Step Up To Social Work Cohort 10 Emerging Talent Contractor

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    "date": "2026-07-09T15:12:44+01:00",
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    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PDZG-3487-DPVD",
            "name": "Department for Education",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PDZG-3487-DPVD"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street",
                "locality": "London",
                "postalCode": "SW1P3BT",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKI32"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "Stepuptosocialwork.management@education.gov.uk"
            },
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                "buyer"
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                "url": "https://education.app.jaggaer.com",
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    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PDZG-3487-DPVD",
        "name": "Department for Education"
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    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "The Department will be holding an initial supplier engagement event on 28 May 2026 from 13:00 to 14:00 hosted virtually via MS Teams. Deadline for registering for the event on 28 May 2026 is 27 May 17:00 (BST) via Jaggaer. The event will be accessible via the 'View Opportunities' link on the Jaggaer e-Tendering portal Homepage. Select the Opportunity Notice for 'Step Up to Social Work Cohort 10 Emergine Talent Recuitment- SSQ_777 and this will take you directly to the registration page. This event is open to all potential suppliers, regardless of previous engagement with the Department. The event will provide an overview of Step up to Social work Cohort 10 and outline and upcoming market engagement activities scheduled shortly afterwards. After the event, suppliers will be invited to complete a questionnaire to register for the 1-2-1 sessions, which will take place between 1 June 2026 and 5 June 2026. Deadlines for registration for other events will be noted via the jaggaer messaging system or via the event on 28 May 2026. All correspondence will be shared via Jaggaer.",
                "dueDate": "2026-06-22T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
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                "id": "045766-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
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                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/045766-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-05-19T14:11:54+01:00",
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                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
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                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
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    "tender": {
        "id": "project_9850",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
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        "title": "Step Up To Social Work Cohort 10 Emerging Talent Contractor",
        "description": "The Department for Education (DfE) is responsible for the Step Up to Social Work (SUSW) programme and is inviting applications from suitably qualified suppliers to bid for the opportunity to be the contractor to manage the application and assessment process for Cohort 10. SUSW is an established part of the social work sufficiency pipeline, training high-quality post-graduate students to become qualified, practising social workers. SUSW is a local authority led, accelerated, practice-focused route into social work. SUSW commenced in 2010 and runs every 2 years. There have been 8 completed cohorts to date, training 3,500 Social Workers. Cohort 9 (640 students) commenced in January 2026 and will complete March 2027. Programme Scope a) Develop a marketing plan and supporting materials with clear, consistent branding, ensuring alignment across all Regional Partnerships and coherence between local communications and the national strategy to maximise impact and reach. b) Design, manage and host a web portal allowing potential applicants to; - Register interest in the programme - Access information about the programme - Complete and submit applications. - Undertake an online written assessment - Book an appointment for the assessment centre, meet and greet and applicant support sessions. -The web portal should allow for at least 5,000 applications. c) Work with the DfE and Regional Partnerships (RP) to develop web content for the platform (web content from the previous cohort can be used). d) Operate a helpline (phone and email) for candidates applying for the programme during the application and assessment window (Feb 2027 - Nov 2027). The majority of queries will happen during the application window. d) Conduct eligibility checks on all applications (the majority of checks are automated), including verifying non-UK qualifications equivalency and eligibility to live and work in the UK using Home Office \"share-code\". e) Allow Regional Partnerships to access the web portal to view/download and score applications. Allow for at least 30% concurrent users. f) Develop an applicant tracking system to manage candidates through the recruitment workflow managing at least 5,000 applications. g) Host a timed written exercise assessment on the platform. h) Host a booking process on the platform to allow applicants to book a slot for the assessment centre and manage this booking process. i) Support assessment centres in terms of providing a member of staff to support the RP in checking qualifications/directing people if required. j) Develop a candidate communications and engagement plan to keep candidates engaged and reduce drop out including notifying candidates of outcomes at each stage of the assessment process and manage the National Reserve List. k) Provision of ongoing management information on applications. l) Customer research measuring satisfaction of the recruitment process by both applicants and Regional Partnerships. Please note the following *The DfE is keen to maximise opportunities to participate in procurement for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs). Consideration will be given to consortia and collaborative bids from all forms of organisations. *All communication relating to this procurement must be submitted via the Jaggaer portal. * Please ensure you review all tender documents available on Jaggaer in full and submit any queries through the portal.",
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                        "scheme": "CPV",
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                        "description": "Social work and related services"
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                        "id": "79600000",
                        "description": "Recruitment services"
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                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
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                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
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                    {
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                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
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                        "region": "UKH",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
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                        "region": "UKC",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
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                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
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                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
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                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
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                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
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                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
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                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
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        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 550000,
            "amount": 458333,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
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                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-10-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2028-02-29T23:59:59+00:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2032-02-29T23:59:59+00:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "active",
                "value": {
                    "amountGross": 550000,
                    "amount": 458333,
                    "currency": "GBP"
                },
                "awardCriteria": {
                    "weightingDescription": "PSQ -Questions (Pass/Fail) Qualilty Requirements (100%) Pricing Requirement (0%) Overall weighting for award- Price per Qualilty Point method",
                    "criteria": [
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Q1. Attraction strategy, marketing delivery and inclusive recruitment",
                            "description": "Qualilty - 15%"
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Q2- Recruitment and Assessment Process",
                            "description": "Qualilty - 10%"
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                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Q3- Digital development and Partnerships",
                            "description": "Qualilty - 20%"
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                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Q4- Working with Regional Partnerships and the DfE",
                            "description": "Qualilty - 25%"
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                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Q5- Candidate Support",
                            "description": "Qualilty - 20%"
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                        {
                            "type": "quality",
                            "name": "Q6-Social Value",
                            "description": "Qualilty - 10%"
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                            "type": "price",
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                            "description": "Price - 0%"
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                },
                "renewal": {
                    "description": "The Department may extend the Contract for up to two additional cohorts (on a +1+1 basis) by giving not less than 90 Working Days' written notice to the Supplier prior to the Expiry Date. The extension options may be exercised separately or together, resulting in an extension of up to two cohorts. The Supplier acknowledges that, whilst the Contract includes provisions for extension for up to two additional cohorts, there may be periods during which no Services are required to be delivered, as illustrated in Document 1, 4a and 5. Suppliers should take account of any such periods when preparing and submitting their Tender. The Department makes no representation or commitment regarding the future scope, timing, commencement dates, duration, or delivery requirements of any subsequent cohorts. There may be a period between the expiry of the initial Contract Term and the commencement of any extension period. During any such period, no services shall be required to be delivered by the Supplier, and the Department shall have no obligation to make any payment or provide any funding. Any information provided in relation to future cohorts is indicative only and may be subject to change as a result of policy, funding, governance, operational requirements, or other factors. The details of any extension period and associated requirements will be discussed and agreed with the Supplier at the relevant time."
                }
            }
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        "communication": {
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        "status": "active",
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        "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
        "submissionMethodDetails": "https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html Jaggaer is the only method for submitting tenders and clarification questions. Suppliers should not make any other form of approach to the Department in connection with this procurement.",
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        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-08-06T12:00:00+01:00"
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        "enquiryPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-07-30T12:00:00+01:00"
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        "awardPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2026-09-03T23:59:59+01:00"
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        "documents": [
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                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
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            {
                "id": "064809-2026",
                "documentType": "tenderNotice",
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                "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
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