Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Home Office
London
UK
E-mail: sts24lituk@homeoffice.gov.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.gov.uk/home-office
I.3) Communication
Access to the procurement documents is restricted. Further information can be obtained at:
https://homeoffice.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://homeoffice.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
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
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Tender for The Knowledge of Life in the UK (LitUK) Testing Service
Reference number: C19513
II.1.2) Main CPV code
75131100
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Home Office wishes to appoint a supplier for the provision of a service to develop and deliver a test of the knowledge of Life in the UK based on the Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents, handbook, currently published by TSO Williams Lea (https://www.officiallifeintheuk.co.uk/)
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
8 500 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Since 2005, citizenship applicants have been required to show an understanding of Life in the UK (LitUK). The requirements were extended to indefinite leave to remain (settlement) applications in 2007. c200,000 customers have taken the test in the past year.
LitUK is currently a computer based multiple choice test containing 24 questions and is designed to test customers knowledge of life in the UK with a 75% pass mark.
The customer has 45 minutes to answer questions based on the content of the Life in the UK handbook.
Tests are taken under Home Office prescribed secure conditions where secure relates to:
1. Processes to verify the identity of the customer;
2. Ensuring that it is only the validated customer who takes the test and does so under exam conditions with an appropriately trained invigilator to eliminate the ability to cheat; and
3. Ongoing audits, both internal and via external independent auditors, of the physical test points, processes and delivery systems in order to ensure that the security and integrity protocols are being strictly adhered to.
There are currently c30 test centres in the UK and one overseas test centre in Cyprus (MOD premises) with an average travel time for candidates to the centre of their choice of less than 30 minutes.
There are several exceptions to those who must take the test if the customer is:
1. under 18 years of age
2. over 65 years of age
3. has passed it before
4. has a long term physical or mental condition
Provision of the knowledge of life and language in the UK tests are a statutory service and the fee for taking the test must be and are set in legislation by the Home Office.
The Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2018 specify in Schedule 11, the current fee, at the time of publishing this ITT is £50. Any change to the fee amount must be enabled by a change to these Regulations, prior to the new fee being charged and are not set by the Supplier of the service.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 36
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The contract will run for 36 months with an option to extend for a further 12 months and a further 12 months after that
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
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
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:
Please refer to the ITT instruction to bidder pack on the Home Office eSourcing tool
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
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.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
08/09/2023
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
11/09/2023
Local time: 09:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
Yes
VI.3) Additional information
This procurement will be managed electronically via the Home Office’s eSourcing Portal (JAGGAER). To participate in this procurement, participants must first be registered on the eSourcing Portal.
If you have not yet registered on the eSourcing Portal, this can be done online at https://homeoffice.app.jaggaer.com Please note that, to register, you must have a valid DUNS number (as provided by Dun and Bradstreet) for the organisation which you are registering, who will be entering into a contract if invited to do so.
Once you have registered on the eSourcing Portal, a registered user can express an interest for a specific procurement. This is done by emailing sts24lituk@homeoffice.gov.uk.
Your email must clearly state: that you wish to register for "Tender for The Knowledge of Life in the UK (LitUK) Testing Service C19513"; the name of the registered supplier; and the name and contact details for the registered individual sending the email.
The eMail will be processed and then the buyer will enable the supplier to access a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) via the eSourcing Portal. The registered user will receive a notification email to alert them once this has been done.
Once the registered user has completed and returned the NDA via the eSourcing Portal the buyer will enable the supplier to access the independent ITT area via the eSourcing Portal. The registered user will receive a notification email to alert them once this has been done.
We highly recommend that once you complete the NDA and first access the Tender section, that you download and review the "Invitation to Tender for The Knowledge of Life in the UK_LitUK_Instructions to Bidders_READ ME FIRST" found within the 'attachments' section of the eSourcing portal.
For technical assistance on use of the eSourcing Portal please contact the JAGGAER Supplier Helpdesk at customersupport@jaggaer.com or 0800 069 8630 (0800 - 1800hrs).
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
21/07/2023