Award for Flexible Framework for Services linked to Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC) and Pupil Equity Fund (PEF)
North Lanarkshire Council · 22 November 2022
Back to Education, Children and Families Committee — 22 November 2022 and its agenda
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North Lanarkshire Council Report Corporate Management Team Does this report require to be approved? ☒ Yes ☐ No Ref JON / TS Date 08/11/22 Award for Flexible Framework for Services linked to Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC) and Pupil Equity Fund (PEF) From Janie O’Neill E-mail oneillja@northlan.gov.uk Telephone 01698 302534 Executive Summary Education, Children & Families Committee is asked to approve the award of thirty-two (32) Contractors (as advised in Appendix 1) on to a Multi-Lot Framework for services to the “Flexible Framework for Services linked to Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC) and Pupil Equity Fund (PEF)” (the “Framework Agreement”). The Framework Agreement is for a 48-month period anticipated to commence on 12 December 2022 and end on 11 December 2026 with no option to extend. This Framework Agreement has a flexible approach, allowing for annual entry points throughout its lifetime meaning that new entrants can apply to join the Framework Agreement who were not appointed at previous entry points. The value of the Framework Agreement shall not exceed Sixteen Million Pounds Sterling (£16m) exclusive of VAT. Recommendations It is recommended that Corporate Management Team: (1) approves the award of the Framework Agreement to the various companies at the maximum value of Sixteen Million Pounds Sterling (£16m) exclusive of VAT. This recommendation follows the completion of a competitive procurement exercise where tenderers were evaluated and then ranked in accordance with overall tender evaluation score. The Plan for North Lanarkshire Priority Support all children and young people to realise their full potential Ambition statement (10) Engage with children, young people, parents, carers, and families to help all children and young people reach their full potential
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1. Background 1.1 A Framework Agreement, which supports spends (call offs) associated with the Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC) and Pupil Equity Fund (PEF) programmes, is currently in place and is due to expire on 11 December 2022. The Flexible Framework detailed within this report will supersede it, depending on approval. 1.1 During session 2022-2023 Pupil Equity Funds of £9,682,080 were distributed to primary, secondary and additional support needs (ASN) schools across North Lanarkshire. In accordance with previous practice, all funds were downloaded directly to establishments and in accordance with PEF grant conditions, establishments were also able to utilise unspent resources from the previous financial year. 1.2 The Scottish Attainment Challenge focuses on accelerated targeted improvement activity in literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing. It supports and complements the broader range of initiatives and programmes to ensure that all of Scotland’s children and young people reach their full potential. Current SAC funding is on a tapered trajectory with funding over a 5-year period outlined below: 2021/2022 2022/2023 2023/2024 2024/2025 2025/2026 £7,478,859 £6,454,948 £5,431,037 £4,407,126 £3,383,214 1.3 This Framework Agreement is to support interventions and programmes of work associated with the Scottish Attainment Challenge and Pupil Equity Fund. It was advertised as a multi-Lot Framework with ten (10) Lots: • Lot 1 – Activity Based Learning • Lot 2 – Counselling • Lot 3 – Community Engagement • Lot 4 – Mentoring, Support and Advice Services • Lot 5 – Pupil Workshops • Lot 6 – Educational Leadership (all staff) • Lot 7 – Leadership for Pupils • Lot 8 – Educational Assessments • Lot 9 – Research and Improvement Consultancy • Lot 10 – Developing the Young Workforce 1.4 Tenderers were permitted to submit a tender response for one or more Lots, or more than one service proposal within any Lot. 1.5 The Framework Agreement is available for all North Lanarkshire Council schools to use. Using the Framework Agreement as a means to contracting services from a Framework, Contractors will reduce duplication of efforts in sourcing and tendering for individual School requirements. 2. Report 2.1 Framework Details 2.1.1 A user intelligence group (the ‘UIG’) of technical and procurement representatives was formed to review technical specifications, discuss trading processes, market conditions and trends, ways to maximise community benefits and sustainability and to agree the procurement strategy that would deliver maximum benefit for the Council via the Framework Agreement.
