South West Region

Mainstream ESF projects will be delivered through the co-financing organisations, namely The Department of Work and Pensions with Jobcentre Plus as their agents in the region and the Learning and Skills Council so project holders will NOT have to find match-funding.

The regional framework has been agreed and the Co-financers are writing their delivery plans to be written by 24th August.

Tenders will be written on a regional basis and can be applied for on a regional or sub-regional basis. Both the LSC and DWP will use a lead provider approach and will look for up to 3 lead providers in each area. Lead providers can sub-contract to one level, and have many sub-contractors however sub-contractors can also be consortia. Tenders will be for larger amounts and targets than in the previous framework.

Expected Timeline

The co-financers will have different timelines.

LSC

• Month of September 2007 Pre-qualification Questionnaires for lead providers
• October 2007 Tenders announced
• February 2008 Delivery of projects begin

DWP/JCP

• October 2007 Pre-qualification Questionnaires for lead providers
• January 2008 Tenders announced
• April 2008 Contracts
• June 2008 Delivery of projects begin.