Notice to Providers
Please see below the text of a letter from the Learning and Skills Council.
8 February 2008
Dear Colleague,
Information concerning LSC tendering for Careers Information and Advice Services
I am writing to let you know about the Careers Information and Advice competitive procurement process that was launched on 17 January 2008.
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has invited expressions of interest for the supply of Careers Information and Advice services for adults from organisations already receiving LSC funds as well as organisations interested in offering LSC-funded services for the first time.
We will use this process to start the reshaping of services, in preparation for the ambitious plans for the new adult advancement and careers service (aacs); and we will continue to work closely with our partners and stakeholders as we develop the new service.
Background
The LSC currently funds face-to-face information, advice and guidance services for adults under the nextstep brand through 47 contracts, which run until July 31 2008. The existing contracts have been in place for four years, originally extended from three, and now the LSC has a legal obligation to commission future services through an open and competitive tendering process.
It is important that adults can continue to access careers information and advice services as we trial and develop the new adult advancement and careers service; and this procurement provides us with an opportunity to introduce some changes to the service that will help us prepare for the introduction of an adult advancement and careers service in 2010-11.
Contract Information
Contracts will be awarded for two years from August 2008 to July 2010. Please note that we are aware that there may be a need for some flexibility with the start date of the contracts for those involved in the Third Sector (voluntary or non-profit organisations).
Each LSC region will tender for a Prime Contractor (with the exception of the North West Region where there will be two Prime Contractors). There will be a national specification for the service, which will also reflect regional requirements and needs within the parameters of this national specification.
Two-Stage Tendering Process
We will be operating a two-stage process comprising a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) and an Invitation to Tender (ITT). Only those potential suppliers who are successful at the PQQ stage will be invited to submit an ITT.
The contract notice is published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU, formerly OJEC), http://ted.europa.eu under the title Careers Information and Advice Services.
Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)
The PQQ was launched on 17 January 2008 and will close on at 4pm on 18 February 2008. All applicants will be directed to the LSC e-tendering service Bravo, at https://lsc.bravosolution.com
Any applicant questions relating to the procurement process will be managed through the Bravo messaging service.
Invitation to Tender (ITT)
There will be a single national ITT that will be published on 17 March 2008, with regional supplier meetings being held during that week for those applicants successful at PQQ stage. The invitation to tender will close on 23 April 2008 and contracts will commence on 1 August 2008.
You may also be interested in attending the National IAG Conference which, although not focusing on procurement, may provide useful context and background information for the service. The conference takes place on 28 February 2008 in Central London. Details can be found at www.livegroup.co.uk/iag2008.
We have written to all current providers of the service and you may also wish to publicise this opportunity to your networks through your newsletters and other communications as you feel appropriate
If you would like more information please contact Karen Milner at LSC National Office at karen.milner@lsc.gov.uk.
Yours sincerely
Louise Proctor
Lifelong Learning Director
Learning and Skills Council
Learning Group
Cheylesmore House
Quinton Road
Coventry
CV1 2WT
T: 024 7682 3484
M: 07867 500759
E: Louise.Proctor@lsc.gov.uk