Pipeline Framework: Opportunity Areas (OA) – Place-Based Process Evaluation

A pipeline has been launched for Opportunity Areas (OA) – Place-Based Process Evaluation. The contract start Date is 1 October 2020. Approach to market date is 3 August 2020.This Prior Information Notice (PIN) notifies the market of a forthcoming procurement process relating to the national evaluation of the Opportunity Areas programme. The Department will invite potential bidders to respond to an Expression of Interest -likely to be posted on the 3 August 2020 for interested providers to submit their responses.In October 2016 the then Secretary of State announced a new social mobility package(see link in links section). At the heart of this strategy is the Opportunity Areas programme, a targeted three-year, £72 million support programme aimed at improving the life chances of young people in 12 local areas which typically face entrenched and widespread social, economic and cultural challenges. The first six Opportunity Areas(see link in links section) announced in October 2016 were Oldham, North Yorkshire Coast , Derby, Norwich, West Somerset and Blackpool. In January 2017, a further six Opportunity Areas were announced: Stoke-on-Trent, Doncaster, Ipswich, Fenland and East Cambridgeshire, Hastings and Bradford. Nine of the 12 OAs are located in urban areas while three are located in rural areas. Of the 12, four OAs are located in coastal regions. An £18 million extension to the Opportunity Area programme was announced in November 2019. Year 4 of the Opportunity Areas programme(see link in links section) will focus on supporting young people following the Covid Pandemic. It will also build on previous years learnings whereby each of the 12 areas will ‘twin’ with places facing similar challenges to help unleash the potential among young people in other parts of the country.To understand the delivery process of this programme at a national level and what lessons can be learnt from taking a place-based approach, DfE is seeking providers to lead the delivery of a qualitative process evaluation.For more information please follow the links provided in the Links section of this listing.This is a potential opportunity from the government, and the pipeline gives advance notice of an opportunity that might be offered by the public sector in the future – allowing potential suppliers to plan accordingly. When a public sector organisation publishes a pipeline notice, it does not necessarily mean that an opportunity will be offered in the future.For more information contact: Department for Education, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BT. Email: Andrew.Zacharia@education.gov.uk