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- Current contracts advertised by the Department
- The Department's Procurement Policy
- Prompt payment policy
Current contracts advertised by the Department
Since January 2006 the Department has been required to publicise requirements advertised via the Official journal of the European Union (OJEU). You can view the OJEU notices in full on the TED website.
The Department may also publish here adverts for requirements not advertised in OJEU. See the Public Procurement section for further details. However, due to the nature of the Department's requirements, contracting opportunities are also advertised in specialist publications, trade, national and local press. Therefore this information should not be solely relied on to identify all potential contracts that may be of interest.
It would be impractical for us to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive list of all the Department's live contracts, in addition to the list of current opportunities. We hope instead that this information provides a flavour of the work of the Department as well as points of contacts to obtain further information.
Title: School Standards advisers
Description:The Chief Adviser on School Standards (Sue Hackman) heads the Standards Group in the DCSF to provide advice to ministers on school standards and improvement. Her work is focused on the Department's Public Service Agreement targets at Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 in narrowing the gap in educational achievement and raising the educational achievement of all childrenand young people.
The chief adviser on school standards requires educational expert advisers to join an existing 'team' of schools standards advisers, project-managed by the DCSF, to assist in developing and promoting a better understanding of underperformance in the school system through:
1. conducting school and local authority-based field analysis on urgent school standards priorities
2. provision of objective, independent recommendations for schools and local authorities
3. promotion of school-based intervention plans to address underperformance to local authorities and school senior and subject leaders
4. delivery of effective, research based implementation plans for schools, field forces, local authorities, with a view to raising standards for the specific client group
5. maintenance of effective collaboration and communication with partner organisations, including the National Strategies, Ofsted, TDA and NCSL.
The chief adviser is looking to contract with two individuals to provide advisory services (for up to 220 days each per year). Particular expertise in the primary phase, offering specialism in English, mathematics or both, is required.
The successful contractor(s) will have the skills to carry out all the functions outlined above. In particular, they will have extensive front-line delivery experience and specialist knowledge of the education delivery system. The contractor(s) will have the credibility from having been a teacher and a senior educational leader in the past. The contractor(s) will also have excellent inspection skills and be an expert in formulating catch up provision and advice for classroom practitioners. The contractor(s) will already have experience working in an advisory capacity at a local or national level. The contractor(s) will also require specific, fine-tuned skills and expertise in order to conduct urgent field studies on educational issues at short notice in various parts of the country.
For further information and an application pack ( ITT), please contact: Martin Bull at the Department for Children, Schools and Families, Level 2, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London SW1 3BT, 0207 925 5119 ps.hackman@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
All applications must be returned no later than 3pm on Tuesday 26 May 2009.
Contract range - up to £600,000 (in total)
The Department’s procurement policy
Government procurement aims to make tax-payers' money go further. To do this we have to identify what we need and then select, deliver and manage the best supply strategies to meet those needs.
When Government procurement is done well we make the most use of what we have and free up resources for priorities elsewhere.
In the Department, procurement is very well developed. It is recognised as an essential part of the organisation and fully supports the Department's business objectives.
We aim to deliver continuous improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of what we do, harnessing appropriate tools such as information technology.
If you have dealings with the Department you can expect the following:
- We will treat you and your organisation with impartiality, honesty and integrity in a spirit of co-operation, not adversity.
- Procurement standards will be of the highest calibre, clearly visible and consistent..
- Competitive tendering, conforming to international obligations, will be the norm wherever this method adds value,
- To facilitate improved performance, and within the bounds of commercial confidentiality, we will (on request) debrief winners and losers on the outcome of the tendering process.
- We will adhere to our contract terms, but they are negotiable and reasonable.
- Contract management will be proactive not punitive – we will act as partners not policemen.
- A positive response to change, underpinned by common-sense.
- To be paid promptly for work done in accordance with contracts made.
By the same token, the best types of organisations for us to work with are those which:
- Are fair and open in their dealings with customers.
- Put in bids which address the absolute essentials and cover all the issues in an easy-to-follow format.
- Fulfil all the contract conditions that fall to them.
- Recognise, and are seen to recognise, that the key to success lies in the two-way relationship between contractor and customer.
- Share ideas to help us and themselves improve.
It is Government policy to encourage the use of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to help improve our commercial performance.
The Department is also keen to expand the supply side of the education market. We think small businesses can play an important role in achieving this goal.
Therefore, the Department’s aim is to enhance opportunities for SMEs wherever possible and when it is consistent with value for money and the need to treat all companies fairly.
We are fair and honest in the way we select suppliers, endeavour to make prompt payments, and have simplified our contracting procedures and documentation to make dealing with the Department as straightforward as possible.
Prompt payment policy
Government policy is to pay all correctly submitted invoices within 10 days of receipt and we are 100 per cent committed to paying correctly submitted invoices within 30 days of receipt from the day of physical or electronic arrival at the nominated address of the Department.
A correct invoice is one that:
- is delivered in timing in accordance with the contract;
- is for the correct sum;
- is in respect of goods / services supplied or delivered to the required quality (or are expected to be at the required quality);
- includes the date, supplier name, contact details and bank details;
- quotes the relevant purchase order / contract reference (where used);
- has been delivered to the nominated address;
Any correctly submitted invoices that are not paid within 30 days will be subject to the provisions of the Late Payment of Commercial Debt (Interest) Act 1998.
