Services - 353331-2018

11/08/2018    S154

United Kingdom-London: Test and evaluation

2018/S 154-353331

Prior information notice

This notice is for prior information only

Services

Legal Basis:
Directive 2014/24/EU

Section I: Contracting authority

I.1)Name and addresses
Official name: Home Office
Postal address: 2 Marsham Street
Town: London
NUTS code: UK UNITED KINGDOM
Postal code: SW1P 4DF
Country: United Kingdom
Contact person: STS Procurement Team
E-mail: UKVIProcurementTeamSecureTestingServices@homeoffice.gov.uk
Internet address(es):
Main address: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office
Address of the buyer profile: https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
I.3)Communication
Additional information can be obtained from 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
Public order and safety

Section II: Object

II.1)Scope of the procurement
II.1.1)Title:

HO UKVI Secure Testing Services

Reference number: HO/18/02/PIN
II.1.2)Main CPV code
73430000 Test and evaluation
II.1.3)Type of contract
Services
II.1.4)Short description:

The Home Office plans to procure secure testing services for persons seeking to enter the UK, apply for settlement and/or apply for UK citizenship through:

— the delivery of Secure English Language Testing (SELT) both within the UK and the Rest of the World (ROW); and

— the delivery of Life in the UK Testing (LitUK) within the UK.

II.1.5)Estimated total value
II.1.6)Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: yes
The contracting authority reserves the right to award contracts combining the following lots or groups of lots:

SELT (UK)

SELT (ROW)

LitUK (UK)

II.2)Description
II.2.1)Title:

SELT (UK)

Lot No: 1
II.2.2)Additional CPV code(s)
75130000 Supporting services for the government
72590000 Computer-related professional services
73430000 Test and evaluation
75100000 Administration services
II.2.3)Place of performance
NUTS code: UK UNITED KINGDOM
Main site or place of performance:

United Kingdom

II.2.4)Description of the procurement:

The Home Office is seeking suppliers to provide secure testing services for Secure English Language Tests (SELT):

Home Office immigration policy establishes an English language requirement that customers are required to evidence. One way to satisfy the English language requirement is to demonstrate language skills through evidence of an approved language test, as assessed by a Home Office approved provider (Secure English Language Test).

SELTs are taken by individuals before applying for entry clearance from outside the UK, to enter the UK, or leave to remain to extend their stay in the UK, or for settlement in the UK or for naturalisation as a British citizen, where evidence of English language ability is a requirement.

Approved language tests enable a customer to demonstrate competency in reading, writing, listening and spoken English at the level set out in Home Office policy (in reference to the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR)) in accordance to the route in which they are applying.

The scope of the requirement is to provide a test(s) that enable assessment of language proficiency to levels required by the Home Office (CEFR) within a wider service that ensures integrity for approximately 260 000 applicants per annum within the UK (over a maximum 5 year period).

The services include but are not limited to:

— Make available an English tests that is assessed as mapping to the CEFR and to ensure the viability of the test throughout the life of the agreement with the Home Office,

— The secure/assured provision of facilities for the delivery of tests, ensuring they are delivered safely and securely in terms of both test environment and test result,

— Undertaking rigorous analysis and assurance measures to identify risks/issues and reporting these to the Home Office; and

— Providing a high level of customer experience to those taking the tests.

Prospective suppliers should note that they will be required to evidence as part of their bid that they hold/or will have accreditation by OFQUAL to deliver secure testing services.

Furthermore, any English language test proposed by prospective suppliers as part of their bid will be required to be submitted alongside independent assessment by the UK government’s designated authority, known as the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) of their mapping to CEFR’s proficiency levels

The new arrangements are expected to come into operation on expiry of the current agreements in the autumn of 2019.

II.2.14)Additional information

The Authority through the Project Team intends to facilitate a prospective supplier Open Day currently planned for early September 2018.

The Authority will also, if requested, facilitate the communication of an organisation’s details to other prospective bidders who may not want to bid in their own right but may be interested in bidding either as a joint venture or sub-contract arrangements.

II.2)Description
II.2.1)Title:

SELT (ROW)

Lot No: 2
II.2.2)Additional CPV code(s)
75130000 Supporting services for the government
72590000 Computer-related professional services
73430000 Test and evaluation
75100000 Administration services
II.2.3)Place of performance
NUTS code: UK UNITED KINGDOM
Main site or place of performance:

United Kingdom

II.2.4)Description of the procurement:

The Home Office is seeking suppliers to provide secure testing services for Secure English Language Tests (SELT):

Home Office immigration policy establishes an English language requirement that customers are required to evidence. One way to satisfy the English language requirement is to demonstrate language skills through evidence of an approved language test, as assessed by a Home Office approved provider (Secure English Language Test).

SELTs are taken by individuals before applying for entry clearance from outside the UK, to enter the UK, or leave to remain to extend their stay in the UK, or for settlement in the UK or for naturalisation as a British citizen, where evidence of English language ability is a requirement.

