engineering Technician apprenticeship standard The contract will be for up to 6 cohorts (one cohort per year) with each cohort estimated to take 3 years with an estimated 200 – 250 apprentices per cohort. The Customer is looking to tender this requirement in the near future. Any potential tender event in relation to this requirement will be issued via the Network Rail procurement platform – BravoNR. Please note any discussions which do occur will cease immediately should a formal competition ultimately be announced. The Customer is committed to ensuring fairness, openness and transparency, and to following EU procurement regulations. The Prior Information Notice is issued solely for the purpose of conducting pre-procurement market engagement via a request for information and does not constitute any commitment to undertake any procurement in the future. Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to the PIN event and a response to this PIN does not guarantee any invitation to participate in this event or any future procurement. This PIN does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services, supplies or works mentioned in this PIN and the Customer will not accept any proposals offered in response to this PIN. The Customer is not liable for any costs, fees, or expenses incurred by any party in replying to or attending any PIN event. Any procurement of any services, supplies or works by the Customer will be carried out strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016. Additional information: Please note that any content received in response to this RFI will be used purely for information purposes only and will not be deemed as forming part of any proposed bid now, or any potential future tender.