Procuring support to enable LAs to secure sufficient childcare

Concepts

• las
• education and training
• department for education
• statutory sufficiency duty
• proposed support
• improvement support
• statutory sufficiency duties
• reactive support
• sufficient childcare
• sufficiency crisis

Location

Description

The Department for Education is seeking early engagement on our proposal to procure support for local authorities (LAs) to fulfil their statutory sufficiency duty. The proposed support will be delivered in the Financial Years 2022-25 and will relate to delivery of sufficient childcare places for children aged 0-14, or up to 18, where applicable. The Department for Education will secure support to assist LAs to meet the challenges they face in securing sufficient high-quality childcare. This will enable the LAs to continue to meet the needs of the parents in their area and discharge their statutory sufficiency duties on behalf of the Secretary of State. The Department for Education wishes to engage with potential providers to refine our requirements and test their viability, so that we can deliver support in the most efficient way, ensuring an effective service that is value for money. Our requirements are based around three core aims: 1. Reactive support to respond quickly to sufficiency crisis. If an LA is failing to meet its statutory sufficiency duty, or is at imminent risk of doing so, and lacks the capability to mitigate the problem through its own means 2. Preventative/improvement support for longer term sufficiency. To put LAs in a better position to manage their current and future sufficiency needs. 3. Seed funding For implementing recommendations set out through either the above crisis intervention or for prevention/improvement work where no other funds are available. To facilitate this market engagement, we intend to host a virtual event aimed at potential providers on 23rd June at 10:00, which will summarise our initial plans and provide an opportunity to ask questions and offer feedback. Additionally, we are also issuing a questionnaire to additional feedback where needed. To engage with this consultation process, either to attend the event or to receive a copy of the questionnaire, please contact the e-mail address below who will provide the details.

CPV Codes

• 80000000 - Education and training services

Indicators

• Contract is suitable for SMEs.
• Contract is suitable for VCOs.

Other Information

Any subsequent commercial activity will be advertised as appropriate via Contracts Finder. This Early Engagement Notice (EEN) is for information only, and the department reserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not award contract(s). The information contained in this notice, including information relating to the nature and scope of the authority requirements, the service classification of this requirement from the list of CPV codes, is only indicative of the authority's current thinking and is neither exhaustive nor binding. The authority reserves the right at its absolute discretion to amend it at the time of issue of any further notices or at any other time. This EEN is not a binding statement of intent; it outlines the Authority's intention to engage with the supply market on an open and formal basis to develop potential options for this scheme if that is what is decided.