Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for the procurement of Adult Skills Fund sub-contractors for DurhamLearn

This Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) is clearly articulated in its purpose and requirements, demonstrating good transparency for a pre-procurement activity, though it has some practical and completeness gaps.

The PME clearly defines its purpose as preliminary market engagement, which is a legitimate pre-procurement step. The CPV code is appropriate, and there are no disputes. While formal procedure codes are missing, this is expected for a PME. The explicit statement of no commercial advantage/disadvantage is a strong point for compliance with fairness principles.

The description of the PME's purpose, the DurhamLearn initiative, and the types of services sought are very clear. The AI-extracted eligibility, technical, and submission requirements are well-documented and unambiguous for participation in this engagement phase. The absence of formal evaluation criteria and performance conditions is appropriate for a PME.

Basic information such as title, reference, organization, deadlines, duration, and location are provided. All listed documents are available and summarized. However, the 'Type', 'Procedure', and 'Liable Person' fields are empty, and the estimated value is not disclosed, which are notable gaps even for a PME, as they limit insight into the future procurement's scale.

The tender explicitly states that there is no commercial advantage or disadvantage for participating, which is crucial for fairness. Requirements are generic and focused on the NECA region, not tailored to a specific company. The mention of encouraging SMEs and VCSEs also promotes fairness. However, the undisclosed value and lack of e-submission are minor drawbacks.

The contract start date and duration are clearly specified. However, the absence of electronic submission is a significant practical drawback, potentially hindering participation. Financing information is limited to the 'Adult Skills Fund' without further detail.

Dates are logical and consistent, with the submission deadline preceding the contract start date. There are no reported disputes or suspensions. However, several key fields such as 'Type', 'Procedure', 'Liable Person', and 'Estimated Value' are either empty or undisclosed, impacting overall data completeness and consistency.

The PME demonstrates a strong focus on social aspects, aiming to invest in skills, improve employment access, and reduce the digital divide, aligning with the NECA Local Growth Plan. It also encourages SMEs and VCSEs. However, there is no explicit mention of green procurement criteria or innovation focus.