Education and training services

Tender description

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office is the lead department for an HM Government requirement for the provision of language training including language delivery, administration services and the provision of premises. To identify and contract a ‘Prime Provider’ to provide a managed service language ‘school’ training provision, responsible for a range of UK based language training (for all languages except French). To provide full administration services including the central management of the FCO’s Language Center, the provision and upkeep of IT software to facilitate on-line Management Information (MI) portals and a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to support face-to-face training and other services as part of a cross-Government requirement to train staff in foreign languages in support of delivering HMG’s objectives. Use experience in language training delivery, methodology, and best practice to deliver beneficial change to the provision of language training across HMG. Work with the Authority and other key stakeholders to drive quality in language provision whilst ensuring best value for money. The appointed Prime Provider will have full responsibility for delivering all language training in the UK (except French), all day-to-day administration, student learning planning and management and full-service reporting and evaluation. Working in partnership with the Authority, Other Government Departments (OGDs) and as required, suppliers on the other tender opportunities (Lot 2 – French Language and Lot 3 – Examinations), the Prime Provider will support HMG’s objective of delivering excellence in language training within a culture of continuous improvement and value for money. The Authority is tendering for a contract based on continuous improvement and innovation. Therefore the Prime Provider will need to work with the Authority, other suppliers and other authorized bodies to continuously review and refresh their offer to meet the demands of HMG and to ensure quality delivery, balanced against the financial constraints of the Authority. To identify and contract a Centre of Excellence for French. To provide UK based training in its own facilities that support face-to-face training and other services as part of a cross-Government requirement to train staff in foreign languages in support of delivering HMG’s objectives. To provide full administration services including the provision and upkeep of IT software to facilitate on Line Management Information Portals and a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). To use experience in language training delivery, methodology and best practice to deliver beneficial change to the provision of French language training across HMG. Work with the Authority and other key stakeholders to drive quality in language provision whilst ensuring best value for money. The appointed Centre of Excellence will have full responsibility for all day-to-day administration, student learning planning and management and full-service reporting and evaluation for French. This will need to be administered and run in facilities provided by the Center of Excellence. Working in partnership with the Authority, Other Government Departments (OGDs) and, as required, other suppliers (Lot 1 – Prime Provider (all other languages) and Lot 3 – Examinations). The Center of Excellence will support HMG’s objective of excellence in language training within a culture of continuous improvement and value for money. The Authority is tendering for a contract based on continuous improvement and innovation. Therefore the Centre of Excellence will need to work with the Authority, other suppliers and other authorized bodies to continuously review and refresh delivery to meet the demands of HMG and to ensure quality delivery, balanced against the financial restraints of the Authority. To identify and contract an Examinations Supplier to provide managed professional examination provision, responsible for a range of UK and overseas-based examinations, diagnostic assessments, and Milestones Tests at a variety of levels for a number of languages. These tests and examinations will be carried out in the UK and overseas. To provide full administration services including the provision and management of IT software to facilitate online Management Information (MI) portals and other services as part of a cross-Government requirement to provide exams and tests at different levels required to meet HMG’s foreign language needs. The appointed supplier will have full responsibility for staging and running formal examinations at C1 and C2 Level and Milestone Tests at A2, B1 and B2, levels (according to the CEFR framework) for HMG staff in oral, listening, reading, writing and translation skills in up to 85 languages, between 2012 to 2017 examinations were only required for approximately 41 languages. Examinations must be available to students based both in the UK and overseas, Milestone Tests will principally be UK based. The Examinations Supplier will also need in some cases to supply diagnostic assessments to test an officer’s existing language ability prior to beginning language training (if appropriate). Milestone Tests will be conducted monthly and examinations five times a year throughout the year. The Examination Provider’s role will include (but not be limited to): — administering students’ applications, — timetabling, — provision of examination/test materials and papers, — marking and moderation of examinations and tests, — notification of results, and, — feedback to students and the Authority. Additionally, the Examinations Supplier will have responsibility for the maintenance, review, and refresh of the bank of exam and Milestone Test materials, to be developed using authentic texts in the target language. The Authority is tendering for a contract based on continuous improvement and innovation. The Examinations Supplier will need to work with the Authority, training providers and other authorized bodies to continuously review and refresh the model and delivery of tests and examinations to meet the demands of HMG and to ensure best in class delivery by the service provider, balanced against the financial constraints of the Authority.