Decision details
ESF Skills for Growth Commissioning – CPD for Allied Health Professionals (AHP) contract award
Decision Maker: Chief Executive Officer GMCA & TfGM
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Purpose:
GMCA have run a competitive process and the
University of Salford (working in partnership with The Christie)
submitted the only bid which was scored at 45% (see D3 form for
full breakdown)
The bidder was given substantive feedback which included a
face-to-face meeting at Churchgate House and was asked to resubmit
their response to questions 4, 5, 6 and 7 as well as resubmitting
their financial annex with an operating profit of less than 20%.
They submitted this response within the timescale provided and the
revised responses were re-scored by the same evaluation
panel.
Despite the responses to questions 4, 6 and 7 being scored as good
or acceptable, there were still issues with the financial value for
money, in particular the financial annex around calculations being
incorrect, values in different tabs not aligning and a lack of
understanding about the progressions aspect of the contract.
As a third and final chance, the bidder was asked to clarify their
position on the financial annex and financial value for money
response by resubmitting a financial annex and narrative alongside
this. We realise that a lot of time and resource has gone into
supporting the provider to get their bid to a place where it can be
awarded as we recognise the significant value of the activity that
will be delivered, both to GM’s AHP workforce and
importantly, its service users.
A final response was received by the bidder on 5th September. This
has been scored and moderated again and it is felt that there are
still some challenges with the financial annex, including some
calculations being incorrect and some costs not being attributed
for in the correct tabs. Therefore, the decision has been made to
make a conditional award offer to the University of Salford, based
on a set of conditions being met by them prior to contract award.
The conditions are set out in Annex 1.
Decision:
Following a competitive procurement process
using GMCA’s Education Work and Skills Flexible Procurement
System, GMCA wishes to conditionally award a £1,199,112
contract to the University of Salford. This is part of the Skills
for Growth programme and focuses on skills in the Healthcare
(specifically for individuals working in Allied Health Professional
roles ) sector in GM.
Delivery is expected to start no later than end of October 2022,
enrolments must finish by end of July 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.
Alternative options considered:
To not award the contract at all, resulting in
the provision of training for individuals working in AHP roles
across Greater Manchester not being funded and therefore not being
able to access important upskilling opportunities. It was felt that
the need for the training was such as that it was necessary to
support the bidder to submit a response which could be
awarded.
Publication date: 13/09/2022
Date of decision: 13/09/2022
Effective from: 21/09/2022