Transcript Slide 1

North West Network
Learning and Skills Council Procurement
Round 2008/09
Application Process Briefing
John Hacking
Angeliki Stogia
About today
This event is to:
• Outline the LSC ESF funded activity in this tendering round
• Provide a brief overview of the Invitations to Tender (ITT’s)
• Provide guidance on filling in the application form
It also gives you as potential applicants, the opportunity to ask questions on the
procurement process
About North West Network
North West Network represents the interests of Third Sector
(voluntary and community) organisations in the region in
relation to European funding at regional, national and
European levels
Our aim is to increase the take up of European funding by the
Third Sector in the North West region of England
We also aim to promote and assist the Third Sector to network
and develop partnerships at local, regional, national and
European levels
Background
The context
LSC approach to Commissioning aims to address national
priorities:
• Delivering better Skills, better Jobs and better Lives
– European Union’s Lisbon Agenda.
• Integrating Employment and Skills
– Leitch review examines the UK’s long term skill needs, with the aim
to increase skill attainments at all levels by 2020.
• NW Skills for Jobs Framework
– Maps and links existing skills and employment provision. Additional
provision commissioned to fill gaps and support smoother,
continuous skills development for workless adults from preemployment training through to continued up-skilling in the
workplace.
ESF Programme 2007-13
Regional Competitiveness and Employment
• Priority 1 (62%) - Extending employment opportunities for
unemployed and inactive people
Linking with LSC programmes such as Entry to
Employment and Foundation Learning Tiers, and Skills for
Jobs, including enhancing Skills for Life and specifically
targeted activity such as our Offender Learning and Skills
Service
• Priority 2 (34%) Developing a skilled and adaptable
workforce
Linking with the Train to Gain programme and
Apprenticeships, enhancing basic skills, Level 2, Level 3,
and some Level 4+ where appropriate
North West Challenges
Priority 1
• Reduced ESF funding results in a very targeted approach to the ESF programme
• Major challenges in the North West in relation to workless and economic activity rates
- 80,000 additional workers to achieve UK norms
• NEET is persistent and challenging
Priority 2
• Alignment of ESF to other mainstream investment in skills
• Focus on priority sectors
LSC Co-Financing
• Co-financing means combining both the ESF money with
the required match funding to providers into a single funding
stream
• LSC and DWP/JCP Co-financers in the North West
• Co-Finance Plan outlines the activity to be funded and spending allocations, also project
selection and tendering arrangements
– The NW LSC Co-financing plan can be found:
» http://www.lsc.gov.uk/regions/NorthWest/ESF/ESF+20072013+programme/
» Or at North West Network’s website
http://www.nwnetwork.org.uk/useful-documents-15
Procurement
• A two stage approach:
– Stage 1 – PQQ
– Stage 2 - Invitations to Tender
• Stage 2 now underway
• All funding including match will be subjected to Open and Competitive Tendering for
ESF provision.
– There will be some commissioning for mainstream LSC funding.
The LSC Approach
• Overall Northwest LSC ESF Plan for 2008-2010 £130m
• Majority of funding was procured in autumn 2007
• Multi annual contracts from August 2008 to 31 December 2010
• 16 ESF ITTs classified as ‘ADULTS’, ‘YOUNG PEOPLE’, ‘EMPLOYER’ and ‘OTHER’
• Focus on target groups and results not on prescribed activities allowing for innovation
• ESF Round: launch 28 March – Closing Date 2 May 2008
The ITTs
ESF
– Young People
– Adults
– Employer
– Other / Community Grants
Mainstream LSC Tenders
»
»
»
»
Train to Gain
Apprenticeships
E2E
ESP
Timetable
Programme
Train to Gain
Apprenticeships
E2E
ESP
ESF
OPENS
CLOSES
28 March 2008 09/05/2008
07 March 2008 22/05/2008
04 April 2008 28/05/2008
09 April 2008 21/05/2008
28 March 2008 02/05/2008
14.00
14.00
16.00
tba
17.00
The ITTs
– Young People
Reference
Title
Greater Manchester - Prevention
of NEET young people in Salford NW/YOUTH/S21 Pre 16
Greater Merseyside (Merseyside
Phasing-In Area) - Employer Pool
and Integrated Career
Development Mentoring
NW/YOUTH/S22 Programme
Priority 1 – Young People
Greater Manchester – Prevention of NEET in Salford
• ITTs are based on the sub-regions, the LSC is seeking alignment with 14-19 strategies
and plans and to add value to current activity
• LSC is looking for provision in Salford
• Activity targeted at pre 16, Key stage 4 reengagement and transition for those who are
at serious risk of becoming NEET
• Outputs: 78 participants who are disengaged/at risk of disengaging from learning, 47
participants to reengage or prevented from disengaging
• Overall funding for this tender is £150,000
The ITTs
– Adults
NW/A/S19
NW/A/S20
NW/A/S21
NW/A/S22
Cheshire and Warrington - the
sustainable Employment Programme
Cumbria - The Sustainable
Employment Programme
Greater Manchester - The
Sustainable Employment Programme
Lancashire - The Sustainable
Employment Programme
Priority 1 – Adults
The Sustainable Employment Programme
Local Employment Partnerships (LEP): a new way of giving
250,000 of Jobcentre Plus overlooked and priority
customers the opportunity to acquire the skills needed to get
into work and develop skills to stay and progress into work.
