---
title: "SWAP Consortium"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02bbd8"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02bbd8"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02bbd8.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02bbd8.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY"
published: "2021-11-23"
---

# SWAP Consortium

Buyer: WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02bbd8

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## Summary

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is conducting a public procurement process titled "SWAP Consortium" focused on the education and training services sector. Located in Birmingham, this tender is currently in the 'Award' stage, with a total budget of £9 million allocated for the Sector Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAP) initiative over three years. The tender is open for submissions until 28th June 2021, with a virtual Q&A session scheduled for 3pm on 22nd June to clarify any queries from prospective bidders. The procurement method is a selective process, employing competitive dialogue to ensure a robust selection of the Lead organisation for the SWAP consortium.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in education and training, particularly those with experience in developing and delivering short occupational-specific training programmes. Organisations able to provide tailored training plans in partnership with employers and demonstrate a high job outcome rate would be particularly well-suited to compete for this contract. With a performance-based approach to contract extensions and additional funding contingent on success, this procurement provides a pathway for training providers to expand their offerings and engage more effectively in regional workforce development initiatives.

## Notice

Through this tender exercise the WMCA is seeking to appoint a Sector Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAP) Lead organisation to develop a SWAP consortium of providers who will deliver the provision across the area for WMCA residents in line with our SWAP ambition. The SWAP Lead will develop a service where its provider members will bring forward applications, underpinned by agreement with the employer, setting out a training plan and the number of the jobs available delivering a job outcome rate of a minimum 65% at 13 weeks.The WMCA will make available PS3m on annual basis over a 3-year period which means that the total investment is up to PS9m. Contracts will be extended on annual basis subject to performance. Further in-year investment in the SWAP Consortium could take place based on performance. There is a virtual Q/A Session scheduled for 3pm, Tuesday 22nd June, see the PQQ Letter for more details.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) became responsible for the Adult Education Budget (AEB) for its residents from 1st August 2019. Devolved AEB provides funding for adult skills delivery, for residents (aged 19 and over) of the West Midlands' seven constituent areas (Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton).As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic the Universal Credit (UC) claimant rate continues to rise across the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) area, this is against a backdrop of an already high unemployment rate in the West Midlands compared to other regions. To respond to the pandemic, the WMCA is planning to increase its investment in Sector Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) to support both its residents back into work and employers in using SWAP as a recruitment solution.SWAP is a DWP (The Department for Work and Pensions) defined programme that the WMCA funds and delivers through its AEB funding. At present the WMCA invests in SWAP via its current provider base including colleges and local authorities through grant, and through Lot 1 Independent Training Providers (ITP's) contract for services.SWAP programmes are short sharp programmes lasting no longer that 6-weeks for unemployed individuals. The SWAP programme is developed around the job vacancy/vacancies provided by the employer, and the individual will receive occupational specific pre-employment training, work experience and a guaranteed interview at the end of the training for an actual vacancy.Through this tender exercise the WMCA is seeking to appoint a SWAP Lead organisation to develop a SWAP consortium of providers who will deliver the provision across the area for WMCA residents in line with our SWAP ambition. The SWAP Lead will develop a service where its provider members will bring forward applications, underpinned by agreement with the employer, setting out a training plan and the number of the jobs available delivering a job outcome rate of a minimum 65% at 13 weeks.The WMCA will make available PS3m on annual basis over a 3-year period which means that the total investment is up to PS9m. Contracts will be extended on annual basis subject to performance. Further in-year investment in the SWAP Consortium could take place based on performance. There is a virtual Q/A Session scheduled for 3pm, Tuesday 22nd June, see the PQQ Letter for more details.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029133-2021 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Competitive dialogue |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 23 Nov 2021 |
| Submission deadline | 28 Jun 2021 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 23 Nov 2021 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £9,000,000 |
| Lots value | £9,000,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £9,000,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY |
| Additional buyers | EUROPEAN UNION |
| Locality | BIRMINGHAM |
| Post town | Birmingham |
| Postcode | B19 3SD |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands |
| ITL 3 | TLG31 Birmingham |
| Local authority | Birmingham |
| Electoral ward | Newtown |
| Westminster constituency | Birmingham Ladywood |
| Delivery location | TLG3 West Midlands |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | BCTG |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80000000 - Education and training services

## Release History

- 23 Nov 2021 at 11:52 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029133-2021
- 14 Jun 2021 at 17:00 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013413-2021

## Notice URLs

- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/schoolsbuyingclub
- https://www.wmca.org.uk/

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02bbd8. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02bbd8.json.