Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Welsh Government
Commercial Procurement DDaT, Cathays Park
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
UK
Contact person: ICT Procurement
Telephone: +44 3000257095
E-mail: ICTProcurement@gov.wales
NUTS: UKL
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://gov.wales
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0007
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Personalised Assessments in Reading and Numeracy
Reference number: C084/2021/2022
II.1.2) Main CPV code
72212190
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Welsh Government is awarding a contract to deliver Personalised Assessments in Wales as a full end-to-end digital service. Personalised assessments in reading and numeracy are statutory for learners in maintained schools in Wales from Years 2 to 9. The adaptive assessments are designed to support understanding of individual learner progression as part of Curriculum for Wales.
The assessments are for formative use, with a range of feedback on individuals, classes and groups that support understanding of strengths and areas for improvement.
The successful supplier will be required to provide a continuation of a digital service, develop and deliver a suite of services, including:
- An intuitive and user-friendly web-based and fully bilingual interface;
- A suite of four web-based adaptive assessments – English Reading, Welsh Reading, Numeracy (Procedural) and Numeracy (Reasoning);
- Content for the adaptive assessments appropriate for learners from Year 2 to 9
- Reporting (standardised and bespoke);
- Bilingual support/service desk; and
- Provide fully hosted infrastructure (UK/EU located data centre).
The successful supplier will be required to:
- be certified under either ISO27001 or Cyber Essentials Plus schemes;
- ensure the solution is fully bilingual and complies with level AAA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) / ISO 40500:2012;
- manage the integration with existing systems, ensuring efficient and ongoing data transfer and providing a fully integrated solution with a single sign-on;
- manage the seamless and secure transition from the current service to the new solution, including all content and data migration, the adaptive algorithm and assessment reports; and
- take an innovative approach, seeking to improve and add value to the service, as new products and approaches become available.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
20 000 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
48190000
72212190
80000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKL
Main site or place of performance:
This is a digital service and will be delivered to schools across Wales.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The contract will be for 4 years with the option to extend for 2 further periods of 12 months (6 years in total).
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 70
Price
/ Weighting:
30
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2022/S 000-033921
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: C084/2021/2022
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
10/08/2023
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from EU Member States: 2
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
AlphaPlus Consultancy Ltd
AlphaPlus c/o AQA, Devas Street
Manchester
M156EX
UK
NUTS: UKD33
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 20 000 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract is likely to be subcontracted
Value or proportion likely to be subcontracted to third parties
Value excluding VAT: 11 400 000.00 GBP
Proportion: 57 %
Short description of the part of the contract to be subcontracted:
Web User Interface, including support & hosting; Assessment delivery platform, including support & hosting; Design of assessments; and training
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
(WA Ref:133966)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
Telephone: +44 2079477501
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
10/08/2023