Adult and other education services. The Army and Navy Torch Hub hold an agreement with learndirect to provide a grant towards funding the delivery of e-learning elective courses and vocational qualifications to the Army and Royal Navy (RN). The Torch Hub is the brand for learndirect delivery within the Army and RN.

As part of the learndirect service, the Training Provider is required to deliver the assessment and verification of vocational qualifications, provide programme management of Information Technology Qualification (ITQ) and the Institute of Leadership and Management qualifications (iLM), provide subject specialist support to soldiers, RN personnel, Crown Servants and the wider military community, as well as providing CPD for e-Learning Centre staff. There may be a further requirement to undertake the programme management for other qualifications as directed by the Authority or learndirect. The requirement for the delivery of vocational qualifications is demand-led and there is scope for the current portfolio to change.

An established network of 90+ learning centres exists throughout the UK, Germany, Cyprus and Gibraltar offering e-learning courses, but specifically NVQs at Level 2-3 in Business Administration, Customer Service, Management and Plant Operations. Tutor support is already provided by MOD e-Learning Centre personnel for ITQ qualifications at level 1-3 and ILM in team leading at level 2. In addition, MOD e-LC staff provide general NVQ advice and guidance.

The Contractor will be expected to work in accordance with extant Authority guidelines, Skills Funding Agency (SFA) guidelines, learndirect Learning Service and Operational agreements, Sector Skills Council (SSC), Ofsted requirements and meet Awarding Organisation (AO) criteria, which will include but not be limited to: full induction including literacy and numeracy initial screening, registration of learners with the AO, support learners to meet knowledge or training gaps through learndirect e-learning, robust assessment (e-portfolio is currently being used), work closely with AO and Standard Verifiers and utilise the Army Webex on-line conference facility to support stakeholders where appropriate. The Authority may also require the Contractor to manage the learner fee and refund system.

In order to deliver this requirement, the Contractor must hold and maintain Accredited Centre status, provide qualified and experienced assessors and verifiers and quality assure their provision of delivery.

The learndirect agreement and SFA funding is provided on an annual basis, therefore the Contract would be let on the basis of 5 years; one year certain, with 4 further optional 1-year periods or part thereof commencing 1 September 2012. The requirement is entirely dependent on the availability of guaranteed annual SFA funding. Funding available to the Contractor will reflect the MOD contribution to delivery.

Potential Contractors will be required to ensure that their proposals for delivery allow for incorporating emerging Government initiatives, as well as comply with all current and future Government, Army and RN requirements; such as CRB checks, safeguarding of learners and protection of data, quality standards and processes.

Information given below is based upon historic figures, is indicative for estimating purposes only, and cannot be guaranteed. It should be noted that a percentage of learners will be on an agreed break in learning, largely through operational deployments or career courses.

In the 2010-11 contract year 2 450 leaners achieved NVQ qualifications and 2 265 ITQ L2 achievements. The 2011-12 contract year estimated profile is based on 3 130 NVQ achievements, with a further 250 Level 3 NVQ enrolments and 2 200 ITQ L2 achievements.

Further information on the Army and Navy Torch Hub can be found at http://learner.torchhub.co.uk.