Awarded contract

Personalised Assessments in Reading and Numeracy

  • Welsh Government

F03: Contract award notice

Notice reference: 2023/S 000-023358

Published 10 August 2023, 11:40am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Welsh Government

Commercial Procurement DDaT, Cathays Park

Cardiff

CF10 3NQ

Contact

ICT Procurement

Email

ICTProcurement@gov.wales

Telephone

+44 3000257095

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKL - Wales

Internet address(es)

Main address

http://gov.wales

Buyer's address

https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA0007

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

Personalised Assessments in Reading and Numeracy

Reference number

C084/2021/2022

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 72212190 - Educational software development services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Welsh Government is awarding a contract to deliver Personalised Assessments in Wales as a full end-to-end digital service. Personalised assessments in reading and numeracy are statutory for learners in maintained schools in Wales from Years 2 to 9. The adaptive assessments are designed to support understanding of individual learner progression as part of Curriculum for Wales.

The assessments are for formative use, with a range of feedback on individuals, classes and groups that support understanding of strengths and areas for improvement.

The successful supplier will be required to provide a continuation of a digital service, develop and deliver a suite of services, including:

- An intuitive and user-friendly web-based and fully bilingual interface;

- A suite of four web-based adaptive assessments – English Reading, Welsh Reading, Numeracy (Procedural) and Numeracy (Reasoning);

- Content for the adaptive assessments appropriate for learners from Year 2 to 9

- Reporting (standardised and bespoke);

- Bilingual support/service desk; and

- Provide fully hosted infrastructure (UK/EU located data centre).

The successful supplier will be required to:

- be certified under either ISO27001 or Cyber Essentials Plus schemes;

- ensure the solution is fully bilingual and complies with level AAA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) / ISO 40500:2012;

- manage the integration with existing systems, ensuring efficient and ongoing data transfer and providing a fully integrated solution with a single sign-on;

- manage the seamless and secure transition from the current service to the new solution, including all content and data migration, the adaptive algorithm and assessment reports; and

- take an innovative approach, seeking to improve and add value to the service, as new products and approaches become 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: £20,000,000

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 48190000 - Educational software package
  • 72212190 - Educational software development services
  • 80000000 - Education and training services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKL - Wales
Main site or place of performance

This is a digital service and will be delivered to schools across Wales.

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The contract will be for 4 years with the option to extend for 2 further periods of 12 months (6 years in total).

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70

Price - Weighting: 30

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

Open procedure

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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure

Notice number: 2022/S 000-033921


Section five. Award of contract

Contract No

C084/2021/2022

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

10 August 2023

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 2

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 2

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2

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

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

AlphaPlus Consultancy Ltd

AlphaPlus c/o AQA, Devas Street

Manchester

M156EX

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKD33 - Manchester
The contractor is an SME

No

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

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £20,000,000

Total value of the contract/lot: £20,000,000

five.2.5) Information about subcontracting

The contract is likely to be subcontracted

Value or proportion likely to be subcontracted to third parties

Value excluding VAT: £11,400,000

Proportion: 57 %

Short description of the part of the contract to be subcontracted

Web User Interface, including support & hosting; Assessment delivery platform, including support & hosting; Design of assessments; and training


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

(WA Ref:133966)

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

High Court

Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand

London

WC2A 2LL

Telephone

+44 2079477501

Country

United Kingdom