The Institution is seeking to appoint a Provider of absence protection and reimbursement services for a twelve-month period, commencing 01/09/2026 until 31/08/2026. Consideration will be given to contract renewal subject to agreement, the continuation of favourable terms, and overall contract value. Mersey View Learning Trust is a multi-academy trust based in Sefton, Merseyside, dedicated to delivering high quality education through collaboration, innovation and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for all learners. Established in 2024, the Trust serves communities across Crosby, Waterloo, Litherland and the surrounding areas. The Trust currently comprises six schools and educational settings: Chesterfield High School & Sixth Form Forefield Community Infant & Nursery School Forefield Junior School Valewood Primary School Waterloo Primary School The Rowan Schools (including specialist provision for pupils with additional needs) The Trust supports pupils from early years through to post-16 education and specialist provision, ensuring continuity of learning and strong educational pathways across all phases. Mersey View Learning Trust serves approximately 3,000+ students and employs 500+ staff across its schools and central services. The Trust is committed to creating safe, inclusive and nurturing environments that promote educational excellence, personal development, wellbeing and positive lifelong outcomes for pupils, staff and the wider community. All bidders for this contract opportunity are hereby notified that in the event of any merger or acquisition taking place during the term of this contract that results in additional business being awarded to the selected supplier in accordance with Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, that this award is transacted under the Staff Absence Protection and Reimbursement Services Framework Agreement CPC/LO/01/2025. This Mini Competition (also known as a mini competition) is being carried out using the CPC Staff Absence Protection and Reimbursement Services CPC/LO/01/2025 framework. The Call-Off Conditions used as part of the tender will govern the relationship between the Institution and the successful supplier in conjunction with the Insurance provider´s terms of business agreement (ToBA)/service level agreements (SLA´s) which should be embedded in the Call-Off Conditions document under Schedule 4. Following contract award and standstill periods, the Institution will update the Call-Off Terms and Conditions to reflect the specifics of the contract and issue to the successful supplier for signature. (For Your reference, the Call Off Conditions of Contract were included as Appendix 3 of the original framework ITT). The objective of this tender is to identify the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT). Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the assessment criteria and percentage weightings set out . The Institution reserves the right to cancel the tender process at any point. The Institution is not liable for any costs resulting from any cancellation of this tender process nor for any other costs incurred by those tendering for this Contract. During the evaluation period, the Institution reserves the right to seek clarification from any or all of the Tenderers, to assist it in its consideration of their Tenders. Please note that responses to any queries or clarification requests may be circulated to all tenderers. The Institution reserves the right to issue supplementary documentation at any time during the tender process to clarify any issue or amend any aspect of the ITT. The percentage weighted score for the Pricing and Quality Requirement Award Criteria will be added together to provide a total weighted score out of 100.00%. Award Criteria Weighting Pricing 40% Policies 25% Account Management 10% Service Provision 20% Social value 5% Total 100.00% The highest scoring supplier that has provided all the requirements of this Mini Competition will have deemed to have won the Mini Competition. If two or more framework suppliers achieve equal first place i.e., the highest scores the award will be made as follows: First response returned and/or Shortest lead times The pricing suppliers submit must be in line with the pricing structure submitted in the original framework agreement or better, i.e., not to the detriment of the institution. The submitted premium (based on our requirements) will be scored in accordance with the following formula: (Lowest Total Premium Tendered/Supplier Total Premium to be Evaluated) x 40.00% = Percentage Weighted Score In the case where a tender appears to be abnormally low in relation to the products and or services to be provided, The Institution will request a clarification in writing and/or explanation concerning its elements. The Institution reserves the right to exclude a tender, if after a verification process based on the explanations and evidence received it comes to the conclusion that the tender is abnormally low. Evaluation of quality will be made up of Policy, Account Management, Service Provision, and Social Value sub-criteria. Account Management, Service Provision and Social Value sub-criteria will be evaluated by assessing the responses suppliers provide against the Quality Questions included within the Tender Response Form below. Tenderers must complete the Tender Response Form with their quality responses, considering the requirements of the specification: The Policy sub-criteria will be evaluated by assessing each suppliers´ submitted policy and summary documentation against the elements included in the Scoring Matrix found