Mayoral Priority Skills Fund (MPSF) Phase One Evaluation

Published date: 2 December 2024

Last edited date: 2 December 2024

Contract summary

Industry

Research services - 73110000

Research consultancy services - 73210000

Economic research services - 79311400

Location of contract

BS1 6AL

Value of contract

£50,000 to £70,000

Procurement reference

CF-0003100DWS000000ED3p2AG

Published date

2 December 2024

Closing date

20 December 2024

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

10 January 2025

Contract end date

29 May 2026

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (below threshold)

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

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Description

The Mayoral Priority Skills Fund (MPSF) was created to provide flexible grant funding to meet current priority skills gaps in the region. Priorities have been identified through robust intelligence gathered through delivery of previous and existing programmes, data, reports, and gaps identified through our other services, such as Skills Connect. The aim was to have a Fund that was flexible enough to respond to identified gaps where there are no other means of funding, or to bridge gaps in funding which may otherwise lead to gaps in vital skills provision. It also aimed to enable innovation and the ability to test interventions where there are gaps.

This first round of MPSF funding (known as 'phase one') consisted of £2,580,665 from the Mayoral Combined Authority Investment Fund and £3,200,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), providing almost £5.8 million to address gaps in provision for the region.

Phase one of MPSF commenced in July 2023 and is due to come to an end in December 2025. There are 16 projects funded under phase one. 15 projects were funded until March 2025 (known as 'call one') under several themes (see below). A few of these projects will continue to be funded until September 2025 using some underspend (known as 'continuation funding for call one projects'). A 16th project, Union Learn West, is due to start delivery imminently and will run until December 2025. Individual projects have received between £50,175 - £1,413,000.

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority are now looking to procure a final evaluation of phase one that looks at both the impact that phase one has had on the region, and what we can learn from the implementation and delivery models of phase one that could be fed into the implementation of phase two.

The successful tenderer will deliver a final process, impact, and value for money evaluation of phase one of the MPSF to answer the research questions set out below. The evaluation will ensure useful learning is provided for the MCA but also that we well prepared to submit evidence of impact to the Government as part of future Gateway Review processes. The evaluation will take place between January 2025 and September 2026.

The Mayoral Combined Authority uses ATAMIS as its e-procurement system. Suppliers will need to register at - https://weca-atamis.my.site.com/s/Welcome - to access full documents and submit proposals. Assistance in relation to the e-procurement system is available to suppliers via the Help Desk.

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More information

Previous notice about this procurement

Mayoral Priority Skills Fund (MPSF) Phase One Evaluation

Opportunity

Published 2 December 2024, last edited 2 December 2024

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How to apply

Follow the instructions given in the description or the more information section.

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About the buyer

Contact name

Paul Smith

Address

Rivergate House, 70 Redcliff Street, Redcliffe
Bristol
BS1 6AL
GB

Telephone

07436629523

Email

paul.smith@westofengland-ca.gov.uk

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