Market Engagement for Trailling Framework for the Standards and Testing Agency

Tender description

The Standards and Testing Agencys remit includes development and delivery of statutory national curriculum tests for English Reading, English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GPS), Mathematics, Phonics and Reception Baseline Assessment for use in schools. The Agency is responsible for ensuring these tests are of the highest quality, accessible to all, inclusive and free from bias. The Agency wishes to establish a new framework for procuring the trialling services for 4 years between June 2025 and June 2029. Trialling is essential to STAs operating model of delivering brand new assessments and for adding to the bank of items for current assessments. Two types of trials are carried out: 1. Item validation trial (IVT) An item validation trial (IVT) is a relatively small-scale trial providing evidence to support item development, for example, refining the wording of questions and developing coding frames. 2. Technical pre-test The technical pre-test (TPT) is a larger scale trial and provides statistical evidence relating to items. The online Early Market Engagement event will be held on 3 December 2024 between 1330hrs and 1430hrs via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be sent to the suppliers who express interest in participating in the event. All queries in relation to this market engagement event may be submitted at any time via DfEs e-procurement portal Jaggaer Messaging Option and must be received no later than 2 December 2024, 1200hrs. Additional information: This online early market engagement event for interested parties will be held on Tuesday 3 December 2024 between 13:30-14:30 GMT. Notices The publication of this notice does not signify the commencement of any procurement process and does not constitute any commitment by the Department for Education to undertake any procurement exercise. In the event that the Department for Education might decide to commence any procurement process as contemplated by this notice, a separate notice will be published at the relevant time. The DfE is keen to ensure that potential suppliers have as much notice as is possible about the services we wish to procure and this supports our agenda about encouraging engagement with Small and Medium Suppliers. Disclaimers and conditions: The Department retains the right to not procure and this early market engagement event is not binding. Any communication made between STA and any party in connection with this requirement, shall not be relied upon as constituting a contract, agreement or representation that any contract will necessarily be offered. DfE/STA reserves the right to change without notice any documents and communications, in whole or in part. Under no circumstances shall DfE/STA incur any liability in respect of this supporting documentation and DfE/STA will not reimburse any costs incurred by any parties in connection with their use of these communications nor in connection with participation at the Early Market Engagement event. This early market engagement event is suitable for suppliers that have knowledge, capacity and capability and track record to meet the requirements when the competition is published.