Award

DAC 158/21 - DE - CCEA - Specialist support for the development of Computer Adaptive Tests (CATs)

  • Department of Education

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2022/S 000-005126

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-031aa2

Published 24 February 2022, 12:24pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Department of Education

Rathgael House, 43 Balloo Road

Bangor

BT19 7PR

Email

SSDAdmin.CPD@finance-ni.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps

Buyer's address

https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

DAC 158/21 - DE - CCEA - Specialist support for the development of Computer Adaptive Tests (CATs)

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

A break in the continuation of CCEA Adaptive Assessments would have a detrimental impact on the progress of the assessments to date and be disruptive to the large number of schools that have now invested in such services, particularly at a time when no other assessment alternative is centrally available.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £106,500

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 48000000 - Software package and information systems

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKN - Northern Ireland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

A break in the continuation of CCEA Adaptive Assessments would have a detrimental impact on the progress of the assessments to date and be disruptive to the large number of schools that have now invested in such services, particularly at a time when no other assessment alternative is centrally available.

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Negotiated without a prior call for competition

  • The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
    • absence of competition for technical reasons

Explanation:

From the information provided, it would appear there are sufficient reasons to justify an award of contract to The Psychometric Centre, Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education, due to technical reasons in that the supplier is the sole provider of the open source platform and that a competitive market does not exist (based on the outcome of the CPD PME completed in April 2018).

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


Section five. Award of contract/concession

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

24 February 2022

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

The Psychometric Centre, Cambridge Judge Business School Executive Education

Cambridge

CB2 1AG

Email

contact@psychometrics.cam.ac.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKN - Northern Ireland
Internet address

www.psychometrics.cam.ac.uk

The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £106,500


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

The UK does not have any special review body with responsibility for appeal/mediation procedures in public procurement. competitions. Instead any challenges are dealt with by the High Court, Commercial Division, to which proceedings may be issued regarding alleged breaches of the PCR 2015 amended

As above

Country

United Kingdom

six.4.3) Review procedure

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures

The Public Contract Regulations 2015 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). The. authority incorporates a standstill period (i.e a minimum of 10 calendar days) before this contract is awarded.