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2.1.2 The initial estimated value of the Framework Agreement dictated that the procurement procedure be undertaken in accordance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. An advert for the contract opportunity was published on the Public Contracts Scotland and the UK Find a Tender (FTS) website. 2.1.3 The procurement procedure was undertaken as an “Open Procedure”. Based on the evaluation criteria and scoring methodology set out in the invitation to tender package within the procurement procedure, an evaluation of tender responses was completed by members identified by the UIG. Selection stage responses were assessed first and compliant tenderers that satisfied / declared that they met the published minimum selection stage criteria progressed to the award stage evaluation. Following identification of the recommended tenderer(s), their selection stage responses were assessed in more detail to ensure they satisfied the minimum selection stage criteria applied. 2.1.4 Thirty-seven Contractors submitted bids across the 10 Lots. This amounted to 82 individual proposals and each bid was evaluated in accordance with the individual Lot scoring criteria, including minimum score requirement. Lots 6 and 9 attracted no bids. 2.1.5 Appendix 2 confirms the scoring achieved by each tenderer, further details of the procurement procedure is provided in Appendix 3 and the Small, Medium, Enterprise (SME) status and location of all tenderers is located within Appendix 4. 2.1.6 The value of the Framework Agreement is Sixteen Million Pounds Sterling (£16m) exclusive of VAT. 2.1.7 The costs associated with Framework Agreement delivery will primarily be contained within the Scottish Government’s Scottish Attainment Challenge and Pupil Equity Funds, although additional call offs can be made via other funding sources within Education, Children and Families. 2.2 Price Savings / Increases 2.2.1 The Framework Agreement is not expected to deliver cashable procurement savings. 2.3 Price Stability 2.3.1 Prices submitted by tenderers shall be fixed and unchangeable for the entire duration of the Framework Agreement. 2.4 Community Benefits 2.4.1 The Council is committed to maximising the delivery of community benefits. The Framework Agreement includes a community benefit requirement, this approach is designed to deliver local community benefits where possible. 2.4.2 All tenderers confirmed their commitment to delivering community benefits once they achieve specific annual spend thresholds as prescribed by the Framework Agreement. 2.4.3 Accordingly, there is no community benefits as part of the appointment to the Framework Agreement. However, as call off contracts and annual spend thresholds are achieved, community benefits will be delivered.
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2.4.4 The community benefits delivered via a call off contract from the Framework Agreement may include the creation of jobs or apprenticeships. 2.5 Fair Work First 2.5.1 Within their tender, all tenderers are advised that they will commit to the Scottish Governments “Fair Work First” initiative should they be successful in being awarded a Call Off Contract as a result of the Framework Agreement. 2.6 Contract Strategy 2.6.1 Officers from Education and Families will be responsible for managing the Framework Agreement which will be undertaken in accordance with the Councils agreed approach to Framework Agreement and supplier management. 3. Measures of success 3.1 The Framework Agreement will deliver the following outcomes; • Engagement with the Framework Agreement and the provision of additionality and flexibility of choice for all schools in receipt of PEF funding. • The appointment of Contractors who have subject matter expertise to work with the Council and individual schools to support the SAC and PEF objectives. • Contracts awarded by the Council are compliant with procurement legislation and internal procedures. 4. Supporting documentation Appendix 1 Summary of Tenderers Identified for Appointment to the Framework Agreement Appendix 2 Summary of Tender Evaluation Process Appendix 3 Summary of Contract Award Procedure Appendix 4 SME Status and Location of All Tenderers Janie O’Neill Head of Education (South)
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5. Impacts ( http://connect/report-template-guidance ) 5.1 Public Sector Equality Duty and Fairer Scotland Duty Does the report contain information that has an impact as a result of the Public Sector Equality Duty and/or Fairer Scotland Duty? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? If Yes, has an assessment been carried out and published on the council’s website? https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/your-community/equalities/equality-and-fairer- scotland-duty-impact-assessments Yes ☐ No ☐ 5.2 Financial impact Does the report contain any financial impacts? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, have all relevant financial impacts have been discussed and agreed with Financial Solutions? Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.3 HR policy impact Does the report contain any HR policy or procedure impacts? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, have all relevant HR impacts have been discussed and agreed with People and Organisational Development? Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.4 Legal impact Does the report contain any legal impacts (such as general legal matters, statutory considerations (including employment law considerations), or new legislation)? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, have all relevant legal impacts have been discussed and agreed with Legal and Democratic Solutions? Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.5 Data protection impact Does the report / project / practice contain or involve the processing of personal data? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, is the processing of this personal data likely to result in a high risk to the data subject? Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, has a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) been carried out and e- mailed to dataprotection@northlan.gov.uk Yes ☐ No ☐ 5.6 Technology / Digital impact Does the report contain information that has an impact on either technology, digital transformation, service redesign / business change processes, data management, or connectivity / broadband / Wi-Fi? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact?
