Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

274. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale for the proposed changes to the SOLAS tendering process for contracted training; if the key determining factor in the tendering procedure is the level of turnover achieved by the training providers in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9715/16]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

277. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the consultation process undertaken prior to the proposed implementation of changes to the SOLAS tendering process for contracted training; how many of SOLAS existing training providers were included in the consultation; and the selection process in this regard. [9716/16]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

279. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to place a moratorium on the change to the SOLAS tendering process for contracted training and to meet with representatives of the newly formed Contracted Training Tender List Forum, a newly formed representative body for companies currently on the tender list. [9717/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 274, 277 and 279 together.

This is an operational matter for SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards.

SOLAS have advised that in 2013, through an e-tender notification, it established a panel and managed the pre-qualification process for the provision of contracted training for the Education and Training Boards (ETBs). This panel is due to expire in March 2017.

A new procurement framework for the delivery of the required service will be established by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) and operated by the ETBs for the purpose of delivering contracted training services.

The ETBs facilitated by SOLAS and the OGP have developed a draft policy that will support the procurement of the service and will provide significant advantages and improvements over the current system for the operation of Contracted Training across the country. It will also bring the procurement of contracted training in line with the requirements of new EU directives in this area.

I understand that the following approaches were included to ensure that small and medium sized businesses retain the opportunity to be listed on the new framework:

- Significant reduction in the turnover requirements regarding the financial capacity for applicants

- Limiting the number of lots for which a larger company can apply

- Limiting the minimum number of businesses that will be listed

- Providing a viable sub-contracting option at tender stage and for specific technical contracts, to ensure that small businesses can avail of additional opportunities if they are not listed on the framework

- Encouraging joint venture options by early notification of upcoming changes

I am informed that the draft proposal for the operation of the framework was then the subject of an extensive consultation process. As part of the consultation process the OGP posted a PIN (Prior Information Notice) in February this year the purpose of which was to inform the market that there is an upcoming change to Contract Training and to take note of the subsequent notices regarding these proposed changes. All current providers and other interested parties were invited to a briefing session on Monday 21st March at which SOLAS briefed the attendees on the upcoming changes. All current providers were also invited to provide feedback on the draft proposal for the operation of the framework by the end of April. I understand that 34 responses were received, including one from the CTTL Forum.