CONTRACT NOTICE – NATIONAL

1 Authority Details

1.1

Authority Name and Address

1.2

Address from which documentation may be obtained

As in 1.1

1.3

Completed documents must be returned to:

As in 1.1

2 Contract Details

2.1

Title

Independent Reviewers & Exam Procedures Review Advice Service

2.2

Description of the goods or services required

Qualifications Wales wishes to award contracts for services for independent reviewers and Exam Procedures Review Service (EPRS) advisors.

As the regulator of qualifications in Wales, there are some regulatory decisions which could lead to an independent review. An independent reviewer needs to be in place to review these decisions and they need to be external to the organisation and independent from the original regulatory decision.

The Exam Procedure Review Service is a procedure that we undertake to review awarding body decisions in relation to complaints related to GCSE, GCE A Level and Skills Challenge Certificate qualifications. The grounds must relate to the results that have been issued, malpractice and maladministration, and/or reasonable adjustments and special considerations. We convene a panel from within Qualifications Wales to investigate the allegations made against the awarding body and determine whether or not they have breached our requirements or their policies and procedures. An EPRS advisor will advise the panel during their investigation.

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=115990.

The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.

Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.

2.3

Notice Coding and Classification

2.4

Total quantity or scope of tender

We are currently seeking individuals to undertake independent reviews of regulatory decisions we have taken and / or provide support for our EPRS panellists, if and when they might arise.

We anticipate that the contract will commence 1 March 2022 and will be for a period of three years with the option to extend for up to a further twelve months. Work commenced before the end of the contract period that may extend beyond the contract end date will continue to completion and remain subject to the terms of the Contract.

3 Conditions for Participation

3.1

Minimum standards and qualification required

The independent reviewer / EPRS advisor must be independent of Qualifications Wales, and therefore, if the independent reviewer / EPRS advisor has carried out work on other contracts (including as a subject expert) on a related matter, or in the preceding 12 months, then we would assess and manage any conflicts of interest and risks at that time. The independent reviewer / EPRS advisor must also have no actual or perceived conflicts with the learner or centre or awarding body to which the case is related.

4 Administrative Information

4.1

Type of Procedure

Single stage

4.2

Reference number attributed to the notice by the contracting authority

QW212220

4.3

Time Limits

4.5

Language or languages in which tenders or requests to participate can be drawn up

4.6

Tender Submission Postbox

5 Other Information

5.1

Additional Information

(WA Ref:115990)

5.2

Additional Documentation

5.3

Publication date of this notice