Published date: 5 October 2021

This notice was replaced on 21 January 2022

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Opportunity (published 21 January 2022)

Closed early engagement


Contract summary

Industry

  • Education and training services - 80000000

Location of contract

Any region

Procurement reference

tender_252227/1001045

Published date

5 October 2021

Closing date

2 November 2021

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No


Description

The Standards and Testing Agency's remit is to develop and deliver statutory national curriculum tests for English Reading, English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GPS), Mathematics, Phonics and Reception Baseline Assessment for use in schools. The Agency is responsible for ensuring these tests are of the highest quality, accessible to all, inclusive and free from bias.

Trialling is essential to the Agency's operating model of delivering brand new assessments.
The Agency is wishing to establish a new framework for procuring the services of Trialling agencies for 3 years between June 2022 and June 2025.
Trialling is essential to STA's operating model of delivering brand new assessments and for adding to the bank of items for current assessments. Two types of trials are carried out:

1. Item validation trial (IVT)

An item validation trial (IVT) is a relatively small-scale trial providing evidence to support item development, for example, refining the wording of questions and developing coding frames.

2. Technical pre-test

The technical pre-test (TPT) is a larger scale trial and provides statistical evidence relating to items.


More information

Additional text

Ahead of commencing any future procurement, we wish to engage with the market to outline our requirements and explain how potential bidders may ready themselves for any procurement process that may follow.
The publication of this notice does not signify the commencement of any procurement process and does not constitute any commitment by the Department of Education to undertake any procurement exercise.

In the event that the Department of Education might decide to commence any procurement process as contemplated by this notice, a separate notice will be published at the relevant time.

The DfE is keen to ensure that potential suppliers have as much notice as is possible about the services we wish to procure and this supports our agenda about encouraging engagement with Small and Medium Suppliers.
Disclaimers and conditions: The Department retains the right to not procure and this early market engagement event is not binding. Any communication made between DfE and any party in connection with this requirement, shall not be relied upon as constituting a contract, agreement or representation that any contract will necessarily be offered.

DfE reserves the right to change without notice any documents and communications, in whole or in part. Under no circumstances shall DfE incur any liability in respect of this supporting documentation and DfE will not reimburse any costs incurred by any parties in connection with their use of these communications nor in connection with participation at the Early Market Engagement event.

This early market engagement event is suitable for suppliers that have knowledge, capacity and capability and track record to meet the requirements when the competition is published.


The event will also provide an opportunity for potential bidders to ask questions regarding the draft requirements.
This online early market engagement event for interested parties will be held on 04/11/21 (1000hrs-1200hrs). If you are interested in attending this early market engagement event, please respond to the question contained in the qualification envelope within the opportunity listing for the Early Supplier Engagement Event (ssq_172) - Trialling Framework 2022-25 - Expression of Interests) notification by 12:00 on 02/11 accessible via Jaggaer e-sourcing portal.

The link for Supplier registration and log in is: https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html

The Authority administers all procurements electronically via the Department for Education e-procurement Solution portal (Jaggaer ).
No hard copy documents will be issued and all communications with the Authority (including final submission of Tender responses) must be conducted via Jaggaer.
To ensure all communications relating to this procurement are received, potential suppliers must ensure that the point of contact they nominate in the Jaggaer portal is accurate at all times. Access to the Jaggaer portal is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week


About the buyer

Address

Cheylesmore House, 5 Quinton Road, Coventry CV1 2WT
Coventry
CV1 2WT
England

Email

TendersTD.STA@education.gov.uk