Immersive English Language Training (IELT)

  • Secretary of State for the Home Department

F14: Notice for changes or additional information

Notice identifier: 2022/S 000-015909

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-033b0b

Published 9 June 2022, 3:58pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Secretary of State for the Home Department

2 Marsham Street

London

Contact

HOSProcurement@homeoffice.gov.uk

Email

HOSProcurement@homeoffice.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Immersive English Language Training (IELT)

Reference number

C21730

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 80000000 - Education and training services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

UK Home Office's International Directorate is currently engaged, to provide and manage English language (EL) training to specified police and law enforcement sectors.

EL training will initially comprise two phases:

• Overseas testing and general EL training

• Immersive general EL training in UK

Below sets out the requirements for UK-based EL suppliers, tendering to provide immersive general EL training to learners.

Overseas training partner

British Council (BC) has been selected as the overseas training partner for this programme and a contract is in place. By overseas we mean training in the end clients’ home country – the immersive training which forms this procurement is conducting in the UK. This PIN relates exclusively to UK based immersive language training courses conducted in UK language schools in the UK.

Tendering EL suppliers are required to be willing and able to work with BC and other training partners where necessary, to provide a strongly aligned learning experience to learners.

Overseas EL testing and training

Learners selected to undergo EL training will be tested using APTIS, a BC-developed English language proficiency test. The test comprises 5 components (grammar and vocabulary, reading, writing, listening, speaking) with results based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Once tested, learners will undergo up to 6 months’ fulltime general EL training in home country, and on completion of the programme be retested using APTIS.

Immersive general EL training in UK

On completion of overseas EL training, selected learners who have a reached a minimum of CEFR level A2 in final testing, will undergo a period of IELT in UK.

Following IELT in UK, returning learners may be retested using APTIS, for benchmarking purposes and evaluation of learner progression.

Outcomes

On completion of 3 months’ IELT:

• Learners at CEFR A2 level on entry, are expected to have progressed to CEFR B1 level (minimum) on completion of studies

• Learners at CEFR B1 level on entry, are expected to have progressed to CEFR B1+ level (minimum) on completion of studies

Accreditation

Tendering EL suppliers are required to hold British Council accreditation (Accreditation UK) or equivalent for running EL courses in UK, and provide details of their most recent inspection report.

British Council (BC) accreditation, otherwise referred to as Accreditation UK, is a quality assurance scheme for the English language teaching industry in the UK and is managed by the British Council in association with English UK. Accreditation under the scheme demonstrates that a provider has achieved professional standards in its internal management, teaching, resources, environment, student welfare and safeguarding of under 18s. The scheme's requirements are among the most rigorous in the world and also one of the Home Office approved inspection schemes. Our requirements necessitate a very high standard and adopting an assurance scheme such as this, helps to ensure the delivery quality of any successful providers who wish to supply the services to us. Interested organisations will be required to hold this BC accreditation or equivalent.

All bidding suppliers’ instructors must hold the following accreditations:

• ADVANCED - Cambridge DELTA or Trinity Diploma (These are called TEFL-Q qualifications)


Section six. Complementary information

six.6) Original notice reference

Notice number: 2022/S 000-013421


Section seven. Changes

seven.1) Information to be changed or added

seven.1.2) Text to be corrected in the original notice

Section number

II.1.4

Instead of
Text

UK Home Office's International Directorate is currently engaged, to provide and manage English language (EL) training to specified police and law enforcement sectors.

EL training will initially comprise two phases:

• Overseas testing and general EL training

• Immersive general EL training in UK

Below sets out the requirements for UK-based EL suppliers, tendering to provide immersive general EL training to learners.

Overseas training partner

British Council (BC) has been selected as the overseas training partner for this programme and a contract is in place. By overseas we mean training in the end clients’ home country – the immersive training which forms this procurement is conducting in the UK. This PIN relates exclusively to UK based immersive language training courses conducted in UK language schools in the UK.

Tendering EL suppliers are required to be willing and able to work with BC and other training partners where necessary, to provide a strongly aligned learning experience to learners.

Overseas EL testing and training

Learners selected to undergo EL training will be tested using APTIS, a BC-developed English language proficiency test. The test comprises 5 components (grammar and vocabulary, reading, writing, listening, speaking) with results based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Once tested, learners will undergo up to 6 months’ fulltime general EL training in home country, and on completion of the programme be retested using APTIS.

