United Kingdom116 days leftOpen

Employability Services

Tender Overview

ORGANIZATION

Scotland Excel

LOCATION

Scotland, United Kingdom

VALUE

£80,000,000

DEADLINE

May 29, 2026 at 11:00

CATEGORY

Other

CPV CODE

79611000

REFERENCE

026985-2022

Project Timeline

Contact Information

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Original Tender Description

This Contract Notice is in relation to the established national Flexible Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the provision of Employability Services (0222). This notice is to be used for new candidates to join the established DPS and will be continuously open throughout the lifetime of the DPS. This DPS reflects the principles set out in Regulation 76 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 for the purpose of awarding contracts for social and other specific services, and applies the procedures set out in Regulation 35 (Dynamic Purchasing Systems) with variations. The services to be provided include those relating to the No One Left Behind (NOLB) strategy. NOLB is a programme of transformation which aims to change the employability system in Scotland to make it more adaptable, responsive and person-centred. The scope of services covered under the DPS include, but are not limited to: - Employability Services including provision of pre-employment and work related education; - Skills development; - Training opportunities; and - Other related support for people of all ages who are unemployed, further from the labour market to support them to move towards and into work. There will also be support to help those who are low skilled and on low income to progress in employment. Please note, providers already awarded to the established DPS need not re-apply.
⚠️

MANDATORY EXCLUSION GROUNDS

  • Adhere to the mandatory exclusion grounds as set out in the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, specifically referencing principles in Regulation 76 and procedures in Regulation 35.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • Be a new candidate seeking to join the established national Flexible Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for Employability Services.
  • Not already be an awarded provider on the established DPS.
  • Be capable of providing Employability Services as defined by the tender.
  • Comply with the principles set out in Regulation 76 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.
  • Comply with the procedures set out in Regulation 35 (Dynamic Purchasing Systems) of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015, with variations.
🔧

TECHNICAL CAPABILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • Demonstrate capability to provide Employability Services, including pre-employment and work-related education.
  • Demonstrate capability in skills development.
  • Demonstrate capability in providing training opportunities.
  • Demonstrate capability to provide other related support for people of all ages who are unemployed or further from the labour market, to support their move towards and into work.
  • Demonstrate capability to provide support for low-skilled and low-income individuals to progress in employment.
  • Ability to deliver services in line with the "No One Left Behind (NOLB)" strategy, aiming for an adaptable, responsive, and person-centred approach.
💰

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • (No specific financial requirements are explicitly stated in the provided tender information.)
📋

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  • Submit the application by the deadline of 2026-05-29 at 11:00:00.
  • Apply as a new candidate to join the established DPS.

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PDF
Official PDF Version
PDF026985-2022_official.pdf
Summary:
This notice invites new providers to join Scotland's national Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the provision of Employability Services, encompassing pre-employment, skills development, and training opportunities to support unemployed and low-income individuals into employment.

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73
Good

Tender Quality Score

This tender outlines an established Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for employability services, demonstrating a clear strategic vision but suffering from a critical lack of detailed documentation and specific financial requirements.

Score Breakdown

Legal Compliance100/100

The tender explicitly references the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (Regulation 76 for social services and Regulation 35 for DPS), indicating a foundation in legal compliance. However, the absence of detailed documents means the practical implementation and adherence to these regulations in the admission process cannot be fully assessed.

Clarity40/100

The description of the services, the 'No One Left Behind' strategy, and the overall purpose of the DPS are clear. However, the lack of any attached documents severely hinders clarity regarding the application process, specific requirements, and how capabilities will be demonstrated and evaluated.

Lack of detailed application process and specific requirements due to missing documents.
Completeness83/100

This tender is critically incomplete due to the complete absence of any attached documents. Essential information such as detailed service specifications, application forms, terms and conditions, and full admission criteria are missing, making it impossible for bidders to prepare a comprehensive submission.

Complete absence of all tender documents (e.g., application forms, specifications, terms and conditions).
Missing detailed admission/evaluation criteria.
Fairness80/100

While the DPS structure is inherently designed for broader access, the lack of detailed documentation, specific financial requirements, and transparent admission criteria creates an uneven playing field. This absence of information could lead to arbitrary decisions and hinder fair competition.

Lack of transparent admission criteria.
Absence of specific financial requirements potentially creating an unfair playing field.
Practicality40/100

From a bidder's perspective, the tender is highly impractical. Without any documents detailing the application process, specific requirements, or geographical scope, it is impossible to prepare a meaningful and compliant submission. The lack of location information (NUTS N/A) further complicates practical assessment.

Impractical for bidders to prepare a submission without any supporting documents.
Missing specific geographical scope for service delivery.
Data Consistency100/100

The information provided within the tender notice itself is consistent and coherent, with the description aligning well with the extracted requirements.

Sustainability50/100

The tender explicitly mentions 'Social Criteria' and 'Innovation Focus' as characteristics, which aligns well with the nature of employability services and promotes positive societal outcomes. However, without detailed documents, how these criteria are integrated into the assessment is unclear.

Strengths

Clear identification as a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for employability services.
Explicit reference to relevant Scottish public procurement regulations (Reg 76, Reg 35).
Well-defined scope of services aligned with the 'No One Left Behind (NOLB)' strategy.
Focus on social criteria and innovation, promoting positive societal outcomes.
High estimated value and long duration indicate a significant and stable opportunity.

Concerns

Critical lack of tender documents: The absence of any attached documents (e.g., application forms, detailed specifications, terms and conditions, evaluation methodology) makes it impossible for potential bidders to understand the full requirements and application process.
Missing specific financial requirements: For an €80M DPS, the complete absence of explicit financial requirements (e.g., minimum turnover, financial standing, insurance) is a major risk, potentially allowing financially unstable providers to join.
Absence of detailed evaluation/admission criteria: Without any documents, the specific criteria and methodology for assessing technical capability and admitting providers to the DPS are entirely missing, impacting transparency and fairness.
Lack of geographical scope/location information: The NUTS code is N/A, and no specific delivery locations within Scotland are mentioned, making it difficult for providers to assess their ability to deliver services effectively across the required areas.
Limited clarity on 'variations' to Regulation 35: While variations are mentioned, their nature and impact on the DPS procedure are not detailed, which could create uncertainty.

Recommendations

1. Immediately publish all necessary tender documents, including detailed application forms, service specifications, terms and conditions, and the full DPS framework agreement.
2. Clearly define and publish specific financial requirements for admission to the DPS to ensure financial stability of providers.
3. Provide explicit and transparent admission criteria and the methodology for evaluating technical capabilities.

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Tender Quality Score
73/ 100 · Good

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