Engagement Gateway
About the Gateway
The Engagement Gateway is a scheme Funded by Wales Assembly Government and European Structural Funds (European Social Funds), and managed by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) the umbrella body for the third sector in Wales. The Gateway will be delivered by WCVA in partnership with county voluntary councils and volunteer centres.
The Gateway aims to reduce economic inactivity in Wales by improving the employability of people who face barriers to employment and are furthest from the labour market.
The scheme will invest £34m in organisations that work with target groups of people and will offer contracts up to a maximum total value of £150,000, which any organisation will be able to bid for.
What kind of people are considered ‘furthest from the labour market’?
The Gateway will invest in organisations that target people who may be out of touch with mainstream services, or at high risk of long term benefit dependency. These groups will include people facing specific disadvantage, such as:
- Women who want to return to work
- Black, Asian and minority ethnic people
- People with a work limiting health condition or disability
- Mental health service users
- People over 50 years of age
Other target groups include:
- People in receipt of incapacity benefit
- Lone parents with children of all ages
- Young people not in employment, education or training
- Economically inactive people throughout Wales
- What type of outcomes are required to win a contract?
The aim of the Gateway is to help people make progress towards employment.
The Gateway will invest in organisations that provide activities to build the skills, confidence and knowledge of target groups; and which link progress to a ‘next step’ such as referrals to other projects, volunteering, training, supported employment or full employment.
While the outcomes of the contracts will be defined by WCVA, organisations that are tendering can design the activities that best suit their client group.
Which organisations can tender for the Gateway contracts?
Any organisation can tender for the Gateway contracts.
In order to receive information about possible tendering opportunities an organisation needs to be on the “approved supplier list”. To do this organisations need to complete and submit a pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ).
No organisation will be excluded from gaining contracts based on their geographic location. However, activities must be delivered to participants within the Convergence areas of Wales, and WCVA is seeking to maximise Welsh input within the scheme. The outcomes of the contracts will be negotiated with WCVA but organisations that are tendering can design the activities which best suit the groups they work with.
The approved supplier list for Convergence areas is currently closed (deadline was in May 2009) but will re-open during Autumn 2009. The current list will be published late July 2009.
What are the Convergence areas of Wales?
Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea and Torfaen. Click here to see map.
Where are the tender opportunities publicised?
Organisations on WCVA’s approved supplier list will be directly invited to tender for appropriate contracts. Invitations to tender will also appear on www.sell2wales.co.uk and www.wefo.wales.gov.uk.
How much money can the Gateway invest in organisations?
Level 1 will offer contracts of up to £25,000 over a maximum two year period. Match funding, while not discouraged, is not a requirement at this level.
Level 2 will offer contracts of £25,000-£75,000 over a maximum two year period. An element of match funding is required at this level. (approximately 30-40%)
Level 3 will offer contracts of £75,000-£150,000. An element of match funding is required at this level. (approximately 50% )
Match funding may include financial contribution, in-kind donations or volunteer time.
Advice
Advice is available locally through CAVS. Contact Sara Edwards on 01267 245555, email Sara@cavs.org.uk.
A leaflet about the scheme and WCVA’s guide to procurement and tendering are available by contacting the WCVA Helpdesk on 0800 2888 329, or download a copy here.
Follow the link below to view a FAQ document about the pre-qualification questionnaire from the WCVA Website: WCVA Engagement Gateway FAQ document
Organisations that would like to discuss the process of tendering to the Gateway before submitting a PQQ should contact the WCVA Helpdesk on 0800288329 or email gateway@wcva.org.uk
The approved supplier list for the Regional Competitiveness and Employment areas of Wales is currently open – the deadline to submit a PQQ is 1pm on 14 September 2009. Click here to see map.
