ESCC - DR - Skills Bootcamps

The delivery of Skills Bootcamps which are flexible short vocational courses designed to improve the skills of the workforce in key sectors. They are offered to adults aged 19 and over.

There will be 17 lots in total to deliver specific learning provision in the vocational areas listed within the Invitation to Tender (ITT) document (document 2). There are a total of 17 contracts that may be awarded.

Each contract is initially a 1-year contract subject to extension and subject to funding/performance.

As stipulated in the specification, the Council is seeking one provider per lot. Providers may bid for more than one lot. No provider will be contracted to deliver more than a maximum of eight lots. Please refer to document 12 for information.

Full details of the required Services are set out in the service specifications.

The Council is conducting this procurement within the requirements of the Light Touch Regime of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI2015/102). The process has a reduced tender period of 21 days (instead of the standard 28 days); and shall run as a single stage open tender.

The Council reserves the right to not observe a standstill period. If the Council decides to observe a standstill period, the Commissioners will follow a 10-day standstill period which shall commence the day after the Commissioners send out notices confirming their decision to award the Contract. Following the completion of a 10-day standstill period, the Commissioners will award the Contract.

This procurement is subject to confirmation of DfE Government Funding. If funding is reduced, suspended, reclaimed or withdrawn by Government, ESCC may choose to withdraw certain lots and/or reduce or modify the size of lots.

Additional information: There are three (3) corrections to the original tender notice (Ref: 2025/S 000-005847). (The link is https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005847-2025)

Under Lot 13 (section II.2.4): the word "Butchery" should have read "Animal Care" in line with the specification issued with the tender..

Under Lot 14 (section II.2.4.): the word "Animal Care" should have read "Butchery" in line with the specification issued with the tender.

This contract is funded annually by the Department of Education with the expectation that Milestones 1 and 2 are completed by 31st March 2026. Providers must achieve Milestone 3, however, within six months after the training has finished as detailed in the specification issued with the tender. The maximum Contract Year 1 end date is therefore 30 September 2026. This will also apply to Contract Year 2 and Contract Year 3, subject to confirmation of funding.

Therefore, under section II.2.7 the date "31 March 2028" should have read "30 September 2028".