Extension of deadlines for non-levy procurement

The procurement exercise for training provision to non-levy paying employers opened at the end of July and was due to close on September 4. However, the provider market has shown considerable interest in the procurement exercise and ESFA have been responding to an unprecedented number of queries.

ESFA want to ensure that all providers get the opportunity to take into account the information they have provided and then reflect this into their bids if necessary, so they are therefore extending the deadlines by a short period. The new deadlines are as follows:

• tender clarification deadline – Friday, 1 September at 12 noon
• deadline for responses to tender clarifications – Tuesday, 5 September at 5pm
• tender submission deadline – Friday, 8 September at 12 noon

These amendments apply to all potential providers. ESFA believe that this short extension will give providers the best opportunity to submit a high quality bid in a fair way. It will not impact on the rest of the procurement delivery timetable and they will still be awarding contracts in December for a January 2018 start.