Celebrating ESF Event

Q1a: Will all organisations that have completed a Post Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) be invited to tender?

A: The Post Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) is a pre-requisite for the Invitation to Tender (ITT) for LSC and DWP and has to be assessed before a decision on who can participate in the ITT.

Q1b: Ex-offenders may train in one county then move back to another.  Will there be provision for cross-border activities in the new ESF Programme? 

A: Contracts in the new Programme will be larger and District based.  Cross-border arrangements will be covered in DWP specifications and tender documentation.

Q1c: Are priority groups ranked? 

A: The DWP priorities list is in ranked order

Q2: Can panel members give clarification on how the 2007-2013 ESF Programme inter-relates with Skills for Jobs? 

A: The Skills for Jobs Programme addresses national skills and employment policies and the Leitch agenda by assisting people back to work and by making that employment sustainable.  Procurement began in early September and the current 2007/8 Programme ends in December 2008.  It will give a flavour of what can be delivered by the mainstream and forms part of the “jigsaw” of assessing what can be delivered through other means before considering ESF.

Q3a: Can we bid across the priorities D, E and F listed under priority axis 2 and can one bid be submitted to two Co-financers? 

A: A bid focussing on level 3 qualifications might include level 2 basic skills.  Funding for this could come solely from priority F (level 3).  From SEEDA’s perspective, it would expect separate tender proposals for each specification issued in order to be able to establish clear value for money.  A single bid across two Co-financers would not work due to the way contracts are designed and the Framework specifying distinct activities for Co-financing Organisations (CFOs).

Q3b: Is anything being done to address issues faced in forming collaborative ventures arising from the inability of organisations other than large colleges to put bids together?

A: It is essential for organisations to work in partnership in the 2007-13 Programme.  The lead partner is accountable and must be able to pay back ESF if claw back is necessary.

Q4: With reference to one of the Guiding Principles for the 2007-2013 ESF Programme, fewer than how many and larger than what?  How many contracts does the LSC envisage Co-financing?

A: The LSC has no way of knowing the size of and areas covered by bids until the ITT stage.  DWP predicts between 4 and 8 contracts as opposed to 40 in the previous Programme.  The RSPA will constantly review how bidding and tendering contracts are meeting the Framework.  It has been agreed that the ESF Regional Committee will report to the RSPA when it meets every quarter.  This new, joined up way of doing business should assist the integration of the skills and learning process.

Q5: Can tender specifications be generic across the ESF Funded Activities listed for the Co-financers?

A: Please refer to the answer for Q8.

Q6: Will the 2007-2013 ESF Programme be truly integrated with mainstream provision in line with the Government’s skills and employment policy?

A: Informal and formal learning and skills systems need to operate together in partnership to create more sustainable working.

Q7: Will geographical targeting in the Framework be followed up to ensure that the money doesn’t just go to the larger conurbations such as Southampton and Portsmouth and towns like Hastings don’t miss out?

A: The evidence base is available in the Regional Economic Strategy (RES) and the Framework so the specification/ITT process will be able to ensure there are no gaps.  An issue exists in Hastings of organisations competing where provision is already in place and there is an incomplete track record of partners working together.

Q8: Can we bid across the ESF Funded Activities listed as for example DWP has listed 11 activities under Workless Adults yet predicts only 1 or 2 contracts per District?

A: The specifications are not yet written and could cover a number of activities; therefore the number of activities will not correspond to the number of contracts.  Specs will be designed to deliver in accordance with broad objectives in the categories.

Q9: The new Community Grants have an important strategic role to play in engaging the harder to reach into mainstream learning and supporting Action for Communities and the learning ladder.  When will more clarity be available and could they be increased?

A: Activities under Community Grants will be similar to those within Global Grants in the previous ESF Programme, and 2.5% of the budget for priority axis 1 is available.  A total of £1.3 million is available as ESF and the issue is whether the money available for Community Grants could be increased with a similar amount of match funding.  National negotiations have not yet been concluded.  A specification for up to two Grant co-ordinating bodies with good track records is expected.  There are strategic links with PCDL and the ESF funded Action for Communities Programme and those committed to community based learning should emphasise to Local Authorities the strategic role of Community Grants as part of the LAA process.

Q10: With the 3 and half week deadline after ITTs are released by the LSC, how can bids be assembled in this time if specifications are not available?

A: Specs are drafted but not yet finalised and will appear in accordance with the timetable; however people can build on partnerships now and discuss how they will deliver on the agendas of all funds.

Q11: Can employers meet the disadvantaged groups listed for participants in priority axis 2?

A: The intention is to build on Train to Gain in ways not directly brokered through Train to Gain.

Q12: Will criminal justice agencies be properly represented in the writing of the specifications?

A: The writing of both the Operational Programme and the Regional Framework involved consultation with many groups.  The process will continue as activities are still to be developed, however CFOs do not consult with agencies when writing the specs.