Provision of UK Based Language Training and Examinations

A Tender Notice
by FOREIGN COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE

Source
Find a Tender
Type
Contract (Services)
Duration
3 year
Value
£24M
Sector
PROFESSIONAL
Published
12 Apr 2021
Delivery
01 Apr 2022 to 31 Mar 2025
Deadline
28 May 2021 16:00

Concepts

Location

United Kingdom:

Geochart for 1 buyers and 0 suppliers

1 buyer

Description

Operational and developmental language training and online examination services for FCDO and wider HMG officers. Language training and examination services play a critical role in ensuring that officers from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and across Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) have the appropriate level of foreign language skills. This is to enable them to operate confidently and effectively to help fulfil HMG’s objectives and project and enhance the UK’s global influence overseas. Officers use their language skills in a variety of contexts such as engaging with politicians, dealing with local authorities and officials, speaking to businesses, talking to students, negotiation, giving speeches and media interviews, engaging on social media, reading newspapers and understanding broadcasts. We expect this opportunity will be of interest to providers of language training, including universities, in a large number of languages, Centres of Excellence that specialise in one or several languages, and providers of online testing or examinations services including but not limited to those with existing capability in online language proficiency testing.

Lot Division

1 PRIME PROVIDER - UK BASED LANGUAGE TRAINING
  • Value: £14M

The current language training and examination services contracts for Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) end on 31 March 2022. We (the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, hereafter referred to as ‘the Authority’) are offering 5 lots to suppliers to replace these contracts. Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 are for language training services and Lot 5 is for examinations services. UK GOVERNMENT (HMG) PROVISION OF UK-BASED LANGUAGE TRAINING SERVICES – LOT 1 – MAIN PROVIDER Aim 1. To identify and contract a ‘Main Provider’ to deliver a managed, professional language school including (but not limited to) the following requirements: • Deliver UK-based language training mapped against the Common European Framework for Languages: https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages . • Deliver 3 types of language assessments, including 2 mapped against the Common European Framework for Languages: https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages . • Provide central management of the Language Centre at the Authority’s King Charles Street building. • Deliver administration services. 2. The appointed Main Provider will have full responsibility for delivering the requirements described within this Specification. The Main Provider will be expected to support HMG’s objective of delivering excellence in language training within a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and value for money. Further information is available via tender documents.
2 CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR FRENCH
  • Value: £2M

The current language training and examination services contracts for Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) end on 31 March 2022. We (the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, hereafter referred to as ‘the Authority’) are offering 5 lots to suppliers to replace these contracts. Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 are for language training services and Lot 5 is for examinations services. UK GOVERNMENT (HMG) PROVISION OF UK-BASED FRENCH LANGUAGE TRAINING SERVICES – LOT 2 – CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR FRENCH Aim 1. To identify and contract a ‘Centre of Excellence for French’ to deliver a managed, professional language training service including (but not limited to) the following requirements: • Deliver UK-based French language training mapped against the Common European Framework for Languages: https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages . • Deliver 2 types of French language assessments, both mapped against the Common European Framework for Languages: https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages . • Deliver administration services. 2. The appointed Centre of Excellence for French will have full responsibility for delivering the requirements described within this Specification. The Centre of Excellence for French will be expected to support HMG’s objective of delivering excellence in language training within a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and value for money. Further information is available via tender documents
3 CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR SPANISH
  • Value: £3M

The current language training and examination services contracts for Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) end on 31 March 2022. We (the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, hereafter referred to as ‘the Authority’) are offering 5 lots to suppliers to replace these contracts. Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 are for language training services and Lot 5 is for examinations services. UK GOVERNMENT (HMG) PROVISION OF UK-BASED SPANISH LANGUAGE TRAINING SPECIFICATION – LOT 3 – CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR SPANISH Aim To identify and contract a ‘Centre of Excellence for Spanish to deliver a managed, professional language training service including (but not limited to) the following requirements: • Deliver UK-based Spanish language training mapped against the Common European Framework for Languages: https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages . • Deliver 2 types of Spanish language assessments, both mapped against the Common European Framework for Languages: https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages . • Deliver administration services. 2. The appointed Centre of Excellence for Spanish will have full responsibility for delivering the requirements described within this Specification. The Centre of Excellence for Spanish will be expected to support HMG’s objective of delivering excellence in language training within a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and value for money. Further information is available via tender document 1. To identify and contract a ‘Centre of Excellence for Spanish to deliver a managed, professional language training service including (but not limited to) the following requirements: • Deliver UK-based Spanish language training mapped against the Common European Framework for Languages: https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages . • Deliver 2 types of Spanish language assessments, both mapped against the Common European Framework for Languages: https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages . • Deliver administration services. 2. The appointed Centre of Excellence for Spanish will have full responsibility for delivering the requirements described within this Specification. The Centre of Excellence for Spanish will be expected to support HMG’s objective of delivering excellence in language training within a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and value for money. Further information is available via tender document
4 CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR ARABIC
  • Value: £4M

