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As of 31st October 2008, the LSC has opened a Qualified Provider Framework (QPF) for providers of education and training services. The Qualified Provider Framework is a maintained list of all providers from which the LSC will secure education and training services. This list will incorporate those providers with whom the LSC will negotiate and/or invite to tender.

The Qualified Provider Framework will streamline the way the LSC commissions and contracts for provision and will remove barriers for new providers wishing to work with the LSC. Providers that wish to be eligible to receive invitations to tender can apply to be pre-qualified at any time during the year. This ‘always open’ approach will allow providers to apply at a time convenient to them and which suits their business need.

When the LSC identifies a need to tender for provision, it will temporarily freeze the list to new applicants in order for the tendering process to begin. The dates that the list will be frozen will be published well in advance; ensuring providers have sufficient opportunity to apply to pre-qualify.

How do providers ensure they are on the Qualified Provider Framework?

The details of all existing LSC providers are on the Qualified Provider Framework. Providers only need to take action if they wish to receive invitations to tender from the LSC.

Any provider that wishes to be included in the LSC’s tendering round for education and training services in January 2009 needs to ensure that they apply to pre-qualify by 10th December 2008. Providers who do not apply to pre-qualify by this date will not be eligible to receive invitations to tender in January 2009. This will not impact on a provider’s ability to continue to negotiate with the LSC.

In January 2009, the LSC will tender for European Social Fund provision and may also use the QPF to secure rapid response provision to support redundacncies, as part of the package of measures announced by the Secretary of State in October.

Existing providers who have no interest in receiving invitations to tender for new programmes do not need to take action. The LSC will continue to negotiate existing contracted programmes with these providers.

For further details consult the LSC website http://www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/commissioning/qualifiedproviderframework/