Voluntary ex ante transparency notice
Directive 2014/24/EU
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
The Think Ahead Organisation
344-354 Grays Inn Road
London
WC1X 8BP
UK
Contact person: Chris Chapman
Telephone: +44 2031467180
E-mail: c.chapman@thinkahead.org
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://thinkahead.org/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other: Charity which obtains funds from a Public Body
I.5) Main activity
Education
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Extension of Contract for the delivery of the academic elements of the Think Ahead Mental Health Social Work Training Programme
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80300000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Think Ahead intends to extend its existing contract with Middlesex University. Think Ahead believe that competition is absent. Think Ahead has previously partnered with Middlesex University to develop, accredit and deliver the academic elements of the Think Ahead programme. The contract awarded to them in September 2018 includes both the 2019 and 2020 student cohort, with an optional extension to include the 2021 cohort. The academic programme provided jointly by Think Ahead and Middlesex University has been approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), now Social Work England (SWE). In order to fall in line with a Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) procurement process, currently intended to cover both the 2021 and 2022 cohort, with an optional extension to cover the 2023 cohort, Think Ahead intend to extend the contract in place with Middlesex University to tie in with the DHSC contract should they be successful in the procurement process.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
2 500 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80430000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
Main site or place of performance:
UNITED KINGDOM.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Think Ahead has identified that given the unique nature of the programme Middlesex University have the credentials and infrastructure already in place that no other academic institution can match at this time, particularly with the need to have a SWE approved programme with academic resources in place within limited timescales, including regional teaching and tutor support across England. Think Ahead is entirely funded by the DHSC with limited financial and staff resources, which would be helped by the embedded nature of the relationship with Middlesex University already in place, particularly given the need to demonstrate value for money without duplicated cost, business disruption and operation or financial risk. Please see additional information in VI.4.1-.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Curriculum and course content development
/ Weighting: 20
Quality criterion: Quality assurance and accreditation
/ Weighting: 15
Quality criterion: Ability to deliver
/ Weighting: 25
Quality criterion: Values and vision
/ Weighting: 5
Quality criterion: Modus operandi with Think Ahead
/ Weighting: 10
Cost criterion: Cost
/ Weighting: 25
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated procedure without prior publication
Justification for selected award procedure:
The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason: absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
Think Ahead intends to extend its contract with Middlesex University for the delivery of the academic elements of the Think Ahead programme to include the 2022 cohort, with the optional extension to cover the 2023 cohort, subject to being successful in the DHSC procurement process. Think Ahead currently contracts Middlesex University for the delivery of the academic elements of the programme, which commenced in July 2019 and includes both the 2019 and 2020 student cohort, with an optional extension to include the 2021 cohort.
Think Ahead has partnered with Middlesex University to develop, accredit and deliver the programme. This has resulted in a number of innovative changes to the programme over the past 18 months that, particularly given the integrated nature of the working partnership in making the changes that have been made, Middlesex University is uniquely placed to deliver. Middlesex University already has the necessary staffing already in place to deliver the programme and support regional teaching and tutor support across England on an on-going basis, in a manner that is achievable within restricted budgets, timeframes and staff capacity whilst minimising disruption and risk.
Middlesex University is also in a unique position in its field in that it is the only academic institution in the UK running a fast track masters in social work, which is situated within an academic department with a specific focus on social work and mental health. In addition, Middlesex University offers an MBA with a social work track, which is run jointly with the University’s Business School – a fundamental part of this programme is leadership, which has been integral to the development and teaching of the leadership elements of the Think Ahead programme.
Think Ahead intends to take advantage of the integrated nature of the current partnership arrangement with Middlesex University to offer a holistic service for students, to deliver value for money.
Think Ahead has identified for the reasons stated above, including the need to minimise the financial and operational risks to Think Ahead, the need to have a Social Work England approved programme with academic resources already in place within limited timescales, the ability to provide regional teaching and tutor support across England, the embedded nature of the relationship and demonstrating value for money (without duplicated cost) with limited financial and staff resources, that Middlesex University have the credentials and infrastructure in place that no other academic institution can match at this time.
In conclusion given our combined existing skills sets, current integrated working arrangements and the benefits related to a fully integrated approach, that the products, services and support supplied by Middlesex University are the only ones capable of meeting Think Ahead’s requirements.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2018/S 048-105803
Section V: Award of contract/concession
V.2 Award of contract/concession
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession
02/04/2020
V.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Middlesex University Higher Education Authority
An exempt charity by virtue of the Charities Act 1960 (Number: XN92247)
The Burroughs
London
NW4 4BT
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the concession and main financing terms (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: 2 500 000.00 GBP
Total value of the concession/lot:
2 500 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
Think Ahead partnered with Middlesex University to develop, accredit and deliver the programme, resulting in a number of innovative changes over the past 18 months that, particularly given the integrated nature of the working partnership, they are now uniquely placed to deliver. Middlesex University is also in a unique position in that it is the only academic institution in the UK running a fast track masters in social work, which is situated within an academic department with a specific focus on social work and mental health. Middlesex University also offers an MBA with a social work track, which is run jointly with the University’s Business School – a fundamental part of this programme is leadership, which has been integral to the development and teaching of the leadership elements.
To view this notice, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=474994980
Go reference: GO-202043-PRO-16303782
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
The Think Ahead Organisation
344-354 Grays Inn Road
London
WC1X 8BP
UK
Telephone: +44 2031467180
E-mail: c.chapman@thinklahead.org
Internet address(es)
URL: https://thinkahead.org/
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
03/04/2020