Participation in the Department for Education's pilot scheme - Find a freedom of information request

I would like to request the following information regarding your local authority's participation in the Department for Education's (DfE) pilot scheme to allocate additional Adult Skills Fund (ASF) and Free Courses for Jobs (FCFJ) funding:

1. A timeline detailing when your local authority was informed of its inclusion in the pilot, including key dates when you were first notified, provided with indicative figures, and when final allocations are expected to be confirmed.

2. The amount of funding that the DfE has suggested it will allocate to your authority and whether any of this has been confirmed.

3. Copies of any written communication from the DfE regarding the pilot, including the initial notification and any subsequent updates.

4. Details of your local authority's procurement process for this funding, including:

a) The date you issued or plan to issue an invitation to tender (ITT).

b) Any other steps taken in the procurement process so far.

c) Whether contracts have already been awarded, and if so, to whom.

d) A copy of the invitation to tender (ITT) and any accompanying procurement documents.

5. Any internal assessments or discussions regarding the impact of this pilot on your local authority's existing adult education provision.

1.

• First notified on 13th December 2024
• Indicative figures provided on 24th January 2025
• Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) expect to be issued with final allocations in April 2025

2. Indicative figure of £2,510,000.00. Still awaiting confirmation.

3. Please see attached for response.

Should you require the attachments mentioned above please contact customerinformationservice@lincolnshire.gov.uk with the below reference number and this can be provided.

4.

• The date you issued or plan to issue an invitation to tender (ITT).

28th January 2025

• Any other steps taken in the procurement process so far.

2 x Provider Engagement Events delivered on TEAMS – 31st January and 7th February 2025

2nd March 2025 (17:00) deadline for submissions

3rd March – 30th April 2025 Bid evaluation

• Whether contracts have already been awarded, and if so, to whom.

Not applicable

• A copy of the invitation to tender (ITT) and any accompanying procurement documents.

Invitation to Tender

Project reference number: DN753917

Project name: Adult Skills and Family Learning 2025/2026

Project description: Lincolnshire County Council, invitation for established Learning Providers to join the Adult Skills and Family Learning Open Framework, Reference PL.17.063, in addition to the Annual Call Off for existing Framework Providers to submit Delivery Plans to deliver ESFA Adult Skills Fund (ASF) training in the 2025/2026 academic year. This is an exciting opportunity to deliver Adult Learning programmes to residents of Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

You can view the project by clicking the following link: https://procontract.due-north.com/ProjectManagement/ProjectDashboard?projectId=0b3871fa-6dad-ef11-8132-005056b64545

Notification origin:-

Project ID: DN753917

Project title: Adult Skills and Family Learning 2025/26

Organisation: Lincolnshire County Council

Portal: EastMidsTenders

5. The opportunity to use the expertise built up by LCC was well supported by the three Local Authorities.  Thorough preparatory work as well as involvement from the three Local Authorities in tender moderation will ensure new programmes funded through the pilot add value to the existing adult education provision.