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Where the impact identifies a requirement for technology, has an assessment been carried out (or scheduled) by the Enterprise Architecture Governance Group (EAGG)? Yes ☐ No ☐ 5.7 Environmental / Carbon impact Does the report / project / practice contain information that has an impact on any environmental or carbon matters? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.8 Communications impact Does the report contain any information that has an impact on the council’s communications activities? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.9 Risk impact Is there a risk impact? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the key risks and potential impacts, highlighting where the risk(s) are assessed and recorded (e.g. Corporate or Service or Project Risk Registers), and how they are managed?
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Appendix 1 Summary of Tenderers Identified for Appointment to the Framework Agreement Tenderer Name Lot 1 Lot 2 Lot 3 Lot 4 Lot 5 Lot 6 Lot 7 Lot 8 Lot 9 Lot 10 Total Lots ACER UK International Limited 1st 1 Achieve More Scotland 2nd 1st 2 Action for Children Services Limited 3rd 1st 1st 4th 4 Barnardo's 2nd 2nd 1st 1st 4 John Dirkie trading as Beats of Brazil 15th 1 Brachan Consultancy 14th 16th 2 Foundation for Positive Mental Health 8th 8th 7th 3 Impact Arts 10th 5th 9th 8th 4 Includem 3rd 1 Liber8 Lanarkshire Ltd 2nd 1 Live-N-Learn Ltd 14th 1 Love Care 1st 3rd 3rd 3 Mind Marvels Limited 4th 7th 12th 3 New College Lanarkshire 6th 2nd 12th 3 OutLET: Play Resource 13th 4th 6th 3 Penumbra Mental Health 6th 13th 2 Place2Be 4th 1 Practically Primary Science 7th 5th 9th 3 Reeltime Music 5th 2nd 3rd 3 Right Options 11th 7th 4th 3 Routes to Work Limited 2nd 1 Lifelink 1st 1 Synergy Training Services Limited 11th 1 Teentalkscotland 3rd 1 The Catering School Limited 9th 1 The Miracle Foundation SCIO 10th 1 Therapeutic Counselling Services Limited 5th 11th 2
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The Spark 4th 1 Tigers STA Limited 6th 5th 2 Triangle Consulting Social Enterprise Limited 2nd 1 Uteach Limited Scottish Online Lessons 12th 1 Windmills Lanarkshire Limited 10th 1
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Appendix 2 – Summary of Tender Evaluation Process Lot 1 – Activity Based Learning Final Rank Tenderer Name Total Quality Weighted Score (%) (Passmark 40%) Total Tender Score (%) Recommended for Framework Agreement Award (Y / N) 1 Love Care 69.20% 91.79% Y 2 Achieve More Scotland 49.20% 79.20% Y 3 Action for Children Services Ltd 64.80% 73.78% Y 4 Mind Marvels Limited 68.00% 72.96% Y 5 Reeltime Music 52.00% 67.29% Y 6 Tigers STA Limited 59.60% 66.69% Y 7 Practically Primary Science 46.40% 65.54% Y 8 Foundation for Positive Mental Health 49.20% 62.32% Y 9 The Catering School 52.00% 61.55% Y 10 Impact Arts 52.80% 57.89% Y 11 Right Options 42.00% 57.40% Y 12 Uteach Limited Scottish Online Lessons 50.00% 56.04% Y 13 OutLET: Play Resource 43.20% 51.01% Y 14 Brachan Consultancy 42.00% 44.56% Y N/A John Dirkie trading as Beats of Brazil 15.20% Failed to meet minimum technical score requirements 23.46% N N/A CANI Coaching Limited Non Compliant Bid
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Lot 2 - Counselling Final Rank Tenderer Name Total Quality Weighted Score (%) (Passmark 40%) Total Tender Score (%) Recommended for Framework Agreement Award (Y / N) 1 Lifelink 66.80% 86.52% Y 2 Liber8 Lanarkshire 59.60% 85.79% Y 3 Teentalkscotland 59.20% 85.70% Y 4 The Spark 59.60% 84.60% Y 5 Therapeutic Counselling Services Ltd 54.40% 82.97% Y N/A Place2Be 21.60% Failed to meet minimum technical score requirements 41.06% N N/A The Miracle Foundation SCIO 15.20% Failed to meet minimum technical score requirements 38.77% N Lot 3 - Community Engagement Final Rank Tenderer Name Total Quality Weighted Score (%) (Passmark 40%) Total Tender Score (%) Recommended for Framework Agreement Award (Y / N) 1 Action for Children Services Limited 70.00% 92.38% Y 2 Barnardo’s 64.80% 92.18% Y
