South Lanarkshire Council

Council Headquarters, Almada Street, Almada Street

Hamilton

ML3 0AA

UK

Person cyswllt: Irene Peacock

E-bost: irene.peacock@southlanarkshire.gov.uk

NUTS: UKM95

Cyfeiriad(au) rhyngrwyd

Prif gyfeiriad: http://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk

Cyfeiriad proffil y prynwr: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00410

II.1.1) Teitl

Employability Services Procured Service Arrangement

Cyfeirnod: SLC/CE/24/066

II.1.2) Prif god CPV

80000000

II.1.3) Y math o gontract

Gwasanaethau

II.1.4) Disgrifiad byr

The Council is seeking to appoint service providers through a Procured Service Arrangement (PSA). This is a bespoke arrangement/flexible framework which will be developed primarily for Employability Services but can be accessed by all services within the Council.

The PSA will be procured using the “light touch” procedure set out in Regulations 74 -76 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (“the 2015 Regulations”). This allows the Council to carry out a selection process which adopts the principles of equal treatment, non-discrimination and transparency and complies with procurement best practice without requiring the use of the traditional open or restricted procedure set out in the 2015 Regulations.

The PSA has a broad scope of service delivery with the opportunity for many providers to be appointed. There is no limit on the number of providers who can be appointed to any of the lots under the PSA. The PSA remains open for its lifetime which allows for new providers to be added over its term, at regular intervals which will be advised by the Council. Applicants to the PSA will be evaluated in ‘Phases’, based on the closing date for each Phase. Following the closing of each Phase, the PSA will re-open for new applications for the next Phase.

II.1.5) Cyfanswm gwerth amcangyfrifedig

Gwerth heb gynnwys TAW: 4 000 000.00 GBP

II.1.6) Gwybodaeth am lotiau

Mae’r contract hwn wedi’i rannu’n lotiau: Ydy

Gellir cyflwyno tendrau ar gyfer pob lot

Rhif y Lot 1

Rhif y Lot 2

Rhif y Lot 3

Rhif y Lot 4

III.1.1) Addasrwydd i ymgymryd â’r gweithgaredd proffesiynol, gan gynnwys gofynion mewn perthynas â chofrestru ar gofrestri proffesiynol neu gofrestri masnach

Rhestr a disgrifiad byr o’r amodau:

SPD Question 2.C.1 Reliance on the capacities of other entities

Applicants are required to complete a full SPD for each of the entities whose capacity they rely upon.

SPD Question 2.D.1 Subcontractors on whose capacity the Applicant does not rely

Applicants are required to complete a shortened version of the SPD for each Subcontractor on whose capacity the Applicant does not rely on.

SPD Question 4A.1 Trade Registers

It is a requirement of this tender that if the Applicant is UK based they must hold a valid registration with Companies House. Where the Applicant is UK based but not registered at Companies House they must be able to verify to the Councils satisfaction that they are trading from the address provided in the tender and under the company name given.

If the Applicant is based out-with the UK they must be enrolled in the relevant professional or trade register appropriate to their country as described in Schedule 5 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

III.1.2) Statws economaidd ac ariannol

Rhestr a disgrifiad byr o’r meini prawf dethol:

SPD Question 4B.4 Economic and Financial Standing

The Council will use the following ratios to evaluate a Applicants financial status:

Profitability – this is taken as profit after tax but before dividends and minority interests. If a company makes a profit then it is a pass for this ratio;

Liquidity – this is calculated as current assets less stock and work in progress, divided by current liabilities. If the answer is greater than or equal to one then it is a pass for this ratio

Gearing – this is calculated as the total external secured borrowing (short term and long term) divided by shareholder funds expressed as a percentage. If the answer is less than or equal to 100% it is considered a pass for this ratio.

Applicants must provide the name and value of each of the 3 ratios within their response to SPD question 4B.4.

The Council requires Applicants to pass 2 out of the 3 financial ratios above.

Where 2 out of the 3 ratios cannot be met, the Council may take the undernoted into consideration when assessing financial viability and the risk to the Council, providing that the Applicant can supply evidence to substantiate any of the mitigating criteria when requested to do so. The following list is not exhaustive and other criteria may be considered where proposed by a Applicant as mitigating factors:

Would the Applicant have passed the checks if prior year accounts had been used?

Were any of the poor appraisal outcomes "marginal"?

Does the Applicant operate in a market which, traditionally, requires lower liquidity or higher debt finance?

Does the Applicant have sufficient reserves to sustain losses for a number of years?

Does the Applicant have a healthy cashflow?

Is the Applicant profitable enough to finance the interest on its debt?

