Decision details
ESF Skills for Growth Commissioning – Digital Skills for Growth & Productivity contract award
Decision Maker: Chief Executive Officer GMCA & TfGM
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: No
Purpose:
MCA have run a competitive process and
NWSA’s submission scored highly after evaluation.
1 submission was received and was sent to a full evaluation panel.
The submission was checked by GMCA’s Information Governance
Team and was found to be acceptable. The finances of the bidding
company were also checked, along with the safeguarding policy
submitted.
The Invitation to Tender comprised of 3 parts, covering (75%)
Quality, (15%) Social Value and (10%) Price.
The Successful provider’s scores were deemed acceptable and
comprehensive throughout their submission and offered an
economically advantageous tender. Despite being the only bid, the
evaluation panel felt that NWSA’s scores were sufficient for
the procurement process to continue without reopening this tender
to the market. The panel were pleased with the bidder’s
delivery model, along with their responses looking at engagement
and stakeholder management, as well as performance management and
monitoring.
In addition, NWSA’s bid included a strong supply chain
including Appretify, The Coders Guild, Growth Company, Back 2 Work,
Manchester Digital, and UK Skills Academy. The panel felt that this
supply chain is well thought through and will be able to deliver
the content of this programme under NWSA as Prime.
Following the moderation, NWSA were invited to a clarification
meeting to allow the panel to receive some additional details
around their bid. This included gaining a further understanding of
topics including the provider’s approach to their delivery
model; supply chain queries; employer involvement. Following this
meeting, the panel were satisfied that the moderation scores were
accurate, and NWSA should be awarded the ESF Skills for Growth
Commissioning – Digital Skills for Growth & Productivity
contract.
Decision:
Following a competitive procurement process
using GMCA’s Education Work and Skills Flexible Procurement
System, GMCA wishes to award a £2m contract to North West
Skills Academy (NWSA). This is part of the Skills for Growth
programme and focuses on Digital Skills for Growth &
Productivity.
Delivery is expected to start no later than end of October 2021,
enrolments must finish by end of March 2023, and all contract
activity and support must conclude by the end of September 2023.
Exceptional performance may result in discussions around extension
option being implemented.
Publication date: 01/10/2021
Date of decision: 01/10/2021