• The LSC procures pre-employment training where the
training need arises from a LEP
• In addition to the pre-employment training the LSC wishes
to link this training to post-employment training funded by
Train to Gain
• Together these elements configure the Sustainable
Employment Programme
Priority 1 – Adults
The Sustainable Employment Programme
This requires that providers will also either hold a Train to
Gain contract:
– Directly with the LSC,
– As a sub-contractor, or will
– Operate in partnership with a provider holding a Train to Gain
contract.
Priority 1 – Adults
The Sustainable Employment Programme
The SEP must be a bespoke programme of pre and postemployment training which may incorporate or link with
some or all components of existing LSC provision such as:
• The employability skills programme
• Skills for Jobs
• ESF funded activity including pre employability and pre
Train to Gain
• Employer responsive provision i.e. Sector employability
toolkits, Train to Gain and Apprenticeships.
Priority 1 – Adults
The Sustainable Employment Programme
• Outputs: individuals engaged in pre-employment training
• Results:
– Entry to job with training
– Sustained employment at 13 weeks
• Overall funding for tenders
–
–
–
–
Cheshire and Warrington
Cumbria
Greater Manchester
Lancashire
£421,002
£214,194
£2,106,599
£832,008
The ITTs
– Employer
North West including Halton - Skills
NW/E/S17 Pledge Plus
North West including Merseyside
NW/E/S18 Phasing-In Area NVQ Level 4
North West including Merseyside
Phasing-In Area - Vocationally
NW/E/S19 Relevant Second NVQ Level 2
Priority 2 – Employers
• The objective is to increase the skills of the workforce and ultimately to increase
productivity
• A third of employees in the NW do not hold a Level 2 or equivalent and there are
significant Skills for Life needs in the region especially numeracy
• NW employers on average demonstrate a lower propensity to invest in training than
employers in other regions
• ITTs focus on building capacity, workforce skills and Merseyside-specific provision
Aim of Skills Pledge Plus
Northwest including Halton – Skills Pledge Plus
Activity funded is intended to stimulate and address demand for workforce development
amongst employers across the region through commitment to the Skills Pledge.
The funds will be used to incentivise employers to sign the Skills Pledge by providing
funded additional learning and skills provision not accessible through other routes eg Train
to Gain
• Results: 1,000 employers completing Stage 4 of the Skills Pledge
Allocations for
Skills Pledge Plus
A total of £1,350,000 is available over 3 years
Sub-regional split
– Cheshire and Warrington
- £236,250
– Cumbria
- £121,500
– Greater Manchester
- £621,000
– Lancashire
- £358,425
– Halton
- £12,825
Priority 2 – Employers
Northwest including Merseyside – NVQ Level 4
• Activity aims to support employers in the Northwest to develop their workforce and to
raise regional skills levels
• Delivery of the full NVQ Level 4 qualification, primarily for employees who do not
already hold an NVQ Level 4 or equivalent, but who hold a full NVQ Level 3.
Employees without a Level 3 but for whom a Level 4 is appropriate should be supported
as ‘level 4 jumpers’ through mainstream Train to Gain.
• This can be delivered across all sectors but LSC will prioritise funding for qualifications
in regional priority sectors contained in the ITT.
