Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual)
Earlsdon Park, 53-55 Butts Rd
Coventry
CV1 3BH
UK
Telephone: +44 2476716830
E-mail: procurement@ofqual.gov.uk
NUTS: UKG33
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://ofqual.gov.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.mytenders.co.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA29088
I.3) Communication
Access to the procurement documents is restricted. Further information can be obtained at:
www.mytenders.co.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
www.mytenders.co.uk
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
Education
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
National Reference Tests from 2025
Reference number: OF923
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80200000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
To provide the National Reference Tests (NRT) in England on behalf of Ofqual. The National Reference Tests provide evidence for Ofqual on changes in performance standards over time in GCSE English Language and Mathematics in England at the end of Key Stage 4.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
14 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80200000
73430000
73300000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKG33
Main site or place of performance:
Coventry
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
See II.1.4. For further information please refer to the attached Services Description document
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:
14 000 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
01/08/2023
End:
31/08/2029
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
A maximum of 3 x 12 month optional extension periods, subject to Supplier agreement
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
Envisaged number of candidates: 5
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates:
Information obtained from response to published PIN 2022/S 000-017848.
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
Following the initial contract period, and subject to minimum notice being provided as per contract, the Buyer may choose to extend the contract by 3 x 12 month periods, reviewed annually and subject to Supplier agreement via the agreed change/variation process.
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 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:
As stated in the Procurement documents.
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
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
To be included in the Invitation to Tender
III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing 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:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2022/S 000-017848
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
24/02/2023
Local time: 17:00
IV.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
Date:
08/03/2023
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: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
This selection exercise is drafted on the basis of a Contract that will include ongoing strategic development and delivery of the National Reference Tests on an annual basis up to and including the Tests in 2029; the contract may be extended at Ofqual's discretion for any period up to a maximum of 3 years to include the delivery of the Tests in 2030, 2031 and 2032. Following discussions with the market and having carefully considered the risks to stability in test results of awarding elements of the service to different suppliers Ofqual would like to appoint a single supplier to provide all of the NRT services. Interested parties may cooperate with other organisations where this enables them to meet the requirement by sub-contractual or consortia arrangements. Further information is included in the attached Procurement Policy Note 8/16 Standard Selection Questionnaire template and guidance document.
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the myTenders Web Site at https://www.mytenders.co.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=227493.
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.mytenders.co.uk/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.
(MT Ref:227493)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Public Procurement Review Service
Cabinet Office
London
UK
Telephone: +44 3450103503
E-mail: publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
24/01/2023