1. The current language training and examination services contracts for Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) end on 31 March 2022. We (the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, hereafter referred to as ‘the Authority’) are offering 5 lots to suppliers to replace these contracts. Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 are for language training services and Lot 5 is for examinations services. UK GOVERNMENT (HMG) PROVISION OF UK-BASED ARABIC LANGUAGE TRAINING SPECIFICATION – LOT 4 – CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR ARABIC Aim 1. To identify and contract a ‘Centre of Excellence for Arabic’ to deliver a managed, professional language training service including (but not limited to) the following requirements: • Deliver UK-based Arabic language training mapped against the Common European Framework for Languages: https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages . • Deliver 2 types of Arabic language assessments, both mapped against the Common European Framework for Languages: https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages . • Deliver administration services. 2. The appointed Centre of Excellence for Arabic will have full responsibility for delivering the requirements described within this Specification. The Centre of Excellence for Arabic will be expected to support HMG’s objective of delivering excellence in language training within a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and value for money. Further information is available via tender documents
5 EXAMINATIONS
  • Value: £1M

1. The current language training and examination services contracts for Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) end on 31 March 2022. We (the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, hereafter referred to as ‘the Authority’) are offering 5 lots to suppliers to replace these contracts. Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 are for language training services and Lot 5 is for examinations services. UK GOVERNMENT (HMG) PROVISION OF ONLINE LANGUAGE EXAMINATIONS SPECIFICATION – LOT 5 – EXAMINATIONS PROVIDER Aim 1. To identify and contract an ‘Examinations Provider’ to deliver a managed, professional examination provision including (but not limited to) the following requirements: • Deliver formal online language examinations mapped against the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR): https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages . • Deliver application, marking, moderation, and appeals services. • Deliver administration services, including (but not limited to): staffing; examiner selection, training, and monitoring; full service reporting and evaluation. 2. The appointed Examinations Provider will have full responsibility for delivering the requirements described within this Specification. The Examinations Provider will be expected to support HMG’s objective of delivering excellence in language examinations within a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and value for money. Further information is available via tender documents

Renewal Options

3 x 12 month optional extension years are available in addition to the initial contract period

CPV Codes

  • 80580000 - Provision of language courses
  • 80000000 - Education and training services

Indicators

  • An E-Auction may be used.
  • Restrictions apply to the lot award allocation.
  • This is a one-off contract (no recurrence)
  • Renewals are available.

Other Information

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. ** IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL POTENTIAL SUPPLIERS In order to participate and gain access to all documentation in relation to this procurement, potential suppliers should access the FCDO’s e-procurement portal, JAGGAER ONE, available via the below link. URL: https://fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html Once logged in, search for project reference 5703 and / or itt_4268 If a potential supplier is not registered on the portal, click the link above to be taken to the home page, click the “Click here to register!” button, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete registration. Registration takes approximately 5 minutes and is free of charge. TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION (2FA) Potential suppliers should note that two-factor authentication will be required to access the FCDO’s e-procurement portal, JAGGAER ONE, which requires Google Authenticator to be downloaded onto a mobile device. For more information in relation to two-factor authentication, a guide can be accessed by clicking the link on the home page of the FCDO’s e-procurement portal, JAGGAER ONE. FURTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION Potential Providers wishing to participate should note that there are 5 lots to this tender. When accessing the project (5703), you must access itt_4268 first. This is the Selection Questionnaire. Failure to do so means that you will not be able to access any of the Lots 1 - 5 respectively OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES AND PUBLIC BODIES WITH ACCESS TO CONTRACT The service provision will be available to Central Government Departments, their Executive Agencies and their Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs), and any successors (hereafter Her Majesty’s Government/HMG). Without limiting the forgoing, the following is an indicative list of the Central Government bodies which will have access to use the contract resulting from this procurement. These contracts will not preclude HMG from sourcing alternative language training and examinations, with the exception of the Authority unless otherwise stated in the Specification: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street Attorney General's Office Cabinet Office Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Department for Education Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs Department for International Trade Department for Transport Department for Work & Pensions Department of Health & Social Care HM Treasury Home Office Ministry of Defence Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government Ministry of Justice Northern Ireland Office Office of the Advocate General for Scotland Office of the Leader of the House of Commons Office of the Leader of the House of Lords Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland Office of the Secretary of State for Wales UK Export Finance

Reference

Domains