Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
NURSING AND MIDWIFERY COUNCIL
1091434
23 Portland Place
LONDON
W1B1PZ
UK
Contact person: Rahat Khalil
E-mail: procurement@nmc-uk.org
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.nmc.org.uk/
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://nmcprocurementportal.force.com/s/Welcome
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://nmcprocurementportal.force.com/s/Welcome
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other: UK Health Care Regulator
I.5) Main activity
Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Provision of Education Quality Assurance Services
Reference number: C1242
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as the Contracting Authority wishes to establish a potential contract with a third-party delivery partner to undertake Quality Assurance of educational institutions across the UK on their behalf to ensure protection of the public.
Quality Assurance (QA) of education is one of the key regulatory activities of the NMC. It gives us the confidence that education institutions are meeting our standards for education and training. This helps us to know that students who have successfully completed an approved programme are meeting the standards of proficiency that we require before they join our register and deliver safe, kind and effective care - it's one of the ways we fulfil our duty to protect the public. If QA identifies that an education institution isn't meeting our standards, we must take action so the education institution returns to compliance. This will ensure that there is public confidence in our role in nursing, midwifery and nursing associate education and encourages the education institution to remain responsible for meeting our standards.
The responsibilities of the NMC for education and training are set out in the Nursing and Midwifery Order (The Nursing and Midwifery Order, Part IV Education and Training, 2001). The NMC has a responsibility to ensure that education institutions providing education and training of nurses, midwives and nursing associates meet our requirements and standards.
The role of the Quality Assurance Service Partner (QASP) will be directed towards monitoring activities, including coordinating and facilitating monitoring visits, extraordinary reviews and listening events, along with supporting annual monitoring, undertaking thematic analysis and identifying trends in intelligence and making recommendations to support our QA decision-making. This shift of focus provides an opportunity to review our education QA requirements, as we look to procure a QASP best able to support us to fulfil our regulatory function, offering agility and innovative solutions to implementing the QA framework, ensuring that our EDI Strategy and plan remains at the forefront of the work we do, as move to indefinite approval and focus on robust risk-based monitoring.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
5 500 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
85100000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as the Contracting Authority wishes to establish a potential contract with a third-party delivery partner to undertake Quality Assurance of educational institutions across the UK on their behalf to ensure protection of the public.
Quality Assurance (QA) of education is one of the key regulatory activities of the NMC. It gives us the confidence that education institutions are meeting our standards for education and training. This helps us to know that students who have successfully completed an approved programme are meeting the standards of proficiency that we require before they join our register and deliver safe, kind and effective care - it's one of the ways we fulfil our duty to protect the public. If QA identifies that an education institution isn't meeting our standards, we must take action so the education institution returns to compliance. This will ensure that there is public confidence in our role in nursing, midwifery and nursing associate education and encourages the education institution to remain responsible for meeting our standards.
The responsibilities of the NMC for education and training are set out in the Nursing and Midwifery Order (The Nursing and Midwifery Order, Part IV Education and Training, 2001). The NMC has a responsibility to ensure that education institutions providing education and training of nurses, midwives and nursing associates meet our requirements and standards.
The role of the Quality Assurance Service Partner (QASP) will be directed towards monitoring activities, including coordinating and facilitating monitoring visits, extraordinary reviews and listening events, along with supporting annual monitoring, undertaking thematic analysis and identifying trends in intelligence and making recommendations to support our QA decision-making. This shift of focus provides an opportunity to review our education QA requirements, as we look to procure a QASP best able to support us to fulfil our regulatory function, offering agility and innovative solutions to implementing the QA framework, ensuring that our EDI Strategy and plan remains at the forefront of the work we do, as move to indefinite approval and focus on robust risk-based monitoring.
Responses to the ITT are to be completed electronically using the NMC's e-sourcing portal https://nmcprocurementportal.force.com/s/Welcome ('e-Sourcing Portal')
The e-Sourcing Portal provides a web-based tool that enables the NMC and candidates and tenderers to conduct the strategic activities of the procurement lifecycle over the internet. It provides a simple, secure and efficient means for managing tendering and quotation activities, reducing the time and effort required for both the NMC (and other buyers) and potential providers / suppliers.
Please note the following project name and reference number allocated to this procurement process ('Procurement') within the e-Sourcing Portal:
Project Name Provision of Education Quality Assurance Services
Project Reference C1242
Before completing their Tender Submission, potential candidates and tenderers should ensure that the email address that has been used to register will be checked regularly. Candidates and tenderers should also check that their organisation details are correct and up to date.
No information contained in this document ('ITT Guidance'), any other documents issued with the ITT or in any communication made between the NMC and any candidate or tenderer in connection with this Procurement shall be relied upon as constituting a contract, agreement or representation that any contract shall be offered in accordance with this Procurement. The NMC reserves the right, subject to the appropriate procurement regulations, to change without notice the basis of, or the procedures for, this Procurement or to terminate this Procurement at any time and NMC does not bind itself to enter into a contract with a successful tenderer. Under no circumstances shall the NMC incur any liability in respect of this Procurement or any supporting documentation.
