Summer Diversity Internship Programme Pilot

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in conjunction with Civil Service Resourcing (CSR) require external expertise to assist in provision of the Summer Diversity Internship Programme (SDIP). SDIP is managed by the CSR Fast Stream (FS) team and was launched by Cabinet Office more than ten years ago to put talented undergraduates and graduates who are from black, minority ethnic and low socio-economic backgrounds on a 6 to 9-week fully paid work placement in a government department. SDIP also offers a Coaching Programme as a follow-on, for SDIP interns interested in applying for the FS Graduate programme, designed to help prepare for the FS application process. This Contract is a One (1) year pilot to determine the effectiveness of the Coaching Programme and develop recommendations for the future of the Coaching Programme in achieving VfM. The intention is to award to a single supplier.

The maximum budget for this pilot is £100K, 25% of the available budget will be paid on a performance basis

The Contractor must have the expertise, specialist coaching and development skills specific to the needs of our target groups: 1. BAME, 2. Low socio-economic, 3. Disabled

SDIP requirements include, but are not limited to:

• Needs Assessments: Contractor to conduct ongoing needs assessment on each participant identifying individual personal developmental needs. The Contractor will conduct F2F information session to better understand the participant:
• Provide comprehensive feedback on the coaching programme through intensive 1-to-1 sessions, ongoing development support interventions as interims go through the FS assessment process
• Design/development of ‘hands on’ practice in selection methods/exercises including psychometric tests used by the majority of graduate recruiters to increase knowledge/ understanding of assessment centre process and competencies including - GROUP SESSION 1 – ON-LINE TESTS - GROUP SESSION 2 – E-TRAY - GROUP SESSION 3 – ASSESSMENT CENTRE
• Identify various activities to enthuse/motivate graduates to increase their knowledge/ learning and maintain their motivation for FS
• Provide insight/awareness of diversity issues, transform negative perceptions/stereotypes and instil confidence in undergraduates/graduates to increase aspirations
• Carry out evaluation with recommendations for participation improvement and/or innovative improvement opportunities where appropriate
• Work in partnership with CSR to implement the programme and modify the development/coaching programme following feedback
• As added value the Contractor will consider how to continue to support graduates on the programme for the first 6-12 months, possibly extending the service to new graduates on the FS and providing support to departments. If an agreed programme of work arises from this, it will be let as a separate tender exercise

Additional information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement, and the contract will be awarded on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender. Economic operators who wish to view the tender documentation electronically can do so on the Contracts Finder website: https://sid4gov.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/login HMRC is using an e-sourcing (eTendering) tool/application to allow economic operators to submit their tender. (Information about the e-sourcing application and about supplying to HMRC in general, is available on the HMRC website: www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/supplying.htm). Economic operators who require access to the online e-sourcing tool/application tender documentation including the questionnaires must send an email to e.procurement@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk any time up to, but no later than 12:00 on 24.09.2015. This email should contain:

• a.the contract reference shown in Section 8;
• b.a contact email address;
• c.a contact name; and
• d.the company name and contact telephone number.

Economic operators who have complied with the foregoing will receive details of how to access the online tender documentation. (If an email response from HMRC is not received within 1 working day of your request, re contact: e.procurement@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk (after first checking your spam inbox) notifying non-receipt and confirming when the request was first made). Online tender documentation must be fully completed (and any requested associated hardcopy documents received by HMRC) no later than 14:00 on 02.10.2015. Tender documentation not submitted in the required form (or containing the requested information) may be rejected.(When requesting access to the online Tender documentation, please notify the Authority if you have any accessibility issues (disabilities) which may prevent you from providing a high quality response using the e-sourcing application. This will then allow HMRC to agree with you an appropriate format for you to view and respond to the requirements).

All communications shall be in English. Tenders, when invited, and all supporting documentation must be priced in Sterling and all payments under the contract will be in Sterling. Any contractor agreement resulting from the Invitation to Tender will be considered as a contract made in England according to English Law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts. The Awarding Authority does not bind itself to accept any tender and reserves the right to accept any part of the tender unless the tenderer expressly stipulates to the contrary