Official UK procurement notice
Delivery of National Reference Tests from 2025
Authority: Ofqual (Central government)·Consortium: 2 public authorities
What is being bought2 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionTo 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.
CPV: Secondary education services
Lots and requirements (2)Procurement structure
2 lots · 1 with a published valueLot #1National Reference Tests providerAwardedRenewal West MidlandsPublished value£14,000,000
In June 2022, Ofqual published a Prior Information Notice (PIN) advising the market of the intent to procure a supplier of the National Reference Tests for the 2025 to 2029 test years, with an option to extend the contract up to 3 further years. A public contract regulations restricted competition procurement process was used. Possible suppliers were shortlisted at stage 1 and only those which showed relevant skills and sufficient experience were invited to tender. At the second stage, suppliers proposed their solution to the stated need and bids were evaluated against Authority requirements using the weightings and scoring guide disclosed in the invitation to tender. The contract was awarded to the supplier who submitted the solution with the highest overall score. Additional information: This procurement is exempt from VAT
Lot #2National Reference Tests provider - lotsPlanned UKLot estimate not published
See description of lot 1 regarding consideratoin of awarding work as multiple lots.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- Method statements: 70%
- price: 30%
Published award criteria (2)
- Method statements: 70
- Price: 30
- Suitability
As stated in the Procurement documents.
- Staff
- Names and qualifications of delivery staff must be submitted
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Restricted procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 30 Jun 2022, 10:15 BST
- Last source update
- 24 Jul 2024, 13:25 BST
- Authority reference
OF923- FTS notice number
2024/S 000-023023- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-034c5eFind a Tender
- Electronic trading
- e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
- Performance terms
To be included in the Invitation to Tender
Publisher note: This procurement is VAT exempt. This Contract 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. (MT Ref:232365)
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 24 Feb 2023, 17:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Participation fee
- document
- Bid validity
- 180 days from the deadline
Timeline
24 Feb 2023 → 24 Jul 2024 · 5 dates- Submission deadline24 Feb 2023, 17:00 GMT
- Invitations to tender expected8 Mar 2023
- Next notice expected14 Jun 2023, 00:00 BST
- Contract starts1 Aug 2023, 00:00 BST
- Notice published24 Jul 2024, 13:25 BST
Notice history
6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 24 Jan 2023- Published value updated to £14,000,00024 Jan 2023, 14:04 GMTwas £10,000,000
- Status changed to active24 Jan 2023, 14:04 GMT
- Procurement method changed24 Jan 2023, 14:04 GMT
- Deadline published: 24 Feb 2023, 17:00 GMT24 Jan 2023, 14:04 GMT
- Status changed to complete24 Jul 2024, 13:25 BST
- Buyer details updated24 Jul 2024, 13:25 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · National Reference Tests provider1 award | |||
| NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH IN ENGLAND AND WALES(THE)SMESubcontracting: declared | £12,998,997 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 023023-2024-OF923-1 · NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH IN ENGLAND AND WALES(THE)SME
- Signed
- 28 Jun 2024
- Value
- £12,998,997
- Period
- … – 31 Aug 2029
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · National Reference Tests provider | 3bids · 3 electronic · 3 from abroad | 2 | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeConsortium members and other public bodies
- Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual)Contracting authorityMinistry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisionsEducation
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- Public Procurement Review ServiceReview body
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the noticeOfficial documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Economic and financial selection criteria
- Technical selection criteria