Published
By CPC Helpdesk
In early April, the Department for Education (DfE) produced guidance on the further education (FE) college condition allocation and what FE colleges and designated institutions can spend this on. Grant funding needs to be spent by 31st March 2028, which means colleges have time to plan and procure projects. The scope of this fund is condition-based improvement, not college expansion, so no ‘new builds’, just refurbishment.
Funding can be spent on capital projects and improving the condition of estates to address and prevent deterioration. Eligible spend also includes IT infrastructure (cabling, data outlets, trunking, switching, Wi-Fi). The DfE has produced spend guidance, which provides more detailed information about what eligible colleges can use the funding for, the method used to calculate it and what classifies as eligible and illegible spend.
FE colleges are strongly encouraged to consider using a purchasing framework to procure condition improvement work, which can help them target better quality and value for money, while complying with any funding stipulations and procurement law.
CPC has several frameworks that can assist with this, not to mention an experienced consultancy team, who can assist with condition funding-related procurement processes, all while ensuring you are getting the best deal for both your college and students. Get in touch today to find out how they can help you.
We recommend that educational institutions undertake regular conditions surveys of their existing estates, so that they can fully understand their condition. Condition improvement funding availability is often limited to those institutions who have detailed information and plans for their estates. Without access to this, a college’s recourse to funds may be limited.
The following CPC procurement frameworks and Dynamic Purchasing Systems can help you with this process:
• The Estates and Facilities Professional Services DPS is recommended for Schools & Academies by the UK Department for Education. Using this DPS, you can procure a wide range of estates and facilities consultancy services in one place, covering your institution’s works projects and/or programmes - this includes booking stock condition surveys.
• The Minor Works DPS is designed to facilitate the engagement of the services of qualified and experienced construction contractors across the UK. There are 29 lots on the DPS, comprising different building works categories. These lots provide access to a range of construction suppliers in each category. The DPS also offers opportunity for members’ incumbent suppliers to join and provide services, through a compliant route to market.
• The Mechanical & Electrical Maintenance Services framework allows buyers to engage with competent, capable and committed suppliers for the delivery of their planned preventative maintenance (PPM) and reactive maintenance services. Within the framework’s remit are boilers, heating and hot water systems, air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration, plumbing, cold water and hygiene, fire, security and life safety systems, electrical, lifts and access.
• The Building Materials, Tools & Hardware Supplies agreement meanwhile offers access to the supply of a wide range of building materials, tools and hardware supplies, which include brick, roofing materials, plasterboards, timber materials, tools and fixings, in varying quantities. In addition to this, this framework for CPC members will cater for hand and power tools.
• The ICT Networking and Storage Solutions framework offers a complete solution for computer networking products for education, covering installation of network security systems. This agreement expires shortly, but there will be a replacement.
Crescent Purchasing Consortium can also assist in a number of other ways:
• We have a dedicated Procurement Act 2023 webpage, which can help you understand the new rules and regulations.
• CPC's 10,000+ registered members will be able to access a new Crescent Learning web portal, which, in the next few months, will provide a vital source of guidance and templates to support.
• Make sure you follow CPC on our social media platforms, or get in touch with your Regional Procurement Advisor (RPA), as we will be running webinars over the next few months on this subject and have networking groups, such as the FE Facilities Management Network, which you can join.
• If you are attending future exhibitions with a CPC presence, make sure you stop by the CPC stand to speak to our experts, who will be able to answer any questions you may have around this funding.
Remember, CPC is here to help! If you’ve got any questions about this funding, please don’t hesitate to contact your RPA and don't forget, our Crescent Consultancy team can also help advise and support you.