Immersive general EL training in UK

On completion of overseas EL training, selected learners who have a reached a minimum of CEFR level A2 in final testing, will undergo a period of IELT in UK.

Following IELT in UK, returning learners may be retested using APTIS, for benchmarking purposes and evaluation of learner progression.

Outcomes

On completion of 3 months’ IELT:

• Learners at CEFR A2 level on entry, are expected to have progressed to CEFR B1 level (minimum) on completion of studies

• Learners at CEFR B1 level on entry, are expected to have progressed to CEFR B1+ level (minimum) on completion of studies

Accreditation

Tendering EL suppliers are required to hold British Council accreditation (Accreditation UK) for running EL courses in UK, and provide details of their most recent inspection report.

All bidding suppliers’ instructors must hold the following accreditations:

• ADVANCED - Cambridge DELTA or Trinity Diploma (These are called TEFL-Q qualifications)

Read
Text

UK Home Office's International Directorate is currently engaged, to provide and manage English language (EL) training to specified police and law enforcement sectors.

EL training will initially comprise two phases:

• Overseas testing and general EL training

• Immersive general EL training in UK

Below sets out the requirements for UK-based EL suppliers, tendering to provide immersive general EL training to learners.

Overseas training partner

British Council (BC) has been selected as the overseas training partner for this programme and a contract is in place. By overseas we mean training in the end clients’ home country – the immersive training which forms this procurement is conducting in the UK. This PIN relates exclusively to UK based immersive language training courses conducted in UK language schools in the UK.

Tendering EL suppliers are required to be willing and able to work with BC and other training partners where necessary, to provide a strongly aligned learning experience to learners.

Overseas EL testing and training

Learners selected to undergo EL training will be tested using APTIS, a BC-developed English language proficiency test. The test comprises 5 components (grammar and vocabulary, reading, writing, listening, speaking) with results based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Once tested, learners will undergo up to 6 months’ fulltime general EL training in home country, and on completion of the programme be retested using APTIS.

Immersive general EL training in UK

On completion of overseas EL training, selected learners who have a reached a minimum of CEFR level A2 in final testing, will undergo a period of IELT in UK.

Following IELT in UK, returning learners may be retested using APTIS, for benchmarking purposes and evaluation of learner progression.

Outcomes

On completion of 3 months’ IELT:

• Learners at CEFR A2 level on entry, are expected to have progressed to CEFR B1 level (minimum) on completion of studies

• Learners at CEFR B1 level on entry, are expected to have progressed to CEFR B1+ level (minimum) on completion of studies

Accreditation

Tendering EL suppliers are required to hold British Council accreditation (Accreditation UK) or equivalent for running EL courses in UK, and provide details of their most recent inspection report.

British Council (BC) accreditation, otherwise referred to as Accreditation UK, is a quality assurance scheme for the English language teaching industry in the UK and is managed by the British Council in association with English UK. Accreditation under the scheme demonstrates that a provider has achieved professional standards in its internal management, teaching, resources, environment, student welfare and safeguarding of under 18s. The scheme's requirements are among the most rigorous in the world and also one of the Home Office approved inspection schemes. Our requirements necessitate a very high standard and adopting an assurance scheme such as this, helps to ensure the delivery quality of any successful providers who wish to supply the services to us. Interested organisations will be required to hold this BC accreditation or equivalent.

All bidding suppliers’ instructors must hold the following accreditations:

• ADVANCED - Cambridge DELTA or Trinity Diploma (These are called TEFL-Q qualifications)

seven.2) Other additional information

The closing date for expressions of interest is 23.59 Saturday 9th July 2022.

The Authority is planning to do some engagement around mid to late June, so please register your interest ASAP to ensure you have the chance to be part of this. Please note all respondents will be required to enter into an NDA

Responding schools should be top ranking British Council accredited schools.

When responding to this notice please could you include the following information:

Evidence of current British Council Accreditation or equivalent

Evidence of instructor qualifications up

1. Specify whether your organisation can provide all requirements for Option 1

2. Please provide the details of the training available and capacities which meet the requirements of the Home Office as set out above. If an alternative training is available which may be suitable to meet our operational needs, please include the details of this within your expression of interest.

3. Please specify if your organisation is already a preferred supplier with another government department (including if it is on a government framework).

Please email your interest to: HOSProcurement@homeoffice.gov.uk quoting ‘Immersive English Language Training C21730’ in the subject header