Priority 2 – Employers
Northwest including Merseyside – NVQ Level 4
Outputs:
North West including Halton
• 880 starts on NVQ Level 4
• Initial assessments including identification if SfL needs
• Production of individual learning plans reflecting outcome of information, advice and
guidance
Results
• 572 of learners achieving and NVQ Level 4
Priority 2 – Employers
Northwest including Merseyside – NVQ Level 4
Sub-regional split
A total of £1,555,000 for the Northwest including Halton
– Cheshire and Warrington
- £272,477
– Cumbria
- £141,338
– Greater Manchester
- £708,349
– Lancashire
- £403,087
– Halton
- £30,000
Priority 2 – Employers
Northwest including Merseyside – Vocationally
Relevant Second NVQ Level 2
• Activity aims to support employers in the Northwest to develop their workforce
• Delivery of vocationally relevant second NVQ Level 2 qualification, at a subsidised cost to
the employer.
• This can be delivered in any sector where there is demand, subject to the employer
committing to provision of first NVQ Level 2 for eligible employees.
Priority 2 – Employers
Northwest including Merseyside – Vocationally
Relevant Second NVQ Level 2
Outputs: North West including Halton
• 6200 starts on NVW Level 2 including NVW Level 3 ‘jumpers’
• Initial assessments including identification if SfL needs
• Production of individual learning plans reflecting outcome of information, advice and
guidance
Results: North West including Halton
• 4,340 of learners achieving NVW Level 2 or NVQ Level 3 for L3 ‘jumpers’
• Progression to NVQ Level 3 where this is appropriate for the learner
Priority 2 – Employers
Northwest including Merseyside – Vocationally
Relevant Second NVQ Level 2
A total of £6,044,404 for the Northwest including Halton
Indicative allocations:
– Cheshire and Warrington
- £936,883
– Cumbria
- £604,440
– Greater Manchester
- £2,780,426
– Lancashire
- £1,571,545
– Halton
- £151,110
The ITTs
– Other/ Community Grants
Other
Lancashire - Community Grants
NW/OTHER/S05 Co-ordinating body
Cumbria - Skills for Jobs For
NW/OTHER/S06 Offenders
Other/ Community Grants
Lancashire Community Grants co-ordinating body
• The LSC will manage Community Grants in the Northwest
(excluding the Merseyside ‘phasing in’) area
• Seeking a grants administrator for Lancashire
• Total of £442,397 available in 2008-2010
• To issue small community based organisations who would not
normally access ESF – maximum grant £12k
Other/ Community Grants
Cumbria – Skills for Jobs for Offenders
• Activity aims to support offenders in order to gain sustainable work following the Skills
for Jobs routways.
• Strategic aims to support the delivery of an integrated employment and skills system
known as ‘Skills for Jobs for Offenders’.
• Supporting offenders who reside in Cumbria and serve sentence entirely in the
community or will return to Cumbria once their sentence has been completed.
Other/ Community Grants
Cumbria – Skills for Jobs for Offenders
Outputs:
• 94 offenders supported,
• 65 progressions from Skills for Jobs Stage 3 to Stage 4
Results:
• 28 offenders entering employment with training,
• 23 continuing in employment with training after 13 weeks
• 19 offenders in employment after 6 months
• 42 economically inactive participants engaged in job search activity or further learning.
Funding available:
• £138,762
The ITTs
– Mainstream Provision
» Apprenticeships
» Train to Gain
» E2E
» ESP
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships develop employee skills through a blend of on the job training, classroom
learning and workplace experience. For information about each Apprenticeship framework
see www.apprenticeships.org.uk
The LSC wished to receive offers to provide Apprenticeship education and training to
learners and will fund the knowledge-based (depending on the framework) competencebased and key skills elements of Apprenticeships.
Apprenticeships
Response to National ITT
To respond you must complete the National Questionnaire available with this ITT on
BRAVO under the reference ITT_28197. The completed questionnaire must be uploaded
as an attachment to the national Apprenticeship ITT.
Apprenticeships
Response to Regional ITT
To respond you must complete the Regional Questionnaire and the Regional Proposed
Provision Spreadsheet which can be found on BRAVO under the reference ITT_28206.
Each of your responses must be uploaded as attachments to the Technical Envelope of the
regional ITT to where it apples. Completed questionnaire must be uploaded as an
attachment to the national Apprenticeship ITT.
• Funding available: up to £10,350,000 (inclusive of additional learning support funds)
This includes a minimum commitment of £350,000 to support Programme-Led
Apprenticeships for Adults (25+) in Regional Economic strategy priority sectors.
Train to Gain (TtG)
TtG aims to help employers in England of all sizes and in all sectors to improve the skills
of their employers in order to improve their business performance.
