Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Welsh Government
Corporate Procurement Services, Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
UK
Telephone: +44 3000623300
E-mail: CPSProcurementAdvice@gov.wales
NUTS: UKL
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://wales.gov.uk/?skip=1&lang=en
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0007
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:
https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Apprenticeships Commissioning Programme Wales Framework Agreement
Reference number: F022/2020/2021
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Through work-based learning the Apprenticeship Programme will deliver to individuals the skills necessary to embark on successful careers and for employers the relevant skilled people to meet the current and future needs of their businesses and the Welsh economy. Commencing on 1 August 2021 the Apprenticeship framework will run for 4 years until 31 July 2025 (with the option of an extension of up to two years until 31 July 2027).
The Framework will be procured under the light touch regime, implemented through regulations 74 - 77 as applied to Schedule 3 services of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) using a quasi-open procedure.
Please be advised that costs are fixed as set out in the Programme Specification, as such, there is no Commercial evaluation element to this tender.
Please be advised that there have been changes to the Allocations Methodology since the Market Engagement PIN Event, which was held on 22 July 2020. Please see the updated version, that has been reviewed by a QC, within the Programme Specification document which is attached in the e-tender portal.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
1 050 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80000000
80500000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The purpose of the Apprenticeships Programme is to support people in Wales through high quality learning, in order to provide employers with the relevant skilled people to meet the current and future needs of the Welsh economy.
Apprenticeships offer employed learners the opportunity to pursue a Foundation Apprenticeship, Apprenticeship, or Higher Apprenticeship framework. Degree Apprenticeships are excluded from this procurement.
Each framework specifies the learning activities, including, qualifications covering occupational competencies, the relevant technical knowledge, Essential Skills Wales and Employment Rights and Responsibilities (ERR).
The Client is committed to aligning the Apprenticeship Programme to the needs of the Welsh economy as outlined in its policy and action plan published in February 2017 - Aligning the Apprenticeship model to the needs of the Welsh economy 2017. The focus is on aligning and raising the level of the skills market designed to meet employer needs with a system that is responsive to industry changes, particularly in the sectors that drive growth and prosperity. The policy reflects the step change towards higher level technical and professional skills, promoting efficiency and portability within our priority sectors.
The Welsh Government is of the view that the option to extend the framework beyond four years is likely to be desirable. Individual participants may be on a vocational Apprenticeship programme for up to four years. In the event the maximum term of the framework mirrors the maximum duration of a vocational Apprenticeship programme, this is likely to result in many apprentices having their learning disrupted as they may be obliged to transfer from an unsuccessful legacy provider to a successful bidder when a future replacement framework is procured. Adopting a 4 year fixed term framework agreement with the ability to extend up to a maximum of 6 years should provide Welsh Government with the opportunity to limit the number of displaced apprentices that may arise if the procurement process had to be repeated more regularly.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
1 050 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 48
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
There is an option to extend the framework by 12 months and additional 12 months, if invoked the framework term would be 72 months. Annual Programme Commissions will be awarded for 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26. If the Agreement is extended, Programme Commissions will be issued for 2026/27 and, possibly, 2027/28.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
Throughout the duration of the Agreement or Programme Commission, the Client may seek to continue to improve the Apprenticeship Programme and to sharpen its focus. To this end, a number of flexibilities and options (including but not limited to varying or introducing new Services and pilot schemes) have been incorporated into the Agreement and the Programme Specification. Priorities will be reviewed regularly by the Client and Welsh Government Officials and may be revised. This will inform future allocations. Changes to the Programme Specification will be implemented in accordance with the terms of the Agreement as per sections 7.4, 26, 30 of the Invitation To Tender; B.10, B.16-B.26 pf the Programme Specification and 4.2 of the Framework Agreement
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
Yes
II.2.14) Additional information
The value range is anticipated to be Min GBP 400m to Max GBP 1.05 billion over the term of the agreement, further details are included in the tender documents.
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
As stated in the procurement documents.
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.1) Information about a particular profession
Participation is reserved to a particular profession: Yes
Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision:
As stated in the procurement documents.
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
As stated in the procurement documents.
III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement with several operators.
Justification for any framework agreement duration exceeding 4 years: Please see section 11.2.4 for the justification for the framework agreement duration exceeding 4 years.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2020/S 135-333710
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
12/10/2020
Local time: 14:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
CY
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
12/10/2020
Local time: 14:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published:
4 to 7 years
VI.3) Additional information
E-Tender Information:
https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk
- The first person from your Organisation to use the Platform will be required to register on behalf of the Organisation.
- Registration involves accepting a User Agreement, and providing basic information about your Organisation and about the User performing the Registration.
- The User who performs the Registration becomes the Super User for the Organisation.
- On registering on the Platform the Super User will select a Username and will receive a password.
- The Password will be sent by e-mail to the email address that was specified in the User Details section of the Registration page.
- In order to log-in to the Platform please enter your Username and Password.
- Note: If you forget your Password then visit the homepage and click “Forgot your password?”
- Registration should only be performed once for each Organisation.
- If you think that someone in your Organisation may have already registered on this Platform then you must not register again.
- Please contact the person who Registered (i.e. the Super User) in order to arrange access to the Platform.
- Contact the Helpdesk immediately if you are unable to contact the Super User (for example if they have left your Organisation).
- Note: If your Organisation is already registered on the Platform then you must not make any additional registration. Please contact the Helpdesk to gain access to the Platform.
- Tenders must be uploaded to the BravoSolution portal by 2pm
How To Find The ITT:
- Once logged in you must click on ‘ITT’s Open to all Suppliers’
- The e-tender references for this contract are: project_45278, itt_82936.
- Click on the title to access summary details of the contract. If you are still interested in submitting a tender, click the ‘Express an Interest button’. This will move the ITT from the ‘Open to all Suppliers’ area to the ‘My ITT’s’ on the home page.
- You will then see the full details of the ITT in the qualification and technical envelopes along with any relevant documents in the ‘Attachments’ area.
- Should you have any questions on the ITT, please use the ‘Messages’ area to contact the buyer directly – Please do not contact the named person at the top of this notice.
The contracting authority will incorporate a minimum ten day standstill period at the point information on the decision to award the contract is communicated to bidders. Any bidder wishing to appeal the decision to award the contract, or after the award of the contract appeal the contract, shall have the rights set out in Part 3 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
NOTE: The authority is using eTenderwales to carry out this procurement process. To obtain further information record your interest on Sell2Wales at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/search_switch.aspx?ID=103395
Under the terms of this contract the successful supplier(s) will be required to deliver Community Benefits in support of the authority’s economic and social objectives. Accordingly, contract performance conditions may relate in particular to social and environmental considerations. The Community Benefits included in this contract are:
Community benefits will be required and included as non core, further information is included in the procurement documents.
(WA Ref:103395)
The buyer considers that this contract is suitable for consortia.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
Telephone: +44 2079477501
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
17/08/2020