Student Bursary Support Service

** Market engagement day on 1 November 2017 in Sheffield, see below for more information** The Student Bursary Support Service (SBSS) is a service to: • process student applications for Care to Learn financial support, which involves eligibility checks of the student (circ 4,000 applications annually) • process institution funding claims for the 16 to 18 Bursary Fund for vulnerable students (circ 4,000 claims annually) • process student application details for Professional and Career Development Loans (circ 38,000 applications/data adjustments annually) • carry out monthly verification of course attendance at educational institutions (circ 4,000 students annually) • carry out monthly verification of child attendance at eligible/registered childcare providers (circ 4,000 students annually) • carry out weekly verification of Ofsted registration of childcare providers (circ 1,000 childcare providers annually) • make payments to eligible/registered childcare providers and education institutions (circ 25,000 annual payments). DfE provides the funds to make these payments on a weekly basis. • provide support for students, education institutions and childcare providers that need additional information and advice (circ 50,000 enquiries annually)

Additional information: The DfE held a Market Engagement event on the 1st November 2017 to provide interested parties with an opportunity to speak with the project team in a one to one environment following a main presentation. A copy of the Q & A summary from the event can be found above for download.If you have any queries after the market engagement day please contact us by email at SBSS.Procurement@education.gov.uk.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) will be circulated to interested parties on a weekly basis.

Please note that the publication of this Invitation to Tender has been delayed. This PIN will be updated once a new publication date has been agreed. Please check back here regularly for updates. This opportunity will be competed via Redimo 2, the Department's electronic sourcing platform. It is advised that you register in advance to prevent delay when this tender goes live.

Guidance on how to register on Redimo 2 is available on the gov.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education/about/procurement#redimo2 .