T2689 - Framework Agreement for the Delivery of Various Employability and Skills Requirements

Belfast City Council requires agile and flexible Employability and Skills solutions to be able to respond to challenges and opportunities within the labour market.

Sufficient flexibility within the delivery of Employability & Skills interventions is required to take account of:

• a)Emerging needs.
• b)New initiatives and areas of development e.g. skills interventions within the Local Economic Partnership, Labour Market Partnership etc.
• c)Specialist employability and skills delivery.
• d)To test new areas of work as agreed.
• e)Sectors that are not covered within the current Employment Academy Framework (T2474)
• f)To pick up overflow of delivery if the current Contractors on T2474 are working to full capacity

On this basis, the Council is setting up an "Open Framework", which would allow an open, fair, and transparent way of procuring the above services in the most efficient way possible.

There will be no guarantee of any work for those Contractors on the new Open Framework, and any future call-offs will not be initiated until the following happens sequentially (which is designed to provide budgetary control):

1. Workplan and budget approval.
2. When agreed, a direct award or mini-competitions will then undertaken.
3. Delegated authority approval prior to awarding the call-off contract.

An Open Framework will provide an opportunity for SMEs and Social Enterprises/Not-for-Profits to secure a place on the Framework, with the opportunity re-opening at various stages for new entrants to apply/re-apply.

The Framework will be split into 5 Lots:

1. Lot 1 – Care Sectors (Health/Social Care/Education/Playwork/Childminding)
2. Lot 2 – Customer Services (Leisure/Hospitality/Retail/Tourism/Beauty)
3. Lot 3 – Practical Sectors (Transport/Green Economy/Construction/Manufacturing)
4. Lot 4 – Professional and Business Services Sectors (Business/Technology)
5. Lot 5 – Employability Support (language/Soft Skills/Capacity Building)

The Council intends that this Framework Agreement will form part of a scheme of successive framework agreements on substantially the same terms (the “Open Framework Scheme”). The total duration of the Open Framework Scheme shall not exceed 8 years from the commencement date of the first framework awarded under the scheme.

The Open Framework is intended to commence in October 2026 and will be awarded for an initial period of two years until October 2028. Full details on the Framework period can be found in the ITT document.