WMCA Technical Education , Skills and Employment Support Flexible Procurement System- Application 2

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-04d687-2026-01-16T11:59:37Z",
    "date": "2026-01-16T11:59:37Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-04d687",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-04d687",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        },
        "title": "WMCA Technical Education , Skills and Employment Support Flexible Procurement System- Application 2",
        "status": "active",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "80000000",
            "description": "Education and training services"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "description": "This notice is being used to inform the market of Application 2 of the Flexible Procurement System (FPS) for Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support by West Midlands Combined Authority. WMCA have opted to establish an FPS under the Light Touch Regime rules, within the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR, 2015) to deliver our Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support services provision. An FPS is an overarching agreement that allows FPS Providers who are admitted onto it to subsequently compete for Call-off Contracts through further competitions. It operates in a similar way to a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) but will have set windows for evaluation of Applications to join. This will allow WMCA to continually expand our network of providers and welcome new FPS Providers that are able to meet our requirements for the duration of the FPS. The FPS will offer an expedient route to market and direct access to the provider base for WMCA's Skills and Employment Support requirements. The refresh of this route to market has been made in order to align with WMCA's Employment and Skills Strategy and to streamline the bidding process for employment and skills providers. Through engagement with key stakeholders, WMCA identified where improvements could be made to the Adult Skills DPS for the benefit of WMCA, our providers and our residents. The FPS will include five categories of delivery, linked to pillars within the Employment and Skills Strategy. In order to be included on 4 of the categories, Applicants will be required to demonstrate their understanding and capability of delivering in those category areas. The categories will include; - Building strong and inclusive communities - Providing a good education up to level 2 - Moving residents into employment and supporting career progression - Meeting future skills needs at level 3 and above through upskilling and reskilling - Innovation Although this FPS is established in order to facilitate immediate and easy access to the Adult Skills and Employment Support Market, WMCA will not be mandated to use it for every requirement. It is the Authorities attention that Call-off Competitions will be ran under this FPS in order to find suitable FPS Providers to deliver individual Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support provision Call-off Contracts. Call-off Contracts will be awarded to the successful FPS Provider/s in line with the award criteria stated in the Call-off ITT documents, which will be formulated using the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) principle, comprising of Technical, Commercial and (if applicable) Social Value criteria. The deadline for submission of initial applications is Tuesday 31st March 2025 at 12:00pm. As this is an open opportunity, applications may be submitted between 16/01/2026 and 31/03/2026 (12:00pm). While the e-tendering system will allow applicants to update their submission after it has been submitted, please note that WMCA will evaluate applications on a \"first submission received\" basis. Only the initial submission will be evaluated. Any updates or amendments made after submission may not be considered or evaluated. Applicants are therefore strongly advised to submit their application only once it has been fully finalised.",
        "value": {
            "amount": 1000000000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "Every part of the region should have a strong local offer of numeracy, literacy, language and digital skills for communities that supports good health & well-being, builds confidence, improves inclusion & integration, develops key life skills and prepares learners for employment, self-employment or further learning. A place-based approach should ensure a focus on first engagement opportunities for communities under-represented in learning and disadvantaged in the labour market, providing a clear pathway towards level 2. This offer will take place in community settings as short first steps provision with a progression pathway onto an Adult and Community Education Service.",
                "status": "active",
                "title": "Building strong and inclusive communities",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "endDate": "2029-02-23T23:59:59Z"
                },
                "hasRenewal": false,
                "submissionTerms": {
                    "variantPolicy": "notAllowed"
                },
                "hasOptions": false
            },
            {
                "id": "2",
                "title": "Providing a good education up to level 2",
                "description": "Every part of the region should have a strong local offer that provides any residents who need it with a good education up to level 2. This should include: A comprehensive offer of high quality, locally available opportunities to improve literacy and numeracy, including through statutory entitlements e.g. Functional Skills Qualifications A purpose-driven offer of English language learning up to level 2 that supports the cultural capital, social capital and vocational development of learners as they improve their language skills A digital skills offer that helps residents access online support services needed for health, welfare, training or employment Integrating vocational training at level 2 as a component to support progression to further learning, work or in-work progression. This should target those occupations where high vacancy demand exists, where there is a greening of job roles to support net zero and in occupations likely to have a higher proportion of workers without qualifications The offer should be relevant and adaptable to the 47% of adult residents without foundation skills qualifications who are in work. Flexible and accessible delivery models should enable learners to study alongside wider commitments. Strong partnership arrangements and personalised support should ensure clear progression pathways into level 2 provision or good work. A place-based approach should ensure a focus on those areas/people with the lowest skill levels and lowest levels of participation in adult education.",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "endDate": "2029-02-23T23:59:59Z"
                },
                "hasRenewal": false,
                "submissionTerms": {
                    "variantPolicy": "notAllowed"
                },
                "hasOptions": false,
                "status": "active"
            },
            {
                "id": "3",
                "title": "Moving residents into employment and supporting career progression",
