European Social Fund (ESF)

ESF 2011–13 (England) Support for Families with Multiple Problems provision

During April 2011 DWP made a ‘call for evidence’ for input on a number of areas of policy design for this employment focused provision.  A summary of responses to the call for evidence was published on 4 July 2011.

• European Social Fund: support for families with multiple problems - call for evidence summary of responses

On 30 June 2011 we invited eligible organisations on the framework for the Provision of Employment Related Support Services (ERSS) to tender for European Social Fund (ESF) 2011–13 provision. This tender was limited to organisations on the Employment Related Support Services (ERSS) Framework in England only (for further information on the ERSS Framework please refer to the link below in ‘Additional Information’). The evaluation of bids was conducted from September to November and contracts awarded through December 2011.

You can find Invitation to Tender (ItT) and Contracts information on the Contracts Finder website including:

• specifications
• draft terms and conditions
• invitation to tender and bidder guidance
• full details of the actual procurement timescales
• final terms and conditions and associated schedules such as order forms
• final agreed progress measures and winning tenderers’ bids on Contracts Finder.

• European Social Fund (ESF) 2011–13 Support for Families with Multiple Problems  (Business Link website – Contracts Finder).

The final version of the ItT Question and Answer Log can be viewed below:

• Question and answer log – European Social Fund (409KB)

ESF Prime Providers

The list below details those organisations who have been awarded contracts to deliver ESF 2011-13 Support for families with Multiple Problems.

Additional information

ESF 2011-13 (England) provision is the third contract to be called off the ERSS Framework following Work Programme and Mandatory Work Activity.

We established the Employment Related Support Services (ERSS) framework early in 2011 via open competition. Under EU regulations we are not able to accept new organisations onto the framework.

Organisations seeking to provide services specifically regarding ESF may find it helpful to look at the list of framework organisations and make direct approaches to them to be considered for any supply chain opportunities they may have.

More information about the ERSS Framework including the list of organisations is available on this site

• Framework for the Provision of Employment Related Support Services

Additionally the Merlin Standard website also provides information about current prime contractors to DWP. It includes a facility through which providers can exchange information with other providers, whether you are a prime contractor seeking subcontractors, or a potential subcontractor seeking to engage prime contractors.

• merlin standard

Any supplier who has an interest in working with DWP should be aware of the DWP Commissioning approach and adhere to the DWP Code of Conduct. Additional information about the Code of Conduct and the Merlin Standard is on our website. The Merlin Standard has been designed to recognise and promote sustainable excellence within supply chains and provide guidance to those seeking to achieve it.

• Doing business with DWP – code of good practice
• Welfare to Work service – subcontracting – Merlin Standard

ESF 2008-2011 contract closure question and answer log for providers - April 2011

The Q&A log (49K) referred to in Derek French's letter to providers on 25 March 2011 is now available. This will be updated as new questions are received and answered.