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European Social Fund 2007

European Social Fund 2007-2013 -  Co-financing

This pages covers the following information:

Background Information about ESF
Information about Learning and Skills Council and ESF Information about DWP, Jobcentre Plus and ESF
Update on  procurement round Autumn 07 DWP's procurement timetable
Details of ESF/Mainstream Procurement round January 08

Background Information

The European Social Fund is one part of the Competitiveness and Employment Programme for 2007-2013.  For an overview and further background information  please access the EU Funds overview page.  The following page gives some brief information and signposts to further sites for information about co-financing.

The overall objective of the programme is to support sustainable economic growth and promote social inclusion by contributing to policies that increase the employment rate and developed a skilled and adaptable workforce.  The programme has 3 priorities:

Priority 1 - Extending employment opportunities; helping the unemployed and economically inactive people enter jobs especially those at a disadvantage in the labour market

Priority 2 - Developing a skilled and adaptable workforce; improving the skills of the current and potential workforce with an emphasis on reducing the numbers of those without basic skills or qualifications.

Priority 3 - Technical Assistance - This funding is aimed at supporting the delivery of the programme

In the 2007-2013, both the Learning and Skills Council and Jobcentre Plus will act as Co-financing Orgnanisations (CFOs) and manage the spending of ESF funding under Priority 1 and 2.  Both organisations will do this by inviting potential contractors to complete a Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) and those successful at this stage will be invited to tender against project specifications and finally a contract will be awarded to a successful tenderer.

Both organisations are looking to contract with a lead or prime contractor who may or may not sub contract elements to other organisations.  Further details are provided through the links below.

The following table summarises the timetable involved for both organisations' processes and gives links to further information by clicking on the organisation name: 

Learning and Skills Council

Link to the LSC's website can be accessed here Learning and Skills Council

Update on the ESF Procurement Round (September 2007)

Submissions are in the process of being scored/moderated and initial decisions will go to an internal contract awards panel scheduled for mid March.

Applicants will be advised of decisions by end March via the Bravo Solutions website (date tba).

Details of ESF/Mainstream Procurement round (January 2008)

The 2008-09 Mainstream Provision Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) was published on the Bravo Solution website on 31st January 2008.

The website address for interested providers is https://lsc.bravosolution.com/. New providers will need to register their company details and receive a password from Bravo before they can view the PQQ detail.

The advert can be viewed at the LSC website http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/provider-procurement/ and a copy of the advert was placed in TES on February 1st.

If providers contact the LSC please note:

* All technical queries regarding the e-tendering portal should be directed to help@bravosolution.co.uk

* All queries relating to the content of the PQQ should be directed to the Bravo message board. This is important to ensure that a consistent response is given to all providers

Planned timetable:

31st January 08 PQQ launch
3rd March 08 PQQ closing date
28th March 08 ITT issued to pre-qualified providers
Early April 08 Regional Open Suppliers’ Meetings
9th May 08 Deadline for receipt of tenders
20th June 08 Notification of ITT results
30th June 08 Contract Award

Providers who submitted and were SUCCESSFUL at PQQ stage in September 2007 do not have to complete a new PQQ.

Providers should be encouraged to take this opportunity to check that their previous response contains accurate and current details.

Providers should also indicate which provision they wish to be invited to tender for by completing the ‘Expression of Interest’ section and where appropriate, update the information provided in September 2007 e.g. new set of accounts or Ofsted report.  

Providers who submitted and were UNSUCCESSFUL at PQQ stage in September 2007 do have to complete a new PQQ.

Providers who submitted a PQQ in March 2007 but did not successfully update in September 2007 do have to complete a new PQQ

All providers should read and understand the ‘Read Me First’ document prior to completing their PQQ response 

(link - http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/lsc/National/READ_ME_FIRST_-_Jan_2008.pdf ).

Providers who are successful at PQQ will be invited to tender for all the areas in which they expressed an interest. The following table show the themes and programme areas that providers can express an interest i

 

Young People

14-16 Key Stage 4 
Entry to Employment (E2E) 
Specialist provision 
Young Apprenticeships 
16-18 Apprenticeships 
LLDD 

 

Adult

19-25 Apprenticeships
25+ Apprenticeships 
Adult Safeguarded Learning (including PCDL) 
Skills for Jobs 
Train to Gain 
Employability Skills Programme (ESP) (specifically for JCP) 

 

Stand Alone

Community Grants 
OLASS

Department for Work and Pensions

Updated 5/12/07 Information on the successful shortlisted bidders is now available from the DWP website.  Details cover the contact details of the organisations and the project specifications that they are interested in.  Events are also being arranged regionally to assist with networking amongst providers.  Details of these events can be found on the same link.

DWP
Activities Dates
PQQ published 3rd October 07
PQQ Briefing Events 8th-19th October 07
Return of PQQ 2nd November 07
Bid assessment complete 30th November 07
Announcement of short listed bidders in each district 3rd December 07
Invitation to tender (ITT) published 3rd December 07
ITT Provider Workshops 5th -14th December 07
Return of Tenders 4th February 08
Tender Assessments complete 14th March 08
Announcement of preferred bidder(s) in each district 17th March 08
PTC and Contract Award 7th April 08
Contracts go-live 23rd June 08

 

 

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