ESFVON
European Structrial Funds Voluntary Organisations Northern
ESF OBJECTIVE 3
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UP-DATE
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Overview
Co-Financing position
LSC Northumberland
LSC Tyne & Wear
LSC County Durham
LSC Tees Valley
Jobcentre Plus
Consortiums / Partnerships
Alternative (Direct) Bidding
Equal Opportunities Gateway
Sustainable Development
Overview
As many organisations will be aware, the majority of funding under Objective
3 is now administered through Co-Financing Organisations (CFOs) which in the
North East of England are the four Learning & Skills Councils (LSCs) and
Jobcentre Plus.
Whilst there was a co-ordinated tender / bidding round in September 2003, a
number of limited opportunities have since taken place and future
opportunities will continue to vary both in respect of tender specifications
and the areas they cover.
The following summary sets out our understanding of the current position,
but please note that these details are only provisional and could be subject
to change.
Learning & Skills Council - Northumberland
Indicative time-scale: Late May/June
Following the tender round under Policy Fields 1 - 5 during February/March
2004, a further limited tender round is anticipated which may include a
number of Basic Skills opportunities under Policy Field 2, and additional
opportunities in Lifelong Learning under Policy Field 3.
Learning & Skills Council - Tyne & Wear
Indicative time-scale: late May 2004
It is anticipated that there will be an invitation for tenders under Measure
2.1 - Access to Basic Skills Provision (Pre-Vocational). The detail of the
tender specifications is not known but the requirement for a consortia
approach is envisaged.
Indicative time-scale: September 2004
It is anticipated that there will be an invitation for tenders under
Measure 2.2 - Improve the Employability and Remove Barriers to Labour Market
Entry for those Groups Disadvantaged in the Labour Market. Tender details
are not known, but they may include Capacity Building.
Learning & Skills Council - County Durham
Indicative time-scale: late May 2004
Invitations to tender have yet to be confirmed, but consideration is being
given to opportunities under Policy Field 3 - Life Long Learning, and
Measure 1.2 - Improve the Employability of the Unemployed, Returners and
Young People of Working Age, and Measure 2.1 - Access of Basic Skills
Provision.
Learning & Skills Council - Tees Valley
Timescale: May 2004
It is anticipated that tenders will be invited under Policy Field 1, 2 and 4.
It is also anticipated that the Co-financing Application and Prospectus
detailing the tender specifications will be available from Tuesday 4 May 2004.
Jobcentre Plus
Indicative Timescale -
Jobcentre Plus are encouraging a sub regional approach to tender and are
currently assessing and evaluating those areas where further provision may be
required. Future tendering rounds will be publicised in due course.
Consortiums / Partnerships
With the introduction of Co-financing in Objective 3, whereby tender
opportunities are promoted on a sub regional basis there is now an increasing
focus on consortium bids. In effect, in many instances this could put
"stand alone" projects at a disadvantage, irrespective of the
individual value of such bids.
Given the short length of time of application processes, organisations have
not found it possible to develop a consortium approach within the time
available. ESFVON also believes there are instances where a consortium
approach may not even be possible.
It is a difficult problem - particularly as tender specifications are not
known in advance.
ESFVON would suggest that potential applicants should carefully consider the
areas they may seek funding in the future - both thematic and geographic -
and be aware of provision and providers serving similar interests. If your
tender / bid can demonstrate that your project is integral to provision in an
area and that it has been developed and / or will be provided in partnership
with others, this should enhance your opportunities of meeting the full
specification, and your chances of success.
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Alternative (Direct) Bidding
Indicative Timescale: June - September 2004
A further Alternative (Direct) Bidding opportunity to Government Office for
the North East will be dependent on additional resources becoming available.
It is anticipated that this could occur during the next few months, but
currently the amount of resources and Priorities/Measures under which
applications might be sought, are not able to be confirmed.
Details of any Alternative (Direct) Bidding opportunities will be publicised
as soon as they become known.
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Equal Opportunities Gateway
To contribute to the mainstreaming of Equal Opportunities a "Gateway" is being
developed for applications under Alternative (Direct) Bidding to Government
Office for the North East. It may also have an impact on tenders to
Co-Financing Organisations.
It is anticipate that the "Gateway" will consist of a number of questions which
will require detailed responses and which applicants will have to
satisfactorily answer in order for their application to be able to be
considered for selection. Guidance will be available at application stage.
To assist organisations in preparing for this additional requirement, ESFVON
will be holding, in due course, a briefing event to provide for an
understanding of the process and the considerations which organisations will
need to take into account.
Sustainability
The Mid-Term evaluation of the Objective 3 Programme concluded that
Sustainable Development is not yet fully integrated as a horizontal
theme within the Programme. It also concluded that there was confusion as
to what was meant by Sustainable Development and a clear understanding was
desirable.
Given that the majority of Objective 3 funds are now directed through
Co-financing Organisations, consideration is being given to strengthening the
theme in CFO Plans, and also in respect of tenders Sustainable development
could equally apply to alternative (direct) bidding to Government Office.
When proposals are confirmed, ESFVON will arrange a number of short
presentations for potential applicants on what the term "Sustainable Development"
will mean in practice with regard to the European Social Fund, and the
considerations which should be taken into account in the design of projects.
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For further information and advice on Objective 3, contact:
Donald Dempsey or Alan Payne
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For further information and advice on Objective 2, contact:
Sue Mason or Victor Ottaway