EdTech Assistive Technology Testbed Programme

Tender description

The purpose of the PIN is to initiate market engagement. It is not a call for competition. This PIN is intended to inform the market of a potential future procurement exercise to appoint a delivery partner to work with the Department on the design, management, implementation and evaluation of the Assistive Technology (AT) Testbed programme. The Testbed will support short-cycle evaluations of AT use in schools and colleges. We will be holding two webinars: Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th February 2020, 14:00-15:00. Please email edtech.team@education.gov.uk to express your interest and we will send on the invite. All information from the day will be made available to those who are unable to attend. **IMPORTANT** The procurement will be run using DfE's Education and Children's Social Care (ECSC) Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). Please ensure that you are fully registered on the Redimo2 system and accepted onto the DPS in order to see the opportunity. You must have applied for the DPS by 06/02/20 at the latest to guarantee acceptance before this opportunity goes live. If you are not FULLY registered onto the DPS and have selected your category codes by the publication date you will not be able to bid. We anticipate that the opportunity will be launched on the Redimo2 system in the week commencing 17/02/20. Redimo 2 guidance: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/db987548-9c78-4581-ad0b-fabda89bbfec DFE registration/ECSC DPS application process: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education/about/procurement#redimo2 Redimo 2 portal: https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login/?cid=DFE Procurement Description: We anticipate that the delivery partner will use up to £300,000 of funding available in FY2020-21, to undertake short-cycle evaluations (for example an academic year or less) of AT in schools and colleges, assessing the impact of AT for students with SEND. The delivery partner would have responsibility for working with the DfE to: - Identify/recruit Testbed schools/colleges who use AT to support their pupils with SEND - Set the evaluation framework, measurement tools and baseline assessments (without using 'control groups' where AT are actively withheld from SEND pupils), and manage the evaluation process - Collect the post-intervention data and assess impact - Analyse impact data and produce a research report - Provide progress reports to ensure the conditions of contract are met and value for money is achieved - Effectively communicate key messages/emerging findings via appropriate channels to the wider sector, catering to the needs/preferences of various audiences - Evaluate the AT Testbed programme The findings and evaluation of the AT Testbed programme will provide a clearer understanding and raise awareness of what AT works in which contexts. These findings will support and steer future policy direction by identifying the factors and types of products that have the greatest impact.