Opportunity

Provision of Education Quality Assurance Services

  • NURSING AND MIDWIFERY COUNCIL

F02: Contract notice

Notice reference: 2023/S 000-031986

Published 30 October 2023, 1:03pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

NURSING AND MIDWIFERY COUNCIL

23 Portland Place

LONDON

W1B1PZ

Contact

Rahat Khalil

Email

procurement@nmc-uk.org

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UK - United Kingdom

Companies House

1091434

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.nmc.org.uk/

one.3) Communication

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at

https://nmcprocurementportal.force.com/s/Welcome

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via

https://nmcprocurementportal.force.com/s/Welcome

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Other type

UK Health Care Regulator

one.5) Main activity

Health


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Provision of Education Quality Assurance Services

Reference number

C1242

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 80000000 - Education and training services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as the Contracting Authority wishes to establish a potential contract with a third-party delivery partner to undertake Quality Assurance of educational institutions across the UK on their behalf to ensure protection of the public.

Quality Assurance (QA) of education is one of the key regulatory activities of the NMC. It gives us the confidence that education institutions are meeting our standards for education and training. This helps us to know that students who have successfully completed an approved programme are meeting the standards of proficiency that we require before they join our register and deliver safe, kind and effective care - it's one of the ways we fulfil our duty to protect the public. If QA identifies that an education institution isn't meeting our standards, we must take action so the education institution returns to compliance. This will ensure that there is public confidence in our role in nursing, midwifery and nursing associate education and encourages the education institution to remain responsible for meeting our standards.

The responsibilities of the NMC for education and training are set out in the Nursing and Midwifery Order (The Nursing and Midwifery Order, Part IV Education and Training, 2001). The NMC has a responsibility to ensure that education institutions providing education and training of nurses, midwives and nursing associates meet our requirements and standards.

The role of the Quality Assurance Service Partner (QASP) will be directed towards monitoring activities, including coordinating and facilitating monitoring visits, extraordinary reviews and listening events, along with supporting annual monitoring, undertaking thematic analysis and identifying trends in intelligence and making recommendations to support our QA decision-making. This shift of focus provides an opportunity to review our education QA requirements, as we look to procure a QASP best able to support us to fulfil our regulatory function, offering agility and innovative solutions to implementing the QA framework, ensuring that our EDI Strategy and plan remains at the forefront of the work we do, as move to indefinite approval and focus on robust risk-based monitoring.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £5,500,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 85100000 - Health services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as the Contracting Authority wishes to establish a potential contract with a third-party delivery partner to undertake Quality Assurance of educational institutions across the UK on their behalf to ensure protection of the public.

Quality Assurance (QA) of education is one of the key regulatory activities of the NMC. It gives us the confidence that education institutions are meeting our standards for education and training. This helps us to know that students who have successfully completed an approved programme are meeting the standards of proficiency that we require before they join our register and deliver safe, kind and effective care - it's one of the ways we fulfil our duty to protect the public. If QA identifies that an education institution isn't meeting our standards, we must take action so the education institution returns to compliance. This will ensure that there is public confidence in our role in nursing, midwifery and nursing associate education and encourages the education institution to remain responsible for meeting our standards.

The responsibilities of the NMC for education and training are set out in the Nursing and Midwifery Order (The Nursing and Midwifery Order, Part IV Education and Training, 2001). The NMC has a responsibility to ensure that education institutions providing education and training of nurses, midwives and nursing associates meet our requirements and standards.

The role of the Quality Assurance Service Partner (QASP) will be directed towards monitoring activities, including coordinating and facilitating monitoring visits, extraordinary reviews and listening events, along with supporting annual monitoring, undertaking thematic analysis and identifying trends in intelligence and making recommendations to support our QA decision-making. This shift of focus provides an opportunity to review our education QA requirements, as we look to procure a QASP best able to support us to fulfil our regulatory function, offering agility and innovative solutions to implementing the QA framework, ensuring that our EDI Strategy and plan remains at the forefront of the work we do, as move to indefinite approval and focus on robust risk-based monitoring.

Responses to the ITT are to be completed electronically using the NMC's e-sourcing portal https://nmcprocurementportal.force.com/s/Welcome ('e-Sourcing Portal')

The e-Sourcing Portal provides a web-based tool that enables the NMC and candidates and tenderers to conduct the strategic activities of the procurement lifecycle over the internet. It provides a simple, secure and efficient means for managing tendering and quotation activities, reducing the time and effort required for both the NMC (and other buyers) and potential providers / suppliers.

Please note the following project name and reference number allocated to this procurement process ('Procurement') within the e-Sourcing Portal:

Project Name Provision of Education Quality Assurance Services

Project Reference C1242

Before completing their Tender Submission, potential candidates and tenderers should ensure that the email address that has been used to register will be checked regularly. Candidates and tenderers should also check that their organisation details are correct and up to date.

No information contained in this document ('ITT Guidance'), any other documents issued with the ITT or in any communication made between the NMC and any candidate or tenderer in connection with this Procurement shall be relied upon as constituting a contract, agreement or representation that any contract shall be offered in accordance with this Procurement. The NMC reserves the right, subject to the appropriate procurement regulations, to change without notice the basis of, or the procedures for, this Procurement or to terminate this Procurement at any time and NMC does not bind itself to enter into a contract with a successful tenderer. Under no circumstances shall the NMC incur any liability in respect of this Procurement or any supporting documentation.

