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WMCA Technical Education , Skills and Employment Support Flexible Procurement System- Application 2

Tender Overview

LOCATION

West Midlands, United Kingdom

VALUE

£1,000,000,000

DEADLINE

March 31, 2026 at 11:00

CATEGORY

Other

CPV CODE

80000000

REFERENCE

003838-2026

Project Timeline

Contact Information

View Original

Original Tender Description

This notice is being used to inform the market of Application 2 of the Flexible Procurement System (FPS) for Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support by West Midlands Combined Authority. WMCA have opted to establish an FPS under the Light Touch Regime rules, within the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR, 2015) to deliver our Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support services provision. An FPS is an overarching agreement that allows FPS Providers who are admitted onto it to subsequently compete for Call-off Contracts through further competitions. It operates in a similar way to a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) but will have set windows for evaluation of Applications to join. This will allow WMCA to continually expand our network of providers and welcome new FPS Providers that are able to meet our requirements for the duration of the FPS. The FPS will offer an expedient route to market and direct access to the provider base for WMCA’s Skills and Employment Support requirements. The refresh of this route to market has been made in order to align with WMCA’s Employment and Skills Strategy and to streamline the bidding process for employment and skills providers. Through engagement with key stakeholders, WMCA identified where improvements could be made to the Adult Skills DPS for the benefit of WMCA, our providers and our residents. The FPS will include five categories of delivery, linked to pillars within the Employment and Skills Strategy. In order to be included on 4 of the categories, Applicants will be required to demonstrate their understanding and capability of delivering in those category areas. The categories will include; - Building strong and inclusive communities - Providing a good education up to level 2 - Moving residents into employment and supporting career progression - Meeting future skills needs at level 3 and above through upskilling and reskilling - Innovation Although this FPS is established in order to facilitate immediate and easy access to the Adult Skills and Employment Support Market, WMCA will not be mandated to use it for every requirement. It is the Authorities attention that Call-off Competitions will be ran under this FPS in order to find suitable FPS Providers to deliver individual Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support provision Call-off Contracts. Call-off Contracts will be awarded to the successful FPS Provider/s in line with the award criteria stated in the Call-off ITT documents, which will be formulated using the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) principle, comprising of Technical, Commercial and (if applicable) Social Value criteria. The deadline for submission of initial applications is Tuesday 31st March 2025 at 12:00pm. As this is an open opportunity, applications may be submitted between 16/01/2026 and 31/03/2026 (12:00pm). While the e-tendering system will allow applicants to update their submission after it has been submitted, please note that WMCA will evaluate applications on a “first submission received” basis. Only the initial submission will be evaluated. Any updates or amendments made after submission may not be considered or evaluated. Applicants are therefore strongly advised to submit their application only once it has been fully finalised.
⚠️

MANDATORY EXCLUSION GROUNDS

  • Adherence to the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR, 2015) is required, which includes mandatory exclusion grounds, though specific grounds are not detailed in this notice.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • Apply for admission to the Flexible Procurement System (FPS).
  • Meet West Midlands Combined Authority's (WMCA) requirements for the duration of the FPS.
  • Be able to compete for subsequent Call-off Contracts.
  • Operate in the Technical Education, Skills, and Employment Support services provision market.
🔧

TECHNICAL CAPABILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • Demonstrate understanding and capability of delivering in the chosen category areas (for 4 out of 5 categories).
  • Demonstrate capability in one or more of the five delivery categories: Building strong and inclusive communities; Providing a good education up to level 2; Moving residents into employment and supporting career progression; Meeting future skills needs at level 3 and above through upskilling and reskilling; Innovation.
💰

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS

  • No specific financial requirements are detailed in the provided information.
📋

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  • Submit an initial application for admission to the FPS.
  • Submit applications between 16/01/2026 and 31/03/2026 at 12:00pm.
  • Ensure the application is fully finalised before submission.
  • Submit the application via the e-tendering system.
  • Note that only the initial submission will be evaluated; subsequent updates or amendments may not be considered.

