EdIS-22-001 Strategic Partner Services and School Management System (SMS) Solution

Concepts

• belfast
• information technology
• education authority
• edis-22-001 strategic partner services
• school management system
• support of any element of the future service
• strategic partner
• special schools
• secure services
• school staff

Location

Belfast

Description

The Education Authority (EA) has a requirement to procure a Strategic Partner, to provide services including a School Management System (SMS) for Nursery, Primary, Post Primary, Special schools and EOTAS centers. The Strategic Partner will be required to deploy, support and manage a modern architecture, technical infrastructure and secure services for schools. These services will improve the learning experience of our young people, supporting teaching through technology, develop skills for the future and support the EA and its educational stakeholders to improve educational outcomes. The education service will deliver high levels of reliability, stability and performance and reduces the burden and risk on the Education Authority and school staff with regard to the security, technical setup, configuration, maintenance and support of any element of the future service. The EA is seeking a fully integrated and interoperable solution which will provide anywhere anytime access to, and associated support for, the EdIS services accessible by school staff, pupils, parents and authorised stakeholders. The School Management System will be a key component of the overall solution to be delivered by the Strategic Partner, providing a centralised master record for school users which will enable the sharing of accurate up-to-date student data for educational purposes and for access to technology services delivered through the EdIS programme. Under this procurement the successful Supplier will be required to support EA's social value objectives. Accordingly, contract performance conditions and award criteria will relate, in particular, to social value. The estimated total value set out in Section II.1.5 represents EA’s estimate of the total potential value of the contract over its full duration, including (without limitation): the transition of services from the existing supplier; EA’s option (subject to necessary approvals and at its discretion) to extend the term for a period of 2 years; and certain optional additional services which EA may request the successful supplier to provide under the contract (as set out in further detail in the procurement documents).

Renewal Options

To allow for a sufficient period for the implementation and operation of services across Nursery, Primary, Post Primary, Special schools and EOTAS centers in Northern Ireland and for the successful supplier to secure an appropriate return on its investment, in addition to the period required to successfully complete the transition of services from the existing supplier to the new supplier, the contract for Strategic Partner Services and School Management System Solution (Contract) will be for an initial period of ten (10) years commencing on the Transition Completion Date (as defined in the Contract) but with EA having an option (subject to necessary approvals and at its discretion) to extend the term for another 2 years.

CPV Codes

• 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
• 48200000 - Networking, Internet and intranet software package
• 48600000 - Database and operating software package
• 72200000 - Software programming and consultancy services
• 72300000 - Data services
• 48190000 - Educational software package
• 72500000 - Computer-related services

Indicators

• Bids should cover the whole contract.
• Options are available.
• Renewals are not available.
• Performance considerations apply.
• Award on basis of price and quality.

Other Information

EA reserves the right to award the contract following submission of initial tender responses and the right to down-select tenderers following submission of initial tenders, any refined tenders requested by EA and/or after each round of negotiations. For the avoidance of doubt, final tenders will not be subject to any negotiation with EA (however, they may be subject to clarification, if required at EA’s absolute discretion). Under no circumstances will EA or its advisors be liable for any costs or expenses incurred by economic operators, their funders and/or their respective advisors arising directly or indirectly from the procurement process, their participation in or termination thereof, including, without limitation, preparation and submission of responses, as a result of any changes or adjustments made to the procurement documents or the exclusion/disqualification of an economic operator. Only the express terms of the contractual documents, if and when executed shall have any contractual effect in connection with the matters to which this procurement process relates. Neither the issue of the procurement documents, nor any of the information presented in them, should be regarded as a commitment or representation on the part of EA (or any other person) to enter into a contractual arrangement. Nothing in the procurement documents should be interpreted as a commitment by EA to award a contract to an economic operator as a result of this. procurement process, nor to accept the lowest price or any tender. No legally binding contract shall arise (and a tenderer shall have no legitimate expectation that a contract will be entered into) until such time as entry into the contract has been confirmed by EA. As such, EA reserves the right at any time to cancel, withdraw or amend the procurement process at any stage.