Local Employability Flexible Framework

East Renfrewshire Council is inviting tenders, from suitably qualified companies to support a wide range of employability programmes. This is a flexible framework that will be re-opened at least annually.

The MASTER ITT MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE MOVING ONTO LOTS YOU WISH TO BID FOR

Bidders can apply for one or more lots available. There are no restrictions on how many lots you wish to bid for.

A position on the framework does not guarantee work will be awarded. Call-off contracts will be made on both an annual and requirement-by-requirement basis throughout the duration of the framework. Providers who have been awarded positions on the framework will not be formally ranked and call-off contracts will be awarded through either a mini-competition or a direct award. It is expected that mini-competitions may be undertaken where multiple providers can meet the requirement, while direct awards may be undertaken where a single provider can meet the requirement. Ultimately, however, the decision to run either a mini-competition or a direct award is within the sole discretion of the council.

The Lots available are subject to securing funding. ERC reserves the option to deliver some of these services in-house

This Lot aims to support jobseekers from priority groups by addressing employability needs and issues before they become more challenging. These issues can present at various points in people’s lives, including when people leave education or when people suddenly become unemployed. Individuals often face multiple barriers to participation such as a lack of education skills and work experience; issues around transport or care/childcare responsibilities; poor mental health and wellbeing and sometimes systemic barriers, like discrimination or bureaucratic obstacles. Interventions and support therefore need to be personalised to each individual.

Working in partnership, we are seeking a range of diverse interventions to effectively engage with those furthest from the labour market, supporting individuals with multiple and often complex support needs. Services being procured will include motivation, confidence, personal development, one to one support, mentoring, group work, core skills, health, wellbeing and financial support interventions. It is envisaged that some structured, accredited and project-based activities will also be required.

Providers will be required to demonstrate significant levels of understanding and experience in successfully identifying the barriers that affect people’s participation in employability support, together with detail around a range of strategies and approaches that they would then employ to help people tackle barriers. Providers should also be able to demonstrate the impact of the support that their work has had on participants.

A position on the framework does not guarantee work will be awarded. Call-off contracts will be made on both an annual and requirement-by-requirement basis throughout the duration of the framework. Providers who have been awarded positions on the framework will not be formally ranked and call-off contracts will be awarded through either a mini-competition or a direct award. It is expected that mini-competitions may be undertaken where multiple providers can meet the requirement, while direct awards may be undertaken where a single provider can meet the requirement. Ultimately, however, the decision to run either a mini-competition or a direct award is within the sole discretion of the council.

The Lots available are subject to securing funding. ERC reserves the option to deliver some of these services in-house

Contract Duration 36 months with a further 2 x 12 months option to extend.

Estimated value below includes the contract duration and the 2 x 12 month option to extend. At the initial opening and each subsequent reopening of this opportunity, all Tenderers must score at least 35% of the total available marks in the technical evaluation. Tenders that fall below this threshold or fail any Mandatory Pass/Fail requirement will be deemed non-compliant and excluded from commercial evaluation.

RE- OPENING OF FLEXIBLE FRAMWORK AGREEMENT - This will at least annually with more frequent opening to be considered by the Environment Dept Employability. Re-opening will be at the sole discretion of the Environment Dept Employability with interested providers required to complete pre-qualifying information.

Prompt Payment-The successful tenderer shall, as a condition of being awarded the contract, be required to demonstrate to the council's satisfaction that all funds due to the tenderer's permitted sub-contractors in respect of these services are paid timeously and that as a minimum invoices rendered by subcontractors shall(unless formally disputed by the tenderer)be paid within 30 days

of receipt. The successful tenderer shall also impose this condition on its subcontractors in respect of payments due to any sub-sub-contractors, if any.

The Council reserves the right to request copies of insurance certificates from bidders at any point during the contract period. Failure to supply the information within timeframe requested may result in your bid being rejected & the Council proceeding with the procurement exercise to the next appropriate bidder. Additional information pertaining to this contract notice is contained within the Tender documents. Applicants must ensure they read in line with this contract notice

Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in regulation 8 and 9 of the Prcurement (Scotland) Regulations 2016.

The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 30597. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343

Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/

A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:

Community Benefits will apply where a supplier has been successfully awarded contracts that have an accumulated annual value of 50,000 GBP and over. At the end of each financial year a review of the level of work commissioned to each supplier will be conducted. The number of community benefits points will be determined and the supplier contacted to agree the community benefit outcomes and delivery method. There is no limit to the Community Benefit that a tenderer may offer and the total Community Benefit Points may exceed the stated expectation. Bidders should be aware that failure to agree outcomes and delivery method may impact on the work commissioned through the framework for the following years. If you are successful in the award of this contract you will be required to communicate / meet with East Renfrewshire Council to finalise the delivery of the benefits that you are offering under this framework.

Please provide a method statement on how you will actively delivery Community Benefits as part of this contract. Please include within your answer details of the types of community benefits you would aim to deliver, your ability to report regularly on all progress made and the contract details of the individual responsible for delivering Community Benefits. Please note the maximum score that can be achieved for the Community Benefit Outcomes is the figure stated in the ITT.