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DOC
OCDS Record
OCDS Data003838-2026_ocds_record.json
Summary:
This notice details Application 2 for the West Midlands Combined Authority's Flexible Procurement System (FPS) for Technical Education, Skills, and Employment Support, requiring providers to demonstrate capability in specific delivery categories to qualify for future call-off contracts.
DOC
OCDS Release Package
OCDS Data003838-2026_ocds_release.json
Summary:
This notice announces the second application window for the West Midlands Combined Authority's Flexible Procurement System (FPS) for Technical Education, Skills, and Employment Support, inviting providers to apply to join the system to subsequently bid for call-off contracts across five delivery categories.
PDF
Official PDF Version
General Information003838-2026_official.pdf
Summary:
This document is a contract notice for Application 2 of the West Midlands Combined Authority's Flexible Procurement System (FPS) for Technical Education, Skills and Employment Support, detailing how providers can apply to join the FPS to compete for future call-off contracts.
HTM
Tender Notice
Administrative Documents003838-2026.html
Summary:
This notice invites providers to apply for admission to the West Midlands Combined Authority's Flexible Procurement System for Technical Education, Skills, and Employment Support, enabling them to compete for future call-off contracts across five delivery categories.

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72
Good

Tender Quality Score

This tender establishes a Flexible Procurement System (FPS) for technical education, skills, and employment support, offering a dynamic and strategic approach to service provision with a substantial estimated value. The FPS model promotes continuous market engagement and aligns well with the authority's strategic objectives.

Score Breakdown

Legal Compliance100/100

The tender explicitly states adherence to the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR, 2015) and utilizes the Light Touch Regime for the FPS, which is an appropriate legal framework for these services. While mandatory exclusion grounds are mentioned, specific details are not provided in this notice, which is typical for an initial market engagement.

Clarity60/100

The purpose and structure of the Flexible Procurement System are clearly articulated, including its operational mechanism and the five categories of delivery. The distinction from a DPS is helpful, and submission requirements are straightforward.

Completeness91/100

While the overall framework is clear, the tender lacks crucial details regarding the evaluation criteria for FPS admission, specific financial requirements for providers, and the overall duration of the FPS. This incompleteness could hinder potential applicants' ability to fully assess the opportunity.

Fairness80/100

The FPS model inherently promotes fairness by allowing new providers to join periodically, fostering competition. The broad categories of delivery appear open. However, the absence of detailed evaluation criteria for admission could introduce subjectivity if not thoroughly defined in the full tender documents.

Practicality20/100

The FPS is a highly practical approach for procuring dynamic and evolving services like education and skills, enabling continuous market engagement and flexibility. The set windows for application evaluation balance continuous intake with administrative efficiency, and the stated aim to streamline processes is positive.

Data Consistency100/100

All provided information within the tender notice is consistent, with no apparent contradictions or discrepancies.

Sustainability0/100

The tender strongly emphasizes social sustainability through categories like 'Building strong and inclusive communities' and 'Moving residents into employment.' However, explicit environmental or green procurement criteria are not detailed in this notice.

Strengths

Flexible Procurement System (FPS) model for dynamic service provision and continuous market engagement.
Clear strategic alignment with WMCA’s Employment and Skills Strategy and strong social objectives.
Substantial estimated value of 1 billion EUR, indicating significant investment and opportunity.
Commitment to streamlining the bidding process based on stakeholder feedback.
Well-defined delivery categories providing clear scope for providers.

Concerns

Lack of detailed evaluation criteria for admission to the FPS, creating ambiguity for applicants.
Absence of specific financial requirements for providers, which is unusual for a contract of this magnitude.
Undefined overall duration of the Flexible Procurement System, impacting long-term planning for providers.
Limited information on the specific award criteria for subsequent call-off contracts.
No explicit mention of environmental or green procurement criteria.

Recommendations

1. Publish comprehensive and transparent evaluation criteria for FPS admission to ensure clarity and objectivity.
2. Clearly specify the minimum financial stability and capacity requirements for providers.
3. Communicate the intended overall duration of the Flexible Procurement System to aid provider planning.

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B
Tender Quality Score
72/ 100 · Good

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