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3 Love Care 43.60% 73.60% Y 4 OutLET: Play Resource 52.00% 73.02% Y N/A New College Lanarkshire 29.20% Failed to meet minimum technical score requirements 40.40% N N/A John Dirkie trading as Beats of Brazil 25.60% Failed to meet minimum technical score requirements 37.30% N N/A Uteach Limited Scottish Online Lessons 24.80% Failed to meet minimum technical score requirements 32.73% N Lot 4 - Mentoring, Support & Advice Final Rank Tenderer Name Total Quality Weighted Score (%) (Passmark 40%) Total Tender Score (%) Recommended for Framework Agreement Award (Y / N) 1 Action for Children Services Limited 68.40% 93.06% Y 2 Barnardo’s 58.00% 88.00% Y 3 Includem 63.20% 82.28% Y 4 Place2Be 50.40% 66.18% Y 5 Impact Arts 54.80% 63.42% Y 6 Penumbra Mental Health 41.20% 51.58% Y
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7 Mind Marvels Limited 42.40% 50.01% Y N/A Catch Up 28.40% Failed to meet minimum technical score requirements 41.25% N N/A Uteach Ltd Scottish Online Lessons 28.00% Failed to meet minimum technical score requirements 36.75% N
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Lot 5 - Pupil Workshop Final Rank Tenderer Name Total Quality Weighted Score (%) (Passmark 40%) Total Tender Score (%) Recommended for Framework Agreement Award (Y / N) 1 Barnardo’s (Bespoke Targeted Programmes) 63.20% 90.58% Y 2 Reeltime Music 69.20% 89.58% Y 3 Love Care 55.60% 85.60% Y 4 Action for Children Services Limited 70.00% 74.52% Y 5 Practically Primary Science 48.00% 73.93% Y 6 New College Lanarkshire 61.20% 72.40% Y 7 Right Options 52.00% 72.17% Y 8 Foundation for Positive Mental Health 52.40% 70.13% Y 9 Impact Arts (Creative Connections) 59.60% 68.02% Y 10 The Miracle Foundation SCIO 59.60% 66.91% Y 11 Therapeutic Counselling Services Limited 52.80% 66.38% Y 12 Mind Marvels Limited 59.20% 66.21% Y 13 Penumbra Mental Health 52.80% 62.23% Y 14 Live-N-Learn Ltd 55.60% 60.48% Y 15 John Dirkie trading as Beats of Brazil 40.80% 52.50% Y 16 Brachan Consultancy 42.00% 45.54% Y N/A Barnardo’s (Evidence Based Universal Programmes) Non Compliant Bid N/A ENABLE Scotland Non Compliant Bid N/A Impact Arts (Art Therapy Group Work) Non Compliant Bid
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Lot 6 - Educational Leadership Final Rank Tenderer Name Total Quality Weighted Score (%) (Passmark 40%) Total Tender Score (%) Recommended for Framework Agreement Award (Y / N) N/A Place2Be 28.40% Failed to meet minimum technical score requirements 58.40% N N/A Catch Up 31.60% Failed to meet minimum technical score requirements 46.38% N N/A Macdonald Education Consultants Non Compliant Bid Lot 7 - Leadership for Pupils Final Rank Tenderer Name Total Quality Weighted Score (%) (Passmark 40%) Total Tender Score (%) Recommended for Framework Agreement Award (Y / N) 1 Barnardo’s 66.80% 96.80% Y 2 New College Lanarkshire 44.40% 55.35% Y N/A OutLET: Play Resource 36.40% Failed to meet minimum technical score requirements 44.67% N
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N/A Tigers STA Limited 32.40% Failed to meet minimum technical score requirements 42.84% N N/A Uteach Limited Scottish Online Lessons 31.60% Failed to meet minimum technical score requirements 40.35% N Lot 8 - Educational Assessments Final Rank Tenderer Name Total Quality Weighted Score (%) (Passmark 40%) Total Tender Score (%) Recommended for Framework Agreement Award (Y / N) 1 ACER International United Kingdom Limited 56.40% 65.50% Y 2 Triangle Consulting Social Enterprise Limited 49.60% 50.17% Y N/A Hodder & Stoughton trading as Hodder Education 36.80% Failed to meet minimum technical score requirements 66.80% N
