Existing deal will be replaced by an agreement including initial mapping exercise, followed by provision of services that ‘recognise that becoming digitally included is a continuous process requiring ongoing support’
The Welsh Government has revealed plans for a £12m-plus digital programme of work to be delivered over the coming years and including the creation of a new “national inclusion advice service”.
The devolved administration has published an early planning notice alerting the market to its intention to replace an existing contract for digital inclusion services with a new agreement – set to take effect in the autumn of this year.
The incumbent arrangement, which concludes on 30 September, supports delivery of the Welsh Government’s £2m-a-year Digital Confidence, Health and Wellbeing (DCW) programme of work.
The newly released commercial notice outlines that this contract’s replacement will aim to build on existing activities, and will include the introduction of a new overarching support service to be delivered across Wales.
“The DCW programme has worked with organisations from all sectors that support digitally excluded people, providing training and support to frontline staff and volunteers to help them develop the basic digital skills of citizens,” the notice says. “The focus of the new contract will be on delivery of a nationally delivered programme of activity to support digital inclusion work in Wales including developing a national inclusion advice service and undertaking mapping of digital inclusion provision across Wales.”
Over an initial three-year team – which can be extended by an extra three years – the new agreement is expected to be worth about £12.2m to the chosen supplier. The deal will cover the provision of initial research focused on the “mapping of digital inclusion provision throughout Wales”.
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The government’s partner of choice will then be tasked with the “provision of digital inclusion advice, via regional and thematic skills advisers”, as well as the “creation and updating of digital inclusion skills resources”.
The provider will also be engaged in “supporting bringing public and private sector stakeholders together to share knowledge and best practice and provide strategic leadership – reflecting the fact that digital inclusion is not owned by any one sector or organisation but is everyone’s business”, according to the notice.
The planning document adds: “The contract will recognise that becoming digitally included is a continuous process requiring ongoing support, which can take a long time to go from a first-time user to a position where one is able to demonstrate all five basic digital skills from the Essential Digital Skills Framework.”
That framework, which was created by Whitehall’s Department for Education, defines the five core skills as the ability to use digital platforms for: communicating; handling information and content; transacting; problem-solving; and being safe and legal online.
The Welsh Government is intending to undertake a formal procurement process for the digital inclusion agreement over the summer. Before doing so, the administration is to hold an “online information event… where contract managers will outline the project and the tender submission process, as well as fielding questions from prospective bidders”.
This event will last 45 minutes, and will begin at 1pm on 20 May. Suppliers interested in finding out more or potentially bidding for the subsequent contract can register to attend by emailing Samantha Cole – on digitalinclusionmailbox@gov.wales – by 5pm on 15 May.
