Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Department for Education
Cheylesmore House, Quinton Road
Coventry
CV1 2WT
UK
Telephone: +44 8450194170
E-mail: sourcing.help@education.gov.uk
Fax: +44 2476823675
NUTS: UKZZ
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.gov.uk/Department-for-Education
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 Assessment and Accreditation system (NAAS) for Child and Family Social Workers: Future Content Development and Maintenance Service
II.1.2) Main CPV code
85310000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Department is appointing a Content Partner to generate, validate and maintain assessment content for the NAAS to support national rollout scheduled to commence in spring 2020.
Initial rollout of NAAS began in a 2-phased rollout in July 2018 (Phase 1) with a small group of volunteer local authorities. We expect Phase 2 to start in spring 2019 with a larger, more demographically diverse group. Subject to successful implementation of Phase 1 and 2, we would expect full national rollout of NAAS from spring 2020.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
1 300 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKZ
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Department is appointing a Content Partner to generate, validate and maintain assessment content for the NAAS to support national rollout scheduled to commence in spring 2020.
Initial rollout of NAAS began in a 2-phased rollout in July 2018 (Phase 1) with a small group of volunteer local authorities. We expect Phase 2 to start in spring 2019 with a larger, more demographically diverse group. Subject to successful implementation of Phase 1 and 2, we would expect full national rollout of NAAS from spring 2020.
Between 2016 and 2018, the Department developed a rigorous assessment system. This assessment process was first tested with 954 social workers between December 2015 and February 2016 through the Proof of Concept Phase. Following a public consultation on the future of NAAS, the Department decided to rollout NAAS in a 2-phased approach with a full national rollout that is being supported by in-depth analysis and evaluation. We have been delivering NAAS as a live service in the north of England since July 2018.
The development and rollout of NAAS is based on the principles of iterative, responsive and agile development, focusing on continuous improvement and sector input to develop and deliver quality assessments.
The contract is complex requiring a combination of technical assessment and psychometrics expertise, as well as input from experts with a social work background. Engaging the child and family social work sector in the content development and validation is key through collaborative initiatives and consultations with subject experts leading to co-created assessment outputs.
The content partner will work using an agile approach to developing new content responding to emerging requirements and embedding learning from current rollout phases. They will curate existing assessment content from the Phase 1 and 2 project work, create and manage assessment design documentation, trials and analysis documentation, and related quality assurance processes to ensure valid, reliable assessments.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
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:
2018/S 202-459527
IV.2.9) Information about termination of call for competition in the form of a prior information notice
The contracting authority will not award any further contracts based on the above prior information notice
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
11/02/2019
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
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
Unit 109 Albert Mill, Hulme Hall Road, Castlefield
Manchester
M15 4LY
UK
NUTS: UKD33
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 1 300 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
High Court
Royal Court of Justices, The Strand
London
UK
VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
The Contracting Authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar days standstill period at the point that information on the award of the contracts is communicated to suppliers. Unsuccessful suppliers shall be informed by the Contracting Authority as soon as possible after the decision has been made. If an appeal regarding the award of the contract has not been successfully resolved, The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No. 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by the breach of the rules to take legal action. Any such action must be brought within the applicable limitation period. Where a contract has not been entered into, the Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the Contracting Authority to amend any document and may award damages. If the contract has been entered into the Court may, depending on the circumstances, award damages, make a declaration of ineffectiveness, order the Contracting Authority to pay a fine, and/or order that the duration of the contract is shortened. The purpose of the standstill period referred to above is to allow the parties to apply to the Courts to set aside the award decision before the contract is entered into.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
11/03/2019