--- title: "Mayoral Priority Skills Fund (MPSF) Phase One Evaluation" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-b7220fb2-e61a-4b53-8308-7d13852189fe" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-b7220fb2-e61a-4b53-8308-7d13852189fe" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-b7220fb2-e61a-4b53-8308-7d13852189fe.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-b7220fb2-e61a-4b53-8308-7d13852189fe.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "WEST OF ENGLAND COMBINED AUTHORITY" published: "2024-12-02" --- # Mayoral Priority Skills Fund (MPSF) Phase One Evaluation Buyer: WEST OF ENGLAND COMBINED AUTHORITY Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-b7220fb2-e61a-4b53-8308-7d13852189fe [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-b7220fb2-e61a-4b53-8308-7d13852189fe) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-b7220fb2-e61a-4b53-8308-7d13852189fe.json) ## Summary The West of England Combined Authority is seeking proposals for the final evaluation of phase one of the Mayoral Priority Skills Fund (MPSF). This tender falls under the "Social research services" industry category and is classified as open procurement, with a submission deadline of 20th December 2024. The evaluation will assess the fund's impact on the region and gather insights for the subsequent phase. The total allocated budget for this service is £70,000, with the contract period running from 10th January 2025 to 29th May 2026. The service will be delivered in the South West region, primarily around Bristol (BS1 6AL). This procurement offers significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in social, economic, and consultancy research services. SMEs are encouraged to participate, providing a platform to showcase their capabilities in delivering high-quality evaluations and offering value for money. By contributing to this ambitious skills fund evaluation, businesses can build a solid reputation with the regional authority and position themselves for future collaborative projects. The open procurement method ensures a competitive tendering process, giving qualified firms an equal opportunity to secure the contract. ## Notice The Mayoral Priority Skills Fund (MPSF) was created to provide flexible grant funding to meet current priority skills gaps in the region. Priorities have been identified through robust intelligence gathered through delivery of previous and existing programmes, data, reports, and gaps identified through our other services, such as Skills Connect. The aim was to have a Fund that was flexible enough to respond to identified gaps where there are no other means of funding, or to bridge gaps in funding which may otherwise lead to gaps in vital skills provision. It also aimed to enable innovation and the ability to test interventions where there are gaps. This first round of MPSF funding (known as 'phase one') consisted of PS2,580,665 from the Mayoral Combined Authority Investment Fund and PS3,200,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), providing almost PS5.8 million to address gaps in provision for the region. Phase one of MPSF commenced in July 2023 and is due to come to an end in December 2025. There are 16 projects funded under phase one. 15 projects were funded until March 2025 (known as 'call one') under several themes (see below). A few of these projects will continue to be funded until September 2025 using some underspend (known as 'continuation funding for call one projects'). A 16th project, Union Learn West, is due to start delivery imminently and will run until December 2025. Individual projects have received between PS50,175 - PS1,413,000. The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority are now looking to procure a final evaluation of phase one that looks at both the impact that phase one has had on the region, and what we can learn from the implementation and delivery models of phase one that could be fed into the implementation of phase two. The successful tenderer will deliver a final process, impact, and value for money evaluation of phase one of the MPSF to answer the research questions set out below. The evaluation will ensure useful learning is provided for the MCA but also that we well prepared to submit evidence of impact to the Government as part of future Gateway Review processes. The evaluation will take place between January 2025 and September 2026. The Mayoral Combined Authority uses ATAMIS as its e-procurement system. Suppliers will need to register at - https://weca-atamis.my.site.com/s/Welcome - to access full documents and submit proposals. Assistance in relation to the e-procurement system is available to suppliers via the Help Desk. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/51b5e177-dd4f-4d5b-9df3-345548164c84 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (below threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 2 Dec 2024 | | Submission deadline | 20 Dec 2024 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 10 Jan 2025 - 29 May 2026 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £70,000 | | 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 | WEST OF ENGLAND COMBINED AUTHORITY | | Locality | BRISTOL | | Post town | Bristol | | Postcode | BS1 6AL | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England | | ITL 3 | TLK51 Bristol, City of | | Local authority | Bristol, City of | | Electoral ward | Central | | Westminster constituency | Bristol Central | | Delivery location | TLK South West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 73110000 - Research services - 73210000 - Research consultancy services - 79311400 - Economic research services - 79315000 - Social research services - 79410000 - Business and management consultancy services ## Release History - 2 Dec 2024 at 12:15 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/51b5e177-dd4f-4d5b-9df3-345548164c84 - 2 Dec 2024 at 12:14 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6b8c465b-e871-4f98-9853-1412e5daa818 - 2 Dec 2024 at 12:06 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/0332101f-b7c6-4603-b8df-7f00fcd77092 - 2 Dec 2024 at 12:02 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/948a0e5e-d643-41eb-bb44-f80dcfc52564 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/51b5e177-dd4f-4d5b-9df3-345548164c84 2nd December 2024 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6b8c465b-e871-4f98-9853-1412e5daa818 2nd December 2024 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/0332101f-b7c6-4603-b8df-7f00fcd77092 2nd December 2024 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/948a0e5e-d643-41eb-bb44-f80dcfc52564 2nd December 2024 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder ## Notice URLs - https://weca-atamis.my.site.com/s/Welcome ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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