TtG funding is available for education and training where the employer’s skills needs match
defined national and regional skills priorities.
The programme provides a publicly-funded contribution to employee education and training
to allow employees to achieve ‘Skills for Life’, a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) at
Level 2 or 3.
For more information see www.traintogain.gov.uk
Train to Gain (TtG)
Commissioning route: Commissioning and OCT run parallel, so any existing TtG provider
wishing to expand delivery significantly (above 20% starts and outcomes) needs to respond
to the ITT.
Providers delivering Apprenticeships may also seek to negotiate TtG provision through the
planning route but the LSC might not be able to meet providers aspirations in terms of
TtG volumes.
Through OCT contracts are available for 3 years, through commissioning only for one year
in duration.
Given the above, Work based Learning providers are advised to respond to the tender.
Train to Gain (TtG)
Response to National ITT
In the NW £47m is available for 2008/09 to existing providers through negotiation, with
£100m additional funds available for 2008/2009 – 2010-11 through competitive tendering.
For information on current rates visit
http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/funding-policy/traintogain/
To respond to the ITT
• Complete the National Questionnaire available with this ITT on BRAVO under the
reference itt_28100
Train to Gain (TtG)
Response to Regional ITT
A total of £100,000,000 is available across all strands (SfL, NVQ2, NVQ3) over a 3 year
period.
To respond to the ITT
• Complete the Regional questionnaire and the Regional Proposed Provision Spreadsheet
which can be found at BRAVO under itt_28092
• Each of the responses must be uploaded as attachment to the Technical Envelope of the
Regional ITT to which it applies.
Entry to Employment (e2e)
e2e aims to assist young people who are not yet ready to access apprenticeship, FE or
employment through a personalised programme of tailored support to engage in Post 16
learning opportunities.
The main target group being those not in education, employment or training (NEET).
All e2e learners must be able to access:
• Basic & Key skills appropriate to their need
• Vocational development
• Personal & social Development
• For further guidance: http://e2e.lsc.gov.uk/documents/TheFramework-For-Entry-To-Employment-Programmes.htm
Entry to Employment (e2e)
There is a National e2e tender and the Northwest has five ITTs for e2e one per local LSC
area. Each local area annex will further detail sub-are requirements.
• Total funding £37 million per year for 3 years.
• Start date 1 August 2008 end date 31 July 2011
• Deadline for responses: 28 May 2008 at 16.00
Application form – the
technical bit
Location of ITTs
• ESF ITTs can be found at the LSC website:
http://www.lsc.gov.uk/regions/NorthWest/tendering/ESFProvisionMarch
2008.htm
• ITTs can be accessed through the BRAVO portal To view the tenders you need to have
a PQQ, log in to the portal and:
–
–
–
–
–
Click on My ITTs
Choose the heading of the ITT you would like to respond to
Click on the ITT NUMBER
Click on settings, buyer attachments and messages – right hand side
Click on buyer attachments
Location of ITTs
To view a tender
• Attachments include:
– Read me first
– Education and Training contract for services
– Specifications for each project in the ITT (tenders)
» Questionnaire document and spreadsheet for each project in the ITT (application forms)
– Jargon Buster
– Kite marks
How to respond to a tender
To respond to a tender:
• You can ‘reply’ or ‘reject’ the ITT (give reason for rejecting)
• Click on the ‘Reply’ link to complete your ITT response
• Complete the online questionnaires in the Technical and Commercial Response screens
• In the Technical Response screen, attach a completed questionnaire document and
spreadsheet for each project in the ITT that you are bidding for
– Further instructions are included in the ‘Read me first’ document in the ITT
Messaging service
To view messages:
• Click on the number of the ITT you wish to respond to
• On the left hand side click on the ‘Settings, Buyer Attachments & Messages’ tab.
• Click on messages.
To send a message (regarding ITT content):
• On the same screen, click in the created message link, underneath the list of messages.
To send a message (regarding BRAVO portal/techcnial difficulties):
• Email BRAVO solutions directly on [email protected]
Application form – the actual
form and tendering process
Questionnaires
(tender/application forms)
• The questionnaires are not the same for each activity field.
There are small variations between them (refer to the
scoring table in your packs).
• As you complete the forms make sure formatting is not
altered as they might get rejected by the system.
• There is a maximum character limit for each section and
sub-section. Failure to comply could affect the way in
which your tender is marked.
Questionnaires
(tender/application forms)
• The questionnaires (word and excel documents) have 7
sections altogether, some with more than one subsections.
