DfE Disability Support for Participants on Training for Success (TfS) and ApprenticeshipsNI (AppsNI)

Description

Following a competition advertised in the Official Journal of the EU in 21 December 2016 the Department for Economy entered into a contract with 5 suppliers primarily for disability support services to the departments training for success and ApprenticeshipsNI programmes. This contract was procured in line with the provisions of Schedule 3, ‘light touch regime’, within the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The contract, valued at GBP 4 500 000, was originally let as a 2-year contract on 31 July 2017. While there was two one year extensions available to cover provision it was originally not envisaged that they would be used. However, this was not the case and both extensions were used modifying the contract value to GBP 6 750 000. The current contract is due to expire 31 July 2021 however, due to the Public Heath restrictions that have been in place in 2020 and extended throughout the early part of 2021, as a result of the Covid Pandemic, the Department have been unable to complete the work required under this contract. It has therefore become necessary to further Modify this contract until 31 December 2021 at a cost of GBP 2 050 000 under regulation 72(1)(c) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended). Lot 1: The Department for the Economy is committed to the development of a highly skilled, flexible and innovative workforce which will contribute to the twin goals of social inclusion and economic success for Northern Ireland. The quality and effectiveness of training for both young people and adults are crucial elements of that process. The purpose of this contract is to provide Disability Support Services to the Departments Training for Success and ApprenticeshipsNI programmes. This voluntary transparency notice has been published to alert economic operators of the Department for Economy intention to further modify the Disability Support for Participants on Training for Success (TfS) and ApprenticeshipsNI (AppsNI) contract under Regulation 72(1)(c) of the Public Contract Regulations (as amended). The modification will take the form of an extension from 31 July 2021 until 31 December 2021 at a cost of GBP 2 050 000. A modification notice will be published after the modification has been formalised.