National Fast Track Child and Family Social Work Training Programme

The Authority wishes to procure a supplier to design and deliver a high quality, specialised, fast track child and family social work education programme with the objective of enhancing the knowledge and skills most needed in front line child protection social work, and providing a pipeline of high-quality social workers across English Local Authorities ("LA").

The successful Contractor will be responsible for the recruitment, training and support of Participants to enable them to become effective and specialised child and family social workers. This is in furtherance of the Government's aim to ensure that there is a highly capable social worker for every child and family in England who needs one. The Programme will commence on or around 1 September 2023 and last for an initial period of up to 3 cohorts, lasting up to a maximum of 5 years each, with the first cohort of participants qualifying between September 2025 and Aug 2026 and each cohort running concurrently. The option to extend by up to 2 additional cohorts will be solely at the Authority's discretion and will be subject to satisfactory Contractor performance, Ministerial approval, and the availability of funding.

The key objectives and service lines to be delivered by the Programme are set out in paragraphs 2.4 and 2.5 of Volume 0 (Introduction and Overview of the Procurement) of the Procurement Documents.

Amendment (05/08/22) - As a result of a review of the Authority's Funding Model it came to light that certain costs had not been included in the Funding Model. The amendments set out in this notice rectify and resolve this situation.

Additional information: Additional information: 1. The Services that are the subject of this procurement are captured by PCR 2015 Chapter 3, Section 7 (Social and Other Specific Services); the so called "Light Touch Regime. 2. The Authority is procuring this requirement using the Competitive Procedure with Negotiation ("CPN") as set out in Regulation 29 but with amendments. A CPN would usually be conducted by way Potential Suppliers submitting an SSQ. Following the evaluation of those SSQs, shortlisted Potential Suppliers would be invited to submit their Initial Tender, and these would be evaluated prior to negotiation commencing. Whilst the Authority intends to conduct this procurement process in accordance with those principles, in the sequencing in which it will undertake evaluation of SSQs and thereafter Initial Tenders, Potential Suppliers should note that, in this instance, they will be required to submit their Initial Tender with their SSQ Response and by the same deadline. 3. The Authority intends to run a Potential Supplier Event and capability events in the weeks commencing 6th and 13th June 2023. Details of how to register for the potential supplier event can be found @ https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dfe-fast-track-to-social-work-procurement-launch-event-tickets-344231645117. Details for how to register for the capability events can be found at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dfe-ftsw-capability-session-pricing-schedule-tickets-344234814597 and https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dfe-ftsw-capability-session-negotiation-and-technical-questions-tickets-344237432427. 4. Potential Suppliers are referred to the Procurement Documents accompanying this Contract Notice for additional information on this procurement and in relation to this Contract Notice. 5. Tenders and all supporting documentation for the Contract must be in English and priced in sterling. 6. The Authority will not be liable for any bid costs, expenditure, work or effort incurred by a Potential Supplier in proceeding or participating in this procurement, including if the procurement process is terminated or amended by the Authority. 7. The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulation 2006 may apply to these Services. Potential Suppliers should refer to paragraph 10 of Volume 2 (ITPN) for further information. 8. The Authority reserves the right to withdraw from or discontinue the procurement process, which shall include the right to not award the Contract as a result of this call for competition. 9. HM Government requires that contracts awarded by Government Departments with a value exceeding 10000 GBP are published online (http://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder). The Authority may use its discretion to redact information to protect key commercial interests or on prescribed grounds (see Volume 1 (SSQ Instructions for Potential Suppliers) in the Procurement Documents).