• Different marks have been allocated between the sections,
some have higher mark allocation and minimum
thresholds and some are more crucial than the others.
• There is a minimum quality threshold for some subsections under Section 1. Please note that any tenders
that fail to meet the minimum quality threshold for any of
the sub-sections of Section 1 will not continue to be scored
by the assessment panel.
Questionnaire Sections
• Section 1 – Activity Arrangements and Delivery
Arrangements
• Section 2 – Management Arrangements
• Section 3 – Added Value and Value for Money
• Section 4 – Track Record
• Section 5 - Cross Cutting Themes and Exit Strategy
• Section 6* – Output and Outcome Profile
• Section 7* – Funding Cost
* These sections are found on the separate excel spreadsheet
Questionnaire Sections
Section 1
Activity Summary and Delivery Arrangements
Activity overview
Service requirements
Definition of target groups
Engaging and meeting needs*
Employer needs and local economy*
Contribution to local strategies*
Partnership working
Scores
min max
no
no
8
12
4
6
4*
6*
4*
6*
4*
6*
8*
* These sub-sections do not appear in every
questionnaire and scores vary too
Questionnaire Sections
Section 2
Management arrangements
Delivery Mechanisms
Quality of provision
Timescales and milestones
Management and monitoring
Scores
min max
9
5
6
6
Section 3
Added Value and Value for Money
Value to activity in geographic location
Value for money
Scores
min max
8
6
Questionnaire Sections
Section 4
Track Record
Management and delivery record
Working in geographic location
Working with target groups
Working with sectors and employers*
Scores
min max
12
6
12
6*
* These sub-sections vary from questionnaire to
questionnaire and scores vary too
Questionnaire Sections
Section 5
Cross cutting themes and exit strategy
Equal opportinities
range of needs
project design and delivery
EO policy plan and impact
marketing and publicity
Sustainable development
Exit strategy
Scores
min max
3
3
3
3
4
4
Questionnaire Sections
Section 6
Output and Outcome profile
Output and Outcome profile
Scores
min max
10
Section 7
Funding Cost
Funding Cost
Scores
min max
5
Tendering Process
• Basic Checks – Technical/Commercial Parameters
• Evaluation
• Contract Award Panel
• Debrief
• Appeals Procedure
Contact details
• FAQ uploaded at LSC’s website and updated on Tuesday and Thursday every week:
http://www.lsc.gov.uk/regions/NorthWest/tendering
• For questions regarding content of tenders: use BRAVO messaging system
• If you require any assistance use the online messaging service, or the BravoSolution help
desk is available Mon – Fri (8am – 6pm) on:
email: [email protected]
Phone: 0800 011 2470 / Fax: 020 7080 0480
Hints and tips
Why do tenders fail?
• First stage checks (submission past deadline, incomplete
sections, sections missing, incorrect forms etc)
• There is not enough money for all tenderers
• The question asked is not the question which is being
answered
• Project does not match the specification
• Statements made by the tender writer are not
backed/justified by evidence
Tender writers assumptions
Tenderer makes assumptions:
• What is written is needed
• What is written is appropriate to what is being asked for
• What is written is obvious to the appraiser
• The appraiser has prior detailed knowledge of the
project/organisation/activity
The reality: what will
appraisers be looking for
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Does the evidence provided and research undertaken
indicate that this project is needed?
Will the activity proposed by the project address the
need?
Is project activity suited to the target group?
Will the project complement other activities in the same
area?
Does the project represent value for money?
Is there a better option?
Does the track record of the organisation reflect this
assessment?
Examples from poor bids
• We will deliver a customised programme that is tailored to the
needs of the individual as a result of in-depth initial assessment.
• A wide range of training programmes will be offered.
• Previous courses have been well attended.
• A network of links already exists.
• A variety of organisations will be approached.
• The Steering Group will meet regularly to evaluate the success
of the project.
• The project will be closely monitored by the Area Manager.
• This project is closely aligned to the Tender Specification.
What impression does that
project give?
• The project has not been thought through
• They are trying to squeeze a project into the tender
specification
• They don’t have the capability to deliver
Hints and Tips
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Do not make assumptions
Avoid jargon – assume the reader knows nothing
Answer the question that is asked
Read the guidance
Answer all the questions as fully as you can
Ensure your project matches the specification
Do not write something you can not deliver
Quote your track record relevantly
Questions ?
GET IN TOUCH!
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