Is most of the Applicant's debt owed to group companies?

Is the Applicant's debt due to be repaid over a number of years, and affordable?

Have the Applicant's results been adversely affected by "one off costs" and / or "one off accounting treatments"?

Do the Applicant's auditors (where applicable) consider it to be a "going concern"?

Will the Applicant provide a Parent Company Guarantee?

Is the Applicant the single supplier/source of the Goods/Works/Services in the marketplace?

The Council will request submission of and assess the Applicants financial accounts, and may use financial verification systems to validate the information provided.

SPD Question 4B.5 Insurance

The Applicant must confirm that they have or will commit to obtain prior to the commencement of the contract, the following levels of Insurance Cover:

Employer’s Liability Insurance covering the death of or bodily injuries to employees of the Applicant arising out of and in the course of their employment in connection with this contract to the level of 10000000 GBP in respect of each claim, without limit to the number of claims.

Public Liability Insurance covering the death of or bodily injury to a person (not an employee of the Applicant) or loss of or damage to property resulting from an action or failure to take action by the Applicant to the level of 5000000 GBP in respect of each claim, without limit to the number of claims.

III.1.3) Gallu technegol a phroffesiynol

Rhestr a disgrifiad byr o’r meini prawf dethol:

SPD Question 4C.1.2 Technical and Professional Ability

The applicant(s) recommended for award to the PSA will be training providers with experience delivering vocational and/or employability training, interventions, or support to South Lanarkshire Councils key priority groups. Applicants are required to provide examples that demonstrate their relevant experience delivering such services over the last 3 years.

With reference to the nature and details of the services to be supplied under the PSA Lots, 3 relevant examples of a similar size and nature are to be provided of the services delivered by the applicant in the last 3 years.

The details should include but need not be limited to:

- The training delivered and qualifications gained.

- To whom training was delivered, including quantities for training and qualifications gained / not gained.

- Involvement of the service users in planning / meeting outcomes.

- Duration and content, including how content was adapted to meet the service users’ needs.

- Steps taken to keep service users on track to gain the qualification.

- Remediation training employed to achieve successful outcomes.

Please Note: Applicants should evidence 3 experiences for each Lot being applied for.

SPD Question 4C.6 Technical and Professional Ability (Qualifications)

It is a mandatory requirement of this PSA that all individuals who will be engaged in the delivery of the contract must be appropriately vetted in accordance with the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007.

SPD Question 4C.6.1 Technical and Professional Ability (Qualifications)

It is a mandatory requirement of this tender that all the Applicants staff who will be involved in delivering services under the PSA have the relevant PVG Scheme Membership in terms of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007.

SPD Question 4D.1 Quality Assurance Schemes

It is a requirement of this tender that the Applicant recommended for award holds the following Quality Assurance scheme membership:

ISO 90001:2015 Quality Management System OR an internal Quality Management System as detailed in the ITT.

III.2.2) Amodau perfformiad contractau

As detailed within the ITT.

IV.1.1) Y math o weithdrefn

Gweithdrefn agored

IV.1.3) Gwybodaeth am gytundeb fframwaith neu system brynu ddynamig

The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement with several operators.

Cyfiawnhau unrhyw gyfnod o gytundeb fframwaith sy'n hwy na 8 blynedd: The ITT will remain open for the lifetime of the PSA. Bidders can apply for appointment to the PSA at any time during its term by submission of a completed ITT with required supporting documentation. There are no limits to the number of times that bidders can submit bids. Bids will be evaluated in accordance with the process set out in “Attachment 2 - Evaluation of Tenders”.

IV.1.8) Gwybodaeth am Gytundeb Caffael y Llywodraeth (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Ydy

IV.2.1) Cyhoeddiad blaenorol mewn perthynas â’r weithdrefn hon

Rhif yr hysbysiad yn OJ S:

2025/S 000-793081

IV.2.2) Terfyn amser i dendrau neu geisiadau i gymryd rhan ddod i law

Dyddiad: 03/12/2025

Amser lleol: 12:00

IV.2.4) Ym mha iaith/ieithoedd y gellir cyflwyno tendrau neu geisiadau i gymryd rhan

EN

IV.2.6) Yr isafswm cyfnod gofynnol i’r sawl sy’n tendro gynnal y tendr

Hyd mewn misoedd: 6  (o’r dyddiad a nodwyd i dendr ddod i law)

IV.2.7) Amodau ar gyfer agor tendrau

Dyddiad: 03/12/2025

Amser lleol: 12:00

Place:

South Lanarkshire Council

VI.4.1) Corff adolygu