Test and evaluation

Tender description

The Home Office plans to procure secure testing services for persons seeking to enter the UK, apply for settlement and/or apply for UK citizenship through: — the delivery of Secure English Language Testing (SELT) both within the UK and the Rest of the World (ROW); and — the delivery of Life in the UK Testing (LitUK) within the UK. The Home Office is seeking suppliers to provide secure testing services for Secure English Language Tests (SELT): Home Office immigration policy establishes an English language requirement that customers are required to evidence. One way to satisfy the English language requirement is to demonstrate language skills through evidence of an approved language test, as assessed by a Home Office approved provider (Secure English Language Test). SELTs are taken by individuals before applying for entry clearance from outside the UK, to enter the UK, or leave to remain to extend their stay in the UK, or for settlement in the UK or for naturalisation as a British citizen, where evidence of English language ability is a requirement. Approved language tests enable a customer to demonstrate competency in reading, writing, listening and spoken English at the level set out in Home Office policy (in reference to the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR)) in accordance to the route in which they are applying. The scope of the requirement is to provide a test(s) that enable assessment of language proficiency to levels required by the Home Office (CEFR) within a wider service that ensures integrity for approximately 260 000 applicants per annum within the UK (over a maximum 5 year period). The services include but are not limited to: — Make available an English tests that is assessed as mapping to the CEFR and to ensure the viability of the test throughout the life of the agreement with the Home Office, — The secure/assured provision of facilities for the delivery of tests, ensuring they are delivered safely and securely in terms of both test environment and test result, — Undertaking rigorous analysis and assurance measures to identify risks/issues and reporting these to the Home Office; and — Providing a high level of customer experience to those taking the tests. Prospective suppliers should note that they will be required to evidence as part of their bid that they hold/or will have accreditation by OFQUAL to deliver secure testing services. Furthermore, any English language test proposed by prospective suppliers as part of their bid will be required to be submitted alongside independent assessment by the UK government’s designated authority, known as the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) of their mapping to CEFR’s proficiency levels The new arrangements are expected to come into operation on expiry of the current agreements in the autumn of 2019. The Home Office is seeking suppliers to provide secure testing services for Secure English Language Tests (SELT): Home Office immigration policy establishes an English language requirement that customers are required to evidence. One way to satisfy the English language requirement is to demonstrate language skills through evidence of an approved language test, as assessed by a Home Office approved provider (Secure English Language Test). SELTs are taken by individuals before applying for entry clearance from outside the UK, to enter the UK, or leave to remain to extend their stay in the UK, or for settlement in the UK or for naturalisation as a British citizen, where evidence of English language ability is a requirement. Approved language tests enable a customer to demonstrate competency in reading, writing, listening and spoken English at the level set out in Home Office policy (in reference to the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR)) in accordance to the route in which they are applying. The scope of the requirement is to provide a test(s) that enable assessment of language proficiency to levels required by the Home Office (CEFR) within a wider service that ensures integrity for approximately 135,000 applicants per annum worldwide, excluding the UK the UK (over a maximum 5 year period). The services include but are not limited to: — Make available an English tests that is assessed as mapping to the CEFR and to ensure the viability of the test throughout the life of the agreement with the Home Office, — The secure/assured provision of facilities for the delivery of tests, ensuring they are delivered safely and securely in terms of both test environment and test result, — Undertaking rigorous analysis and assurance measures to identify risks/issues and reporting these to the Home Office; and — Providing a high level of customer experience to those taking the tests. Prospective suppliers should note that they will be required to evidence as part of their bid that they hold/or will have accreditation by OFQUAL to deliver secure testing services. Furthermore, any English language test proposed by prospective suppliers as part of their bid will be required to be submitted alongside independent assessment by the UK government’s designated authority, known as the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) of their mapping to CEFR’s proficiency levels The new arrangements are expected to come into operation on expiry of the current agreements in the autumn of 2019. The Home Office UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is seeking suppliers to provide Secure Testing Services for Life in the UK tests (LitUK): — The LitUK test is designed to test an individual’s knowledge of life in the UK (based on content of ‘Life in the United Kingdom; a guide for new residents’ handbook). The test is taken as part of an application for settlement in the UK or naturalisation as a British citizen, — LitUK is currently a computer based multiple choice test containing 24 questions, taken under secure conditions, — The scope of the requirement is to provide a service for approximately 180,000 applicants per year within the UK (over a maximum 5 years). These services include but are not limited to: — Ensuring the availability of a LitUK test developed in collaboration with UKVI, — The secure/assured provision of facilities for the delivery of tests, ensuring they are delivered safely and securely in terms of both test environment and test result, — Undertaking rigorous analysis and assurance measures to identify risks/issues and reporting these to the Home Office; and — Providing a high level of customer experience to those taking the tests. Prospective suppliers should note that they will be required to evidence as part of their bid that they hold/or will have accreditation by OFQUAL to deliver secure testing services. The new arrangements are expected to come into operation on expiry of the current agreements in the autumn of 2019.