Direct or indirect canvassing of any NMC employee, adviser, service provider or agent by any candidate or tenderer concerning this Procurement, or any attempt to procure information from any NMC employee or agent concerning this Procurement may result in the disqualification of the relevant candidate or tenderer from this Procurement at NMC's discretion.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 70

Price - Weighting: 30

two.2.6) Estimated value

Value excluding VAT: £5,500,000

two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Duration in months

60

This contract is subject to renewal

Yes

Description of renewals

Initial contract is for 36 months with an option to extend up to a further 24-month possible extension in 2 annual increments of 12 months (subject to excellent performance at the end of the initial terms).

two.2.10) Information about variants

Variants will be accepted: No

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: No

two.2.14) Additional information

Initial contract is for 36 months with an option to extend up to a further 24-month possible extension in 2 annual increments of 12 months (subject to excellent performance at the end of the initial terms). Please respond to this procurement by registering your interest via the NMC e-Sourcing portal ("e-Sourcing Portal") https://nmcprocurementportal.force.com/s/Welcome


Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information

three.1) Conditions for participation

three.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers

List and brief description of conditions

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) as the Contracting Authority wishes to establish a potential contract with a third-party delivery partner to undertake Quality Assurance of educational institutions across the UK on their behalf to ensure protection of the public.

Quality Assurance (QA) of education is one of the key regulatory activities of the NMC. It gives us the confidence that education institutions are meeting our standards for education and training. This helps us to know that students who have successfully completed an approved programme are meeting the standards of proficiency that we require before they join our register and deliver safe, kind and effective care - it's one of the ways we fulfil our duty to protect the public. If QA identifies that an education institution isn't meeting our standards, we must take action so the education institution returns to compliance. This will ensure that there is public confidence in our role in nursing, midwifery and nursing associate education and encourages the education institution to remain responsible for meeting our standards.

The responsibilities of the NMC for education and training are set out in the Nursing and Midwifery Order (The Nursing and Midwifery Order, Part IV Education and Training, 2001). The NMC has a responsibility to ensure that education institutions providing education and training of nurses, midwives and nursing associates meet our requirements and standards.

The role of the Quality Assurance Service Partner (QASP) will be directed towards monitoring activities, including coordinating and facilitating monitoring visits, extraordinary reviews and listening events, along with supporting annual monitoring, undertaking thematic analysis and identifying trends in intelligence and making recommendations to support our QA decision-making. This shift of focus provides an opportunity to review our education QA requirements, as we look to procure a QASP best able to support us to fulfil our regulatory function, offering agility and innovative solutions to implementing the QA framework, ensuring that our EDI Strategy and plan remains at the forefront of the work we do, as move to indefinite approval and focus on robust risk-based monitoring.

Responses to the ITT are to be completed electronically using the NMC's e-sourcing portal https://nmcprocurementportal.force.com/s/Welcome ('e-Sourcing Portal')

The e-Sourcing Portal provides a web-based tool that enables the NMC and candidates and tenderers to conduct the strategic activities of the procurement lifecycle over the internet. It provides a simple, secure and efficient means for managing tendering and quotation activities, reducing the time and effort required for both the NMC (and other buyers) and potential providers / suppliers.

Please note the following project name and reference number allocated to this procurement process ('Procurement') within the e-Sourcing Portal:

Project Name Provision of Education Quality Assurance Services

Project Reference C1242

Before completing their Tender Submission, potential candidates and tenderers should ensure that the email address that has been used to register will be checked regularly. Candidates and tenderers should also check that their organisation details are correct and up to date.

No information contained in this document ('ITT Guidance'), any other documents issued with the ITT or in any communication made between the NMC and any candidate or tenderer in connection with this Procurement shall be relied upon as constituting a contract, agreement or representation that any contract shall be offered in accordance with this Procurement. The NMC reserves the right, subject to the appropriate procurement regulations, to change without notice the basis of, or the procedures for, this Procurement or to terminate this Procurement at any time and NMC does not bind itself to enter into a contract with a successful tenderer. Under no circumstances shall the NMC incur any liability in respect of this Procurement or any supporting documentation.

Direct or indirect canvassing of any NMC employee, adviser, service provider or agent by any candidate or tenderer concerning this Procurement, or any attempt to procure information from any NMC employee or agent concerning this Procurement may result in the disqualification of the relevant candidate or tenderer from this Procurement at NMC's discretion.

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

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: 2018/S 107-244079

four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate

Date

13 December 2023

Local time

5:00pm

four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted

English

four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender

Duration in months: 4 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)

four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders

Date

14 December 2023

Local time

9:00am


Section six. Complementary information

six.1) Information about recurrence

This is a recurrent procurement: Yes

Estimated timing for further notices to be published: In three years time.

six.3) Additional information

Responses to the ITT are to be completed electronically using the NMC's e-sourcing portal https://nmcprocurementportal.force.com/s/Welcome ('e-Sourcing Portal')

The e-Sourcing Portal provides a web-based tool that enables the NMC and candidates and tenderers to conduct the strategic activities of the procurement lifecycle over the internet. It provides a simple, secure and efficient means for managing tendering and quotation activities, reducing the time and effort required for both the NMC (and other buyers) and potential providers / suppliers.

Please note the following project name and reference number allocated to this procurement process ('Procurement') within the e-Sourcing Portal:

Project Name Provision of Education Quality Assurance Services

Project Reference C1242

Initial contract is for 36 months with an option to extend up to a further 24-month possible extension in 2 annual increments of 12 months (subject to excellent performance at the end of the initial terms). Please respond to this procurement by registering your interest via the NMC e-Sourcing portal ("e-Sourcing Portal").

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

The Nursing & Midwifery Council

London

W1B 1PZ

Email

procurement@nmc-uk.org

Country

United Kingdom