Planning

Market Engagement for Item Writing Services Framework for the Standards and Testing Agency

DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

11 Nov 2024 at 13:02

Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Education (DfE) is currently in the planning stage of procuring suppliers for its 2025-2029 Item Writing Services Framework, managed by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA). This process, classified under Education and Training Services (CPV code 80000000), aims to source item writing agencies that will contribute to the Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 National Curriculum tests. The procurement involves regions across the United Kingdom, including the North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, and South West. The early market engagement event will be held online on Monday, 2 December 2024, from 10:00 to 12:00 GMT, with the engagement's end date set for 27 November 2024. Interested parties should email their contact details by midday (12:00 GMT) on 27 November 2024.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses experienced in item writing, especially those familiar with the UK National Curriculum. Suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) entities, the framework will cover various services, including item writing, trialling, review, and refinement of test items, among others. Successful suppliers added to the framework will have the opportunity to bid for individual contracts from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2029. This is an excellent chance for businesses to establish long-term partnerships with the Department for Education, enhancing their portfolio and contributing to the quality of educational assessments in the UK.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo
All Features Pricing

Notice Information

Notice Title

Market Engagement for Item Writing Services Framework for the Standards and Testing Agency

Notice Description

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) is looking to procure suppliers for its new 2025-2029 item Writing Services Framework. This notice is to advise of our intention to engage with the market prior to potentially running a competitive procurement process to source item writing agencies for the new framework. As part of this early market engagement exercise, we wish to engage with suppliers to outline our requirements and explain how potential bidders may ready themselves for any competitive process that may follow. The event will also provide an opportunity for potential bidders to ask questions. As part of the test development process, the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) on behalf of Department for Education (DfE) requires suppliers experienced in item writing to support the development of the Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 National Curriculum tests. We require a number of suppliers who are capable of understanding the relevant programmes of study, test frameworks and curricula for particular tests and developing high-quality test items, with accompanying mark schemes and/or coding frames. Successful suppliers will be added to the Item Writing Framework 2025-2029 and will have the opportunity to bid for each call-off from the framework between 1 September 2025 - 31 August 2029. Once an organisation has been accepted on to the framework, they will bid for item writing services contracts. An invitation to Tender (ITT) will be disseminated to all those on the framework for all work. Each call-off from this framework will provide detailed requirements including the subject and content domain areas, item types, mark range, difficulty range and other desired properties. The core requirements for the Item Writing Services Framework include the delivery of the following services in order to support the development of high-quality, accessible and inclusive items suitable for DfE assessments (Key stages 1 and 2 English grammar, punctuation & spelling, English reading and mathematics. - Item writing - Informal item trialling - Reviewing, refining and amending items - Item classification - Design (items and texts) - Text searching / sourcing (English reading) - Reviewing texts (English reading) - Text selection (English reading)/Context selection (science) - Text trialling (English reading) - Informal item and text trialling (English reading) - Printing to meet handover or trialling requirements - Developing mark schemes - Developing coding frames - Administration/ organisation of various elements Additional information: This online early market engagement event for interested parties will be held on Monday 2 December 2024 between 10:00-12:00 GMT. We welcome interest from parties who have expertise in the National Curriculum delivery and Item writing. 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.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-25d752a8-41b0-4ce3-8fa9-7998a2bae21c
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c1758c60-c3be-4a05-96a9-472443d4c763
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Not specified
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Nov 20241 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
27 Nov 2024Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
COVENTRY
Postcode
CV1 2WT
Post Town
Coventry
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG33 Coventry
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)
Local Authority
Coventry
Electoral Ward
St Michael's
Westminster Constituency
Coventry South

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-b5fd17-25d752a8-41b0-4ce3-8fa9-7998a2bae21c-2024-11-11T13:02:36Z",
    "date": "2024-11-11T13:02:36Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-b5fd17-25d752a8-41b0-4ce3-8fa9-7998a2bae21c",
    "language": "en",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "title": "Market Engagement for Item Writing Services Framework for the Standards and Testing Agency",
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "title": "Engagement end date",
                "type": "engagement",
                "dueDate": "2024-11-27T23:59:59Z"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "description": "Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder",
                "url": "https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c1758c60-c3be-4a05-96a9-472443d4c763",
                "datePublished": "2024-11-11T13:02:36Z",
                "format": "text/html",
                "language": "en"
            },
            {
                "id": "2",
                "description": "If you are interested in attending this pre-market engagement event, please email us by midday (12:00 GMT) on Wednesday 27 November 2024 with your contact details, using the above email address:",
                "url": "http://TendersTD.STA@education.gov.uk"
            },
            {
                "id": "3",
                "description": "The Authority administers all procurements electronically via the Department for Education e-procurement portal. All potential bidders must register on Jaggaer using the above link:",
                "url": "https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "tender_470443/1417580",
        "title": "Market Engagement for Item Writing Services Framework for the Standards and Testing Agency",
        "description": "The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) is looking to procure suppliers for its new 2025-2029 item Writing Services Framework. This notice is to advise of our intention to engage with the market prior to potentially running a competitive procurement process to source item writing agencies for the new framework. As part of this early market engagement exercise, we wish to engage with suppliers to outline our requirements and explain how potential bidders may ready themselves for any competitive process that may follow. The event will also provide an opportunity for potential bidders to ask questions. As part of the test development process, the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) on behalf of Department for Education (DfE) requires suppliers experienced in item writing to support the development of the Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 National Curriculum tests. We require a number of suppliers who are capable of understanding the relevant programmes of study, test frameworks and curricula for particular tests and developing high-quality test items, with accompanying mark schemes and/or coding frames. Successful suppliers will be added to the Item Writing Framework 2025-2029 and will have the opportunity to bid for each call-off from the framework between 1 September 2025 - 31 August 2029. Once an organisation has been accepted on to the framework, they will bid for item writing services contracts. An invitation to Tender (ITT) will be disseminated to all those on the framework for all work. Each call-off from this framework will provide detailed requirements including the subject and content domain areas, item types, mark range, difficulty range and other desired properties. The core requirements for the Item Writing Services Framework include the delivery of the following services in order to support the development of high-quality, accessible and inclusive items suitable for DfE assessments (Key stages 1 and 2 English grammar, punctuation & spelling, English reading and mathematics. - Item writing - Informal item trialling - Reviewing, refining and amending items - Item classification - Design (items and texts) - Text searching / sourcing (English reading) - Reviewing texts (English reading) - Text selection (English reading)/Context selection (science) - Text trialling (English reading) - Informal item and text trialling (English reading) - Printing to meet handover or trialling requirements - Developing mark schemes - Developing coding frames - Administration/ organisation of various elements Additional information: This online early market engagement event for interested parties will be held on Monday 2 December 2024 between 10:00-12:00 GMT. We welcome interest from parties who have expertise in the National Curriculum delivery and Item writing. 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.",
        "status": "planning",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "80000000",
            "description": "Education and training services"
        },
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "North East",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "North West",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "Yorkshire and the Humber",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "East Midlands",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "West Midlands",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "East of England",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "London",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "South East",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    },
                    {
                        "region": "South West",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ]
            }
        ],
        "suitability": {
            "sme": true,
            "vcse": true
        }
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-CFS-292513",
            "name": "Department for Education",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Department for Education"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Cheylesmore House, 5 Quinton Rd,",
                "locality": "Coventry",
                "postalCode": "CV1 2WT",
                "countryName": "England"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "TendersTD.STA@education.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-CFS-292513",
        "name": "Department for Education"
    }
}