                "description": "Every part of the region should have a strong into-work offer aligned to local labour market opportunities. This should include provision that supports: young people to transition into the labour market unemployed adults into good work economically inactive adults into the labour market, including those who have a health condition or disability in-work progression out of low pay, including for those in the gig economy and on zero hours contracts people in employment, experiencing systemic disadvantage due to disabilities, gender, ethnic background or other characteristics retraining for career change, including for those without good foundation skills Working with specialist providers and in partnership with employers, the offer will deliver the skills that businesses need, providing clear progression pathways into good work alongside effective wraparound support for learners. The offer should include flexible delivery models that are accessible for residents who work shifts or who can only attend at weekends and/or evenings. A place-based approach should ensure a focus on those areas/people with high levels of labour market insecurity, including unemployment, inactivity, in-work poverty and/or risk of redundancy.",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "endDate": "2029-02-23T23:59:59Z"
                },
                "hasRenewal": false,
                "submissionTerms": {
                    "variantPolicy": "notAllowed"
                },
                "hasOptions": false,
                "status": "active"
            },
            {
                "id": "4",
                "title": "Meeting future skills needs at level 3 and through upskilling and reskilling",
                "description": "Every part of the region should have a higher-level skills offer aligned to regional economic priorities. This should include: A strong and broad offer at level 3, accessible to those in employment and affordable for those in low paid work A flexible modular offer at level 4/5 aligned to the requirements of businesses, to support retraining or career progression An accessible leadership and management offer at level 4 and above that supports SMEs to improve productivity and growth and is targeted on residents currently under-represented in L&M training Working with universities, colleges, specialist providers and in partnership with employers, the offer will serve the growing requirement for higher level skills across the region - to strengthen business, improve productivity and attract inward investment. The offer should be accessible for those in work, with more part-time, evening, weekend and hybrid delivery to fit around work and wider commitments of learners. A place-based approach will ensure that higher-level skills opportunities are closely aligned to local/regional economic opportunities and strategies, including Plan for Growth and Investment Zones.",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "endDate": "2029-02-23T23:59:59Z"
                },
                "hasRenewal": false,
                "submissionTerms": {
                    "variantPolicy": "notAllowed"
                },
                "hasOptions": false,
                "status": "active"
            },
            {
                "id": "5",
                "title": "Innovation",
                "description": "Every part of the region should have a higher-level skills offer aligned to regional economic priorities. This should include: A strong and broad offer at level 3, accessible to those in employment and affordable for those in low paid work A flexible modular offer at level 4/5 aligned to the requirements of businesses, to support retraining or career progression An accessible leadership and management offer at level 4 and above that supports SMEs to improve productivity and growth and is targeted on residents currently under-represented in L&M training Working with universities, colleges, specialist providers and in partnership with employers, the offer will serve the growing requirement for higher level skills across the region - to strengthen business, improve productivity and attract inward investment. The offer should be accessible for those in work, with more part-time, evening, weekend and hybrid delivery to fit around work and wider commitments of learners. A place-based approach will ensure that higher-level skills opportunities are closely aligned to local/regional economic opportunities and strategies, including Plan for Growth and Investment Zones.",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "endDate": "2029-02-23T23:59:59Z"
                },
                "hasRenewal": false,
                "submissionTerms": {
                    "variantPolicy": "notAllowed"
                },
                "hasOptions": false,
                "status": "active"
            }
        ],
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "80000000",
                        "description": "Education and training services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKG"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKG"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKG"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            },
            {
                "id": "2",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "80000000",
                        "description": "Education and training services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKG"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKG"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "2"
            },
            {
                "id": "3",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "80000000",
                        "description": "Education and training services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKG"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKG"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "3"
            },
            {
                "id": "4",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "80000000",
                        "description": "Education and training services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKG"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKG"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "4"
            },
            {
                "id": "5",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "80000000",
                        "description": "Education and training services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UKG"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "UKG"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "5"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2025-02-17T00:00:00Z"
        },
        "coveredBy": [
            "GPA"
        ],
        "lotDetails": {
            "maximumLotsAwardedPerSupplier": 5
        },
        "submissionMethod": [
            "electronicSubmission",
            "written"
        ],
        "submissionMethodDetails": "https://wmca.bravosolution.co.uk/go/5876175501949857BCCF",
        "selectionCriteria": {
            "criteria": [
                {
                    "type": "suitability",
                    "description": "Selection Criteria for inclusion on this FPS can be found in '2. WMCA Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support FPS-Application Guidance Document'",
                    "appliesTo": [
                        "supplier"
                    ]
                },
                {
                    "type": "economic",
