Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Nursing and Midwifery Council
23 Portland Place
London
W1B 1PZ
UK
Contact person: Ms Rahat Khalil
E-mail: procurement@nmc-uk.org
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.nmc.org.uk/
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/nmc/aspx/Home
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/nmc/aspx/Home
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/nmc/aspx/Home
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other: UK Healthcare Regulator
I.5) Main activity
Other: Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Provision of Design, Development and Maintenance of the Test of Competence and Aptitude Test
Reference number: REG-00000015
II.1.2) Main CPV code
79419000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (the “NMC”) is a statutory body governed primarily by the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (the “Order”). The NMC regulates nurses and midwives in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. From January 2019 the NMC will also regulate the new nursing associate profession in England. The NMC is inviting expressions of interest from organisations who wish to enter into a sole supplier framework contract arrangement to provide Design, Development and Maintenance of the Test of Competence and Aptitude Test. We are looking to work with a partner with a proven track record of engaging and working with customers to design and develop examination content similar to the Test of Competence and Aptitude Test. Further details can be found under Section II.2.4) of this notice.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
1 178 646.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
79419000
79415200
73220000
80561000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
Main site or place of performance:
UNITED KINGDOM.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Order provides that the NMC must establish and maintain a register of qualified nurses, midwives and, from January 2019, nursing associates. In order to do so, the NMC must from time to time establish the standards of proficiency necessary to be admitted to the different parts of the register. The standards of proficiency are the standards the NMC considers necessary for safe and effective practise under that part of the register. Applicants will only be admitted to the NMC’s register if they meet the NMC’s standards of proficiency and are capable of safe and effective practice. An assessment of an applicant’s professional qualification is an important part of that assessment process. For applicants to the nursing or midwifery part of the register who were trained outside of the EU or the EEA, the NMC will assess their qualification to determine whether it is comparable to a nursing or midwifery qualification awarded in the United Kingdom. Where an applicant’s qualification is assessed as not comparable in some way, the applicant may undertake a test of competence to demonstrate that they have the requisite standard of proficiency for admission to the nursing or midwifery part of the register. For applicants to the nursing or midwifery part of the register who were trained within the EU or the EEA, but whose qualifications are not governed by the Recognition of Qualifications Directive (2005/36/EC), the NMC will assess their qualification to determine whether there are any shortfalls between the applicant’s qualification and the NMC’s standards of proficiency for nurses or midwives. Where any shortfalls are identified, the applicant may either complete an adaptation programme or undertake an aptitude test to demonstrate that they have the requisite standard of proficiency for admission to the nursing or midwifery part of the register. For applicants to the nursing associate part of the register who were trained outside of England, the NMC will assess their qualification to determine whether it is comparable to a nursing associate qualification awarded in England. Where an applicant’s qualification is assessed as not comparable in some way, the applicant may undertake a test of competence to demonstrate that they have the requisite standard of proficiency for admission to the nursing associate part of the register. Applicants to any part of the register who were trained in the UK but who did not register their qualification with the NMC within five years of award are also required to complete the test of competence. In addition and subject to the outcome of the NMC’s current consultation on Return to Practice, the NMC may also require those wishing to return to the register after a period of absence to complete a test of competence. Satisfactory completion of the test of competence or the aptitude test provides the NMC with objective evidence that an applicant has the standard of proficiency comparable to an applicant with a qualification awarded in the UK and approved by the NMC. Those who pass the test of competence or the aptitude test will be deemed to hold an approved qualification and, therefore, to have met one of the requirements for admission to the NMC’s register. Consequently it is imperative that the quality of the test and its consistent delivery and assessment are of the highest standard.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
1 178 646.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 48
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
On-going requirement on behalf of the NMC.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Envisaged minimum number: 5
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
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
II.2.14) Additional information
Please note: The deadline to submit your EOIs and requests to participate in this procurement exercise is: 17:00 Wednesday 19.12.2018. The submission deadline for completed Selection Questionnaires (SQs) is: 12:00 midday on Monday 7.1.2019. Please respond to this procurement by registering your interest via the NMC e-Sourcing portal (e-Sourcing Portal): https://intendhost.co.uk/nmc
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions:
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Restricted procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2018/S 105-239631
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
07/01/2019
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
Date:
04/02/2019
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 4 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published:
In 2024.
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Nursing and Midwifery Council
23 Portland Place
London
W1B 1PZ
UK
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.nmc.org.uk/
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
10/12/2018