Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Kent County Council
Sessions House
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ
Contact
Mrs Claire Jane
Telephone
+44 3000421875
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKJ4 - Kent
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
SC20074 - Eleven Plus for Kent Schools
Reference number
DN624847
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80100000 - Primary education services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Kent County Council (KCC) is issuing this Prior Information Notice (PIN) with Call for Competition in accordance with clause 48 (section 5) of the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015. KCC currently runs the Eleven Plus for Kent Schools process which aims, principally through testing, to identify pupils in the top 25% of the ability range, as eligible for admission to Year 7 of any of the county’s grammar schools at age 11. KCC seeks Expressions of Interest (EOI) from suppliers with specialist knowledge in the design, development, assessment and standardisation of school entrance examinations.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £1,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ4 - Kent
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Introduction
Kent County Council (KCC) is issuing this Prior Information Notice (PIN) with Call for Competition in accordance with clause 48 (section 5) of the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015. KCC currently runs the Eleven Plus for Kent Schools process which aims, principally through testing, to identify pupils in the top 25% of the ability range, as eligible for admission to Year 7 of any of the county’s grammar schools at age 11. KCC seeks Expressions of Interest (EOI) from suppliers with specialist knowledge in the design, development, assessment and standardisation of school entrance examinations.
Description of Work
Kent County Council’s Fair Access team (within the Children, Young People and Education Directorate) runs a grammar school selection process for all 32 selective schools in the Local Authority area. Each year, this involves testing pupils from schools inside and outside the area (this year 18,000 candidates are taking part).
We are looking for providers interested in undertaking the following tasks in respect of school admissions for September 2024, tests for which will take place in early September 2023:
• Devising, printing and supplying short tests (approx 25 minutes duration) covering English, Mathematics and Verbal / Non-Verbal Reasoning, suitable for use in a process which selects approximately the top 25% of the ability range at the start of Year 6. Subject tests to reflect the expectations of the National Curriculum for this age group. Content to be secure and not used in neighbouring areas. Test format to be multiple-choice with separate, machine-markable, double-sided answer sheets which can be printed or overprinted to include individual pupil details (name, school, date of birth).
• Supplying comprehensive administration instructions in a proportionate number of printed manuals.
• Supplying a small number of tests in a modified (enlarged) format and offering further modification if required.
• Providing one set of generic familiarisation materials plus answer booklet to demonstrate the format and question types, which can be made available online for download by schools, parents or pupils.
• Supplying accurate and reliable test-marking software (plus a small quantity of printed marking manuals) and providing technical support throughout the marking process.
• Providing a means of age-standardising candidates’ scores for each of the three tests to national norms.
Expressions of Interest
All Expressions of Interest should be submitted no later than 12 noon on Friday 2nd September 2022 via the Kent Business Portal (www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk). All respondents should articulate their experience and capabilities of delivering this service in no more than 1000 words in a Word document.
Should you have any queries regarding this PIN with Call for Competition please message via the Kent Business Portal by Friday 26th August 2022 at 12 noon.
Tender
In line with clause 48 (section 5) of the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015, this contract will be procured by Competitive procedure with negotiation.
Any further tender documentation will be published via the Kent Business Portal (www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk).
The tender process will consist of two elements: Selection and Award.
Selection is designed to assess the Tenderer’s capability and capacity. Tenderers must complete the Selection Questionnaire, which will include mandatory requirements and the provision of case studies.
Award is designed to assess the service provision along with any associated services and value for money. The criteria for the award of contract will be a combination of cost and quality, with the quality determined by a series of weighted quality and capability questions.
The initial contract term will be three years, with the potential of two optional extensions each of one year. The estimated contract value across a five-year contract will be no more than £1,000,000.
Contract Start
If Kent County Council decides to proceed with procuring a supplier to supply the Eleven Plus for Kent Schools, the estimated date for contract start would be 1st February 2023.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £1,000,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
36
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
Up to two further 12 month extensions
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 three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Competitive procedure with negotiation
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of expressions of interest
Date
2 September 2022
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Kent County Council
Sessions House
Maidstone
ME14 1SQ
indirectprocurement@kent.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom