CAR - Provision of Alternative Learning System - PALS

The council and Bristol schools are commissioning the Provision of Alternative Learning for students with additional social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH). This includes full-time education as well as part-time learning opportunities and activities. Our aims and detailed proposals are set out in the commissioning plan Meeting the needs of ?pushed out? learners: education for students with additional social, emotional and mental health needs

Additional information: 1.5 It is Bristol City Councils intention to let a Pseudo DPS. Pseudo framework agreements or pseudo dynamic purchasing systems are often be used by authorities, involving a number of suppliers capable of delivering the services needed, to be called-off as and when the authority needs those services. The pseudo DPS will result in the Council having an Open Framework of providers as described in 1.6 below.

1. It is Bristol City Councils intention to let a Psuedo DPS (Open Framework) with a range of different providers, delivering part-time and full time alternative learning services to learners in key stages 1, 2, 3 and 4. The framework will be for 5 years with the option to extend for up to a further 3 years; this will be made up of 1 plus 1 plus 1 years subject to agreement of Bristol City Council with the service provider(s).

1. The Open Framework will be let on Bristol City Councils e-procurement system. The successful tenderers will be placed on the Open Framework. Both BCC and Bristol schools will be able to make placements directly with the service providers on the Open Framework. Please be aware that many, but not all schools have expressed a commitment to exclusively purchase ALP from providers on the Open Framework. However, schools may procure services elsewhere. Bristol City Council accepts no liability for any purchases schools do or do not make.

1. New and unsuccessful tenderers will have the option to apply to get on the Open Framework throughout the life of the contract.

1. The Council will be periodically evaluating the new tenderers as detailed in the Evaluation of the Tenderer Submission under Section D to allow them onto the Open Framework.

1. Alongside the Open Framework, it is the intention of Bristol City Council to let a series of block contracts as described in 3 below.

1. The Council is subject to the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and will be carrying out this procurement in accordance with the Light Touch Regime which applies to social services.

For more information, please see the tender documentation at https://procontract.due-north.com/Home/About

New and unsuccessful tenderers will have the option to apply to get on the Open Framework throughout the life of the contract.

The DPS will be open for new applications (for both LOTS) on an ongoing basis for at least the first 6 months of the contract. The initial round of applications will still be closing as previously advertised on 4th May 2016.

For the block contracts, all applications submitted before this date (4th May 2016) will be evaluated and then the Council will award block contracts and appoint successful providers to the PALS system from 6th June 2016.

For the following six months (until 31st December 2016) additional providers will be able to apply to join the framework at any time and the Council will regularly evaluate those applications. From January 2017, providers will still be evaluated on a six monthly basis.