Decision details

The procurement process commenced with supplier engagement on 14th June 2023 where we requested bidders to complete an interest and feedback form to understand the current market conditions and potential interest.

The GMCA issued an open procurement exercise via an ITT on 7th June 2023 with a return date of 12th July 2023. By the deadline on The Chest, 3 bidders submitted a response and were taken through to the evaluation stage. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation process was undertaken.

The table on the attached decision notice outlines the overall outcomes of the grant allocation process.

Following a competitive call for competition process, GMCA wishes to award a contract for services of £500,000 (10% of the contract value) for the GMCA Community Grants Managing Agent (MA) to Workers’ Educational Association. This forms part of the delivery of the GM Multiply Scheme, Adult Education Budget and UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Greater Manchester. Delivery will take place from October 2023 and all contract activity must conclude by 31 March 2025.

The Managing Agent (MA) will receive a management fee of £500,000 to administer grant funding to organisations. However, the total grant funding which will be available to organisations is worth £4,555,300.00. This means that total budget for this project is £5,055,300.00.
The Managing Agent will flow through this grant funding to organisations who will submit bids in response to “call for applications” and claim this spend retrospectively from GMCA on a quarterly basis.

GMCA will pay for actual spend related to the award of grants on production of the following
1. Quarterly reporting, which will include
a. Project title
b. Financial value
c. Organisation awarded
d. Brief description of the project
e. Current progress
2. Evidence provided will include
a. Invoices from Grantees
b. Completed subsidy checklist
3. GMCA will also sample check additional evidence on a regular basis to see defrayed expenditure