Somerset Community Learning

The purpose of this notice is to notify the market of delivery of education and training to adult learners' resident in Somerset, through a single ESFA funded Community Learning contract for services.

The existing ESFA funded Community Learning contract for services in Somerset will come to an end on 31 July 2021. As a result, a competitive procurement exercise under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 for a single ESFA funded Community Learning contract for services has been completed. The contract will start on 1 August 2021 and cease on 31 July 2022. Subject to the outcome of the Further Education reform White paper, and affordability, the ESFA may include a right to extend the contract for a limited period.

The procurement will be open to providers who are seeking to deliver education and training provision funded by ESFA Community Learning to adults' resident in Somerset. Providers do not need to be listed on the Register of Training Organisations as this is due to be decommissioned. Providers will need to meet the quality standards that will be set out in the procurement documents.

The procurement will fund:

• delivery of ESFA funded Community Learning services to adult learners' resident in the geographical area of Somerset only. ESFA funded Community Learning funding is focused on people who are disadvantaged and least likely to participate in learning, including those in rural areas and people on low incomes with low skills. For many learners, this is a first step towards further learning, voluntary work and / or paid employment.
• delivery in Somerset only, which is comprised of a two-tier non-metropolitan county, administered by Somerset County Council and five district councils. The five districts of Somerset are West Somerset, South Somerset, Taunton Deane, Mendip, and Sedgemoor (please note this does not include coverage within the 2 unitary authorities of North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset).
• any Contractor to whom we award a contract must provide flexible timetabling and modes of teaching and learning (for example, evening classes, bite sized delivery, and drop-in sessions) to attract those furthest from learning, and/or with mild to moderate mental health issues or other disadvantages