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Lot 9 - Research & Improvement Consultancy Final Rank Tenderer Name Total Quality Weighted Score (%) (Passmark 40%) Total Tender Score (%) Recommended for Framework Agreement Award (Y / N) N/A Right Options Non Compliant Bid Lot 10 - Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Final Rank Tenderer Name Total Quality Weighted Score (%) (Passmark 40%) Total Tender Score (%) Recommended for Framework Agreement Award (Y / N) 1 Achieve More Scotland 56.00% 86.00% Y 2 Routes to Work Limited 70.00% 77.73% Y 3 Reeltime Music 55.60% 70.89% Y 4 Right Options 54.00% 69.40% Y 5 Tigers STA Limited 56.40% 63.49% Y 6 OutLET: Play Resource 55.20% 62.51% Y 7 Foundation for Positive Mental Health 49.20% 62.32% Y 8 Impact Arts 56.40% 60.37% Y 9 Practically Primary Science 41.20% 60.34% Y 10 Windmills Lanarkshire Limited 42.40% 60.02% Y 11 Synergy Training Services Limited 50.40% 59.06% Y 12 New College Lanarkshire 52.80% 57.59% Y
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Appendix 3 – Summary of Procurement Process Response Procurement Procedure Utilised: Open Procedure Governing Legislation / Regulations: Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 Date Strategy Approved: 29 September 2022 Date Contract Notice Published: 30 September 2022 Total Expressions of Interest Received: 73 SME % of Expressions of Interest: 84.93% NLC Based % of Expressions of Interest: 23.29% Tender Return Deadline: 24 October 2022 Number of Tenders Received: 82 Tenders - 37 Contractors Tenders Received from SME’s: 83.78% Tenders Received from NLC Based Tenderers: 27.03% Number of Non−compliant Tenders: 6 Tenders Number of Compliant Tenders: 76 Tenders Number of Recommended Tenderers: Lot 1 - 14 Lot 2 - 5 Lot 3 - 4 Lot 4 - 7 Lot 5 - 16 Lot 6 - none Lot 7 - 2 Lot 8 - 2 Lot 9 - none Lot 10 - 12 Basis of Award: Most economically advantageous tender (per lot) Quality: 70 Price: 30 Evaluation Team: Officers from Education and Families and the Corporate Procurement team Anticipated Framework Agreement Start Date: 12 December 2022 Total Contract Period (Months): 4 Years with no option to extend Annual Entry Points Maximum Total Value: £16m
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Appendix 4 – SME Status and location of all Tenderers Name of Tenderer Size of Tendering Organisation (Micro, Small, Medium or Large) Location (Local Authority / Council Area) ACER UK International Limited Small England Achieve More Scotland Small South Lanarkshire Action for Children Services Limited Large Glasgow Barnardo's Large Edinburgh John Dirkie trading as Beats of Brazil Micro West Calder Brachan Consultancy Micro North Lanarkshire CANI Coaching Limited Micro Ayrshire Catch Up Small England ENABLE Scotland Large North Lanarkshire Foundation for Positive Mental Health Micro Edinburgh Hodder & Stoughton trading as Hodder Education Medium England Impact Arts Medium Glasgow Includem Medium Glasgow Liber8 Lanarkshire Ltd Small South Live-N-Learn Ltd Micro Edinburgh Love Care Medium South Lanarkshire Macdonald Education Consultants Micro Glasgow Mind Marvels Limited Micro South Lanarkshire New College Lanarkshire Large North Lanarkshire OutLET: Play Resource Small South Lanarkshire
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Penumbra Mental Health Large Edinburgh Place2Be Large Glasgow Practically Primary Science Micro North Lanarkshire Reeltime Music Small North Lanarkshire Right Options Micro Edinburgh Routes to Work Limited Medium North Lanarkshire Lifelink Medium Glasgow Synergy Training Services Limited Micro South Lanarkshire Teentalkscotland Micro Falkirk The Catering School Limited Small North Lanarkshire The Miracle Foundation SCIO Micro North Lanarkshire Therapeutic Counselling Services Limited Medium South Lanarkshire The Spark Medium Glasgow Tigers STA Limited Small Glasgow Triangle Consulting Social Enterprise Limited Small England Uteach Limited Scottish Online Lessons Small North Lanarkshire Windmills Lanarkshire Limited Micro North Lanarkshire