Bid to supply Skills Bootcamps
Information for potential suppliers about Skills Bootcamps including how to qualify onto, and bid for contracts through the dynamic purchasing system (DPS).
Applies to England
Overview
Skills Bootcamps are free courses for adults typically lasting up to 16 weeks, available across a range of sectors. They help people develop priority skills that are in demand at both local and national level.
They are developed by training providers in partnership with employers.
Significant investment has been committed by the government to scale up Skills Bootcamps from 2022 to 2025.
Who can apply
Skills Bootcamps can be delivered by suppliers who have qualified onto the dynamic purchasing system (DPS), including:
- independent training providers (ITPs)
- further education (FE) colleges
- employers
You can only deliver Skills Bootcamps if you’re successful in winning a contract as part of a commercial procurement. You’ll need to apply to qualify onto the DPS and then bid for a contract.
As part of this process, you’ll need to demonstrate your previous experience of working closely with employers.
What’s involved
Skills Bootcamps provide flexible training. This is typically at levels 3 to 5 or equivalent (medium to higher level technical skills) and level 2 in some sectors.
You can offer them online, face-to-face or through a blended approach.
Currently Skills Bootcamps are available in areas such as:
- digital, for example, digital marketing or coding
- construction
- logistics (HGV driving)
- engineering
- green skills, for example, solar energy or agriculture technology
We may award contracts for Skills Bootcamps in additional sector categories in the future.
Responsibilities include:
- working with employers to develop the training
- making sure each learner typically receives a minimum of 60 teaching hours
- securing learners a new job, responsibilities or work
- submitting monthly performance management information
- completing an individualised learner record (ILR) for each learner
- securing learners a job interview at the end of the course
Application process
We use a competitive procurement process to award contracts for Skills Bootcamps. To win a contract you’ll first need to apply to qualify onto the DPS. Once on the DPS, you’ll need to bid for a contract to deliver a specific Skills Bootcamp.
We’ll score your bid on its quality and on the price you will charge.
If you’re successful, you’ll get payments at set milestones during your contract. Your contract will show the payment milestones and how much you’ll get.
How to apply
You’ll need to apply to qualify onto the DPS. This system will allow suppliers to compete for Skills Bootcamps contracts.
The DPS allows us to react quickly when local and national skills gaps are identified. This year, we’ve already run competitions in:
- digital
- construction
- HGV driving
- sales marketing
- engineering and manufacturing
- business administration
- education and early years
We do not have a confirmed date for when we will launch further rounds of competitions. Sign up for alerts to find out about any future opportunities.
Skills Bootcamps are also procured and delivered via local areas. These are separate to the DfE call-off competitions. If you want to deliver a Skills Bootcamp in this way, contact your mayoral combined authority, local authority or local enterprise partnership.
Joining the Skills Bootcamps DPS
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Register on the Department for Education (DfE) eTendering Portal website Jaggaer. To be able to access the DPS, you’ll need to be registered on Jaggaer. Make sure you register your organisation as a supplier.
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Once you’re registered as a supplier, you’ll be able to apply to qualify onto the DPS. To apply, log into Jaggaer and search for ‘Project_7693’.
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We aim to process applications within 30 working days. Only suppliers whose application has been approved will be able to bid.
You can access Skills Bootcamps DPS market engagement material including guidelines for joining the DPS through Jaggaer. Log into Jaggaer and search for ‘Project_6939’.
Last updated 28 July 2023 + show all updates
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Updated the section on 'How to apply'.
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Updated the 'Joining the Skills Bootcamps DPS' section as the deadline has passed for guaranteed application review to join the DPS before the first competition bids.
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Updated the 'Application process' section. You can now apply to qualify onto the Skills Bootcamps dynamic purchasing system (DPS). Added information about how to apply once you’re registered as a supplier.
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Removed the link to sign up for the Skills Bootcamps DPS market engagement event as that took place on 14 November 2022.
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First published.