--- title: "Soft Market Testing ? Adult Learning in Merton" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-5282bf90-adc8-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-5282bf90-adc8-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-5282bf90-adc8-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-5282bf90-adc8-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "LONDON BOROUGH OF MERTON" published: "2016-11-18" --- # Soft Market Testing ? Adult Learning in Merton Buyer: LONDON BOROUGH OF MERTON Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-5282bf90-adc8-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-5282bf90-adc8-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-5282bf90-adc8-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b.json) ## Summary The London Borough of Merton is initiating a soft market testing process for their adult education services, with the title "Soft Market Testing – Adult Learning in Merton." This procurement falls under the education and training services industry category, specifically aimed at commissioning a range of courses valued at approximately £1.5m per annum. The soft market testing will occur in two phases: direct one-to-one contact with interested providers and a focused bidders' day scheduled for 4th May in the Merton Council Chamber. The deadline for expressing interest is 1st May, 2015. This tender presents an excellent opportunity for businesses specialising in education and training services, particularly those experienced in delivering community learning and adult skills programmes. Providers that focus on areas such as arts, employability training, and healthy living would be particularly well-suited to engage with this tender. Participating in the soft market testing could help organisations gain insights into the commissioning structure and expectations of the London Borough of Merton, paving the way for potential partnerships in the upcoming formal Invitation to Tender later in the year. ## Notice The London Borough of Merton are seeking to commission their adult education service. We anticipate this being a commissioning exercise with a number of lots within them and a total commissioned value of around PS1.5m per annum. As a first step we are launching a period of soft market testing and looking to talk to interested providers. We are looking for providers to deliver courses in the borough of Merton against the following Skills Funding Agency funding areas: * Specialist Arts * Towards Independence and other courses for those with learning difficulties or disabilities * Employability * Family English Maths and Languages * Wider Family Learning * Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities * Skills for Life * Healthy Living * Creative Arts * Business The funding will be for both Community Learning and Adult Skills Budget. Through this soft market testing process we are looking to test the enthusiasm and capacity of providers, to understand how we should structure the potential lots we would commission against and to understand the expectations from providers about the use of council assets as part of service provision. We intend to conduct this soft market testing exercise in two parts: 1) One to one contact with interested providers. This will include both an electronic questionnaire sent to any interested parties and face to face conversations 2) A focused bidders day to be held on the 4th May. Further details will follow but we have scheduled this to take place between 11am and 2pm in the Merton Council Chamber. We intend to publish the outcome of this process and proceed in a fair, open and transparent manner towards a formal Invitation to Tender later in the year. If you are interested in taking part in this Soft Market Testing exercise please contact Simone Buratti by e-mail simone.buratti@merton.gov.uk or on 0208 545 4148. Please note that a maximum of 2 representatives from each provider will be able attend the Soft Market Testing event. Additional information: The London Borough of Merton are seeking to commission their adult education service. We anticipate this being a commissioning exercise with a number of lots within them and a total commissioned value of around PS1.5m per annum. As a first step we are launching a period of soft market testing and looking to talk to interested providers. We are looking for providers to deliver courses in the borough of Merton against the following Skills Funding Agency funding areas: Specialist Arts Towards Independence and other courses for those with learning difficulties or disabilities Employability Family English Maths and Languages Wider Family Learning Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities Skills for Life Healthy Living Creative Arts Business The funding will be for both Community Learning and Adult Skills Budget. Through this soft market testing process we are looking to test the enthusiasm and capacity of providers, to understand how we should structure the potential lots we would commission against and to understand the expectations from providers about the use of council assets as part of service provision. We intend to conduct this soft market testing exercise in two parts: 1) One to one contact with interested providers. This will include both an electronic questionnaire sent to any interested parties and face to face conversations 2) A focused bidders day to be held on the 5th May. Further details will follow but we have scheduled this to take place between 11am and 2pm in the Merton Council Chamber. We intend to publish the outcome of this process and proceed in a fair, open and transparent manner towards a formal Invitation to Tender later in the year. If you are interested in taking part in this Soft Market Testing exercise please contact Simone Buratti by e-mail simone.buratti@merton.gov.uk or on 0208 545 4148. Please note that a maximum of 2 representatives from each provider will be able attend the Soft Market Testing event. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/558da212-0ef7-4a28-aefe-f266beb77d82 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 18 Nov 2016 | | Submission deadline | 1 May 2015 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 3 May 2015 - 4 May 2015 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1,500,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | LONDON BOROUGH OF MERTON | | Locality | MORDEN | | Post town | Sutton | | Postcode | SM4 5DX | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI6 Outer London - South | | ITL 3 | TLI63 Merton, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton | | Local authority | Merton | | Electoral ward | Merton Park | | Westminster constituency | Wimbledon | | Delivery location | TLI London | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 80 - Education and training services ### Codes - 80000000 - Education and training services - 80400000 - Adult and other education services ## Release History - 18 Nov 2016 at 20:17 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/558da212-0ef7-4a28-aefe-f266beb77d82 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/558da212-0ef7-4a28-aefe-f266beb77d82 22nd April 2015 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.londontenders.org/procontract/supplier.nsf/frm_opportunity?OpenForm&contract_id=CONTRACT-9VND-ZSFW9G Provider contract link ## Notice URLs - https://www.londontenders.org/procontract/supplier.nsf ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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