Direct or indirect canvassing of any NMC employee, adviser, service provider or agent by any candidate or tenderer concerning this Procurement, or any attempt to procure information from any NMC employee or agent concerning this Procurement may result in the disqualification of the relevant candidate or tenderer from this Procurement at NMC's discretion.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 70
Price
/ Weighting:
30
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
5 500 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 60
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Initial contract is for 36 months with an option to extend up to a further 24-month possible extension in 2 annual increments of 12 months (subject to excellent performance at the end of the initial terms).
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
II.2.14) Additional information
Initial contract is for 36 months with an option to extend up to a further 24-month possible extension in 2 annual increments of 12 months (subject to excellent performance at the end of the initial terms). Please respond to this procurement by registering your interest via the NMC e-Sourcing portal ("e-Sourcing Portal") https://nmcprocurementportal.force.com/s/Welcome
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:
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as the Contracting Authority wishes to establish a potential contract with a third-party delivery partner to undertake Quality Assurance of educational institutions across the UK on their behalf to ensure protection of the public.
Quality Assurance (QA) of education is one of the key regulatory activities of the NMC. It gives us the confidence that education institutions are meeting our standards for education and training. This helps us to know that students who have successfully completed an approved programme are meeting the standards of proficiency that we require before they join our register and deliver safe, kind and effective care - it's one of the ways we fulfil our duty to protect the public. If QA identifies that an education institution isn't meeting our standards, we must take action so the education institution returns to compliance. This will ensure that there is public confidence in our role in nursing, midwifery and nursing associate education and encourages the education institution to remain responsible for meeting our standards.
The responsibilities of the NMC for education and training are set out in the Nursing and Midwifery Order (The Nursing and Midwifery Order, Part IV Education and Training, 2001). The NMC has a responsibility to ensure that education institutions providing education and training of nurses, midwives and nursing associates meet our requirements and standards.
The role of the Quality Assurance Service Partner (QASP) will be directed towards monitoring activities, including coordinating and facilitating monitoring visits, extraordinary reviews and listening events, along with supporting annual monitoring, undertaking thematic analysis and identifying trends in intelligence and making recommendations to support our QA decision-making. This shift of focus provides an opportunity to review our education QA requirements, as we look to procure a QASP best able to support us to fulfil our regulatory function, offering agility and innovative solutions to implementing the QA framework, ensuring that our EDI Strategy and plan remains at the forefront of the work we do, as move to indefinite approval and focus on robust risk-based monitoring.
Responses to the ITT are to be completed electronically using the NMC's e-sourcing portal https://nmcprocurementportal.force.com/s/Welcome ('e-Sourcing Portal')
The e-Sourcing Portal provides a web-based tool that enables the NMC and candidates and tenderers to conduct the strategic activities of the procurement lifecycle over the internet. It provides a simple, secure and efficient means for managing tendering and quotation activities, reducing the time and effort required for both the NMC (and other buyers) and potential providers / suppliers.
Please note the following project name and reference number allocated to this procurement process ('Procurement') within the e-Sourcing Portal:
Project Name Provision of Education Quality Assurance Services
Project Reference C1242
Before completing their Tender Submission, potential candidates and tenderers should ensure that the email address that has been used to register will be checked regularly. Candidates and tenderers should also check that their organisation details are correct and up to date.
No information contained in this document ('ITT Guidance'), any other documents issued with the ITT or in any communication made between the NMC and any candidate or tenderer in connection with this Procurement shall be relied upon as constituting a contract, agreement or representation that any contract shall be offered in accordance with this Procurement. The NMC reserves the right, subject to the appropriate procurement regulations, to change without notice the basis of, or the procedures for, this Procurement or to terminate this Procurement at any time and NMC does not bind itself to enter into a contract with a successful tenderer. Under no circumstances shall the NMC incur any liability in respect of this Procurement or any supporting documentation.
Direct or indirect canvassing of any NMC employee, adviser, service provider or agent by any candidate or tenderer concerning this Procurement, or any attempt to procure information from any NMC employee or agent concerning this Procurement may result in the disqualification of the relevant candidate or tenderer from this Procurement at NMC's discretion.
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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2018/S 107-244079
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
13/12/2023
Local time: 17:00
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)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
14/12/2023
Local time: 09:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published:
In three years time.
VI.3) Additional information
Responses to the ITT are to be completed electronically using the NMC's e-sourcing portal https://nmcprocurementportal.force.com/s/Welcome ('e-Sourcing Portal')
The e-Sourcing Portal provides a web-based tool that enables the NMC and candidates and tenderers to conduct the strategic activities of the procurement lifecycle over the internet. It provides a simple, secure and efficient means for managing tendering and quotation activities, reducing the time and effort required for both the NMC (and other buyers) and potential providers / suppliers.
Please note the following project name and reference number allocated to this procurement process ('Procurement') within the e-Sourcing Portal:
Project Name Provision of Education Quality Assurance Services
Project Reference C1242
Initial contract is for 36 months with an option to extend up to a further 24-month possible extension in 2 annual increments of 12 months (subject to excellent performance at the end of the initial terms). Please respond to this procurement by registering your interest via the NMC e-Sourcing portal ("e-Sourcing Portal").
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
The Nursing & Midwifery Council
London
W1B 1PZ
UK
E-mail: procurement@nmc-uk.org
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
30/10/2023