                    "description": "WMCA requires its FPS Providers to be in a healthy financial position, therefore a Credit Check will be undertaken on Applicant's using Creditsafe. Applicant's are also required to not have any overdue debt with either West Midlands Combined Authority or the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) / Department for Education (DfE)",
                    "minimum": "A Credit Score of 30 and above and the absence of any overdue debt owed to WMCA or ESFA/DfE will confirm that you meet the economic and financial standing requirements.",
                    "appliesTo": [
                        "supplier"
                    ]
                },
                {
                    "type": "technical",
                    "description": "4 questions will be used to evaluate a provider's technical and professional ability to deliver Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support provision. These questions can be found at Questions 3.3(a) to 3.3(d) of '3. WMCA Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support FPS-Selection Questionnaire'",
                    "minimum": "Applicants will be required to achieve a total score across all questions of 20 or above in order to meet the minimum threshold for technical and professional ability",
                    "appliesTo": [
                        "supplier"
                    ]
                },
                {
                    "type": "suitability",
                    "description": "Selection Criteria for inclusion on this FPS can be found in '2. WMCA Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support FPS-Application Guidance Document",
                    "appliesTo": [
                        "supplier"
                    ]
                },
                {
                    "type": "economic",
                    "description": "WMCA requires its FPS Providers to be in a healthy financial position, therefore a Credit Check will be undertaken on Applicant's using Creditsafe. Applicant's are also required to not have any overdue debt with either West Midlands Combined Authority or the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) / Department for Education (DfE)",
                    "minimum": "A Credit Score of 30 and above and the absence of any overdue debt owed to WMCA or ESFA/DfE will confirm that you meet the economic and financial standing requirements.",
                    "appliesTo": [
                        "supplier"
                    ]
                },
                {
                    "type": "technical",
                    "description": "4 questions will be used to evaluate a provider's technical and professional ability to deliver Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support provision. These questions can be found at Questions 3.3(a) to 3.3(d) of '3. WMCA Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support FPS-Selection Questionnaire'",
                    "minimum": "Applicants will be required to achieve a total score across all questions of 20 or above in order to meet the minimum threshold for technical and professional ability",
                    "appliesTo": [
                        "supplier"
                    ]
                }
            ]
        },
        "procurementMethod": "open",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
        "techniques": {
            "hasDynamicPurchasingSystem": true,
            "hasFrameworkAgreement": true,
            "frameworkAgreement": {
                "periodRationale": "This procurement is for application round 2 of the dynamic purchasing system."
            }
        },
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-03-31T12:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "submissionTerms": {
            "languages": [
                "en"
            ]
        },
        "hasRecurrence": false,
        "awardPeriod": {
            "startDate": "2026-01-16T12:00:00Z"
        },
        "bidOpening": {
            "date": "2026-01-16T12:00:00Z",
            "description": "The deadline for submission of initial applications is Tuesday 31st March 2025 at 12:00pm. As this is an open opportunity, applications may be submitted between 16/01/2026 and 31/03/2026 (12:00pm). While the e-tendering system will allow applicants to update their submission after it has been submitted, please note that WMCA will only evaluate applications on a \"first submission received\" basis."
        }
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-2655",
            "name": "West Midlands Combined Authority",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "West Midlands Combined Authority"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "16 Summer Lane",
                "locality": "Birmingham",
                "region": "UKG",
                "postalCode": "B19 3SD",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "telephone": "+44 3453036760",
                "email": "marie.bradbury@wmca.org.uk",
                "url": "https://wmca.bravosolution.co.uk/go/5876175501949857BCCF"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.wmca.org.uk/",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "REGIONAL_AUTHORITY",
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Regional or local authority"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "01",
                        "scheme": "COFOG",
                        "description": "General public services"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-136415",
            "name": "https://wmca.bravosolution.co.uk/go/5876175501949857BCCF",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "https://wmca.bravosolution.co.uk/go/5876175501949857BCCF"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "16 Summer Lane",
                "locality": "Birmingham",
                "region": "UKG",
                "postalCode": "B19 3SD",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "william.pemberton@wmca.org.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "processContactPoint"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.wmca.org.uk/"
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-17574",
            "name": "West Midlands Combined Authority",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "West Midlands Combined Authority"
            },
            "address": {
                "locality": "Birmingham",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "roles": [
                "reviewBody"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-FTS-2655",
        "name": "West Midlands Combined Authority"
    },
    "language": "en",
    "description": "WMCA will be holding a virtual Market Engagement Event via Microsoft Teams on 25th February 2025 from 1-2pm. The aim of the event is to provide further information on the TESES FPS, including; * An introduction to the FPS * Our Strategy * The FPS Specification * How to apply to join the FPS * Question and answer session If you are interested in attending, please use the below link to register your attendance. Once registered, you will then be sent the link to join the event. We strongly advise that you attend this event if you are interested in applying to join the FPS, however, if you are unable to attend, the session will be recorded and shared along with the slides afterwards. https://assets-gbr.mkt.dynamics.com/a3b85b0d-c453-4680-af2a-330420e03125/digitalassets/standaloneforms/3ee9558e-e002-ef11-9f89-002248c822e6?readableEventId=Market_Engagement_Event_Online_Webinar537302925 If you have any questions, please email EmploymentSkillsHealthCommunities@wmca.org.uk"
}