Approved language tests enable a customer to demonstrate competency in reading, writing, listening and spoken English at the level set out in Home Office policy (in reference to the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR)) in accordance to the route in which they are applying.

The scope of the requirement is to provide a test(s) that enable assessment of language proficiency to levels required by the Home Office (CEFR) within a wider service that ensures integrity for approximately 135,000 applicants per annum worldwide, excluding the UK the UK (over a maximum 5 year period).

The services include but are not limited to:

— Make available an English tests that is assessed as mapping to the CEFR and to ensure the viability of the test throughout the life of the agreement with the Home Office,

— The secure/assured provision of facilities for the delivery of tests, ensuring they are delivered safely and securely in terms of both test environment and test result,

— Undertaking rigorous analysis and assurance measures to identify risks/issues and reporting these to the Home Office; and

— Providing a high level of customer experience to those taking the tests.

Prospective suppliers should note that they will be required to evidence as part of their bid that they hold/or will have accreditation by OFQUAL to deliver secure testing services.

Furthermore, any English language test proposed by prospective suppliers as part of their bid will be required to be submitted alongside independent assessment by the UK government’s designated authority, known as the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) of their mapping to CEFR’s proficiency levels

The new arrangements are expected to come into operation on expiry of the current agreements in the autumn of 2019.

II.2.14)Additional information

The Authority through the Project Team intends to facilitate a prospective supplier Open Day currently planned for early September 2018.

The Authority will also, if requested, facilitate the communication of an organisation’s details to other prospective bidders who may not want to bid in their own right but may be interested in bidding either as a joint venture or sub-contract arrangements.

II.2)Description
II.2.1)Title:

LitUK (UK)

Lot No: 3
II.2.2)Additional CPV code(s)
73430000 Test and evaluation
72590000 Computer-related professional services
75100000 Administration services
75130000 Supporting services for the government
II.2.3)Place of performance
NUTS code: UK UNITED KINGDOM
Main site or place of performance:

United Kingdom

II.2.4)Description of the procurement:

The Home Office UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is seeking suppliers to provide Secure Testing Services for Life in the UK tests (LitUK):

— The LitUK test is designed to test an individual’s knowledge of life in the UK (based on content of ‘Life in the United Kingdom; a guide for new residents’ handbook). The test is taken as part of an application for settlement in the UK or naturalisation as a British citizen,

— LitUK is currently a computer based multiple choice test containing 24 questions, taken under secure conditions,

— The scope of the requirement is to provide a service for approximately 180,000 applicants per year within the UK (over a maximum 5 years).

These services include but are not limited to:

— Ensuring the availability of a LitUK test developed in collaboration with UKVI,

— The secure/assured provision of facilities for the delivery of tests, ensuring they are delivered safely and securely in terms of both test environment and test result,

— Undertaking rigorous analysis and assurance measures to identify risks/issues and reporting these to the Home Office; and

— Providing a high level of customer experience to those taking the tests.

Prospective suppliers should note that they will be required to evidence as part of their bid that they hold/or will have accreditation by OFQUAL to deliver secure testing services.

The new arrangements are expected to come into operation on expiry of the current agreements in the autumn of 2019.

II.2.14)Additional information

The Authority through the Project Team intends to facilitate a prospective supplier Open Day currently planned for early September 2018.

The Authority will also, if requested, facilitate the communication of an organisation’s details to other prospective bidders who may not want to bid in their own right but may be interested in bidding either as a joint venture or subcontract arrangements.

II.3)Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
01/10/2018

Section IV: Procedure

IV.1)Description
IV.1.8)Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: no

Section VI: Complementary information

VI.3)Additional information:

Prospective suppliers are invited to express an interest in the provision of services by e-mailing the project at the address given at section I.1. of this notice.

The Authority uses an eSourcing toolkit to enable its sourcing activities to be conducted over the internet.

Further documentation will be made available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge via the eSourcing portal, subject to interested parties signing a confidentiality (Non Disclosure) agreement first.

Any organisation intending to submit an expression of interest must be registered as a supplier with the Crown Commercial Services eSourcing Portal. To register, visit the portal's login page at https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk by clicking on the Register for CCS eSourcing link on the portal homepage. The entire registration process should take no more than 10 minutes. Passwords are issued via e-mail, normally within 1 working day.

For technical assistance on use of the e-Sourcing Suite please contact the Crown Commercial Services Helpdesk: + 44 3450103503; or email: supplier@ccs.gsi.gov.uk

In the meantime, please e-mail your interest in the project with your contact details and any queries to the project team to UKVIProcurementTeamSecureTestingServices@homeoffice.gov.uk

Further information and relevant instructions will be provided at that point.

UKVI is committed to ensuring fairness, openness and transparency; and to follow EU procurement regulations.

This PIN does not constitute a call for competition to procure any services and UKVI is not bound to accept any proposal offered. Furthermore, the Authority reserves the right to amend its approach to the procurement of Secure Testing Services and any of the information contained within this notice, at its own discretion.

The same opportunity will also be published on Contracts Finder http://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/search

VI.5)Date of dispatch of this notice:
10/08/2018