Planning

Customer - Secure English Language Testing (STS24)

HOME OFFICE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

28 Jul 2023 at 14:31

Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Home Office is seeking input from the market for a potential re-procurement of Secure Testing Services for Secure English Language Testing (SELT). The procurement process is in the planning stage, with a deadline for responses to the Request for Information (RFI) set for 31st August 2023. The opportunity falls under the category of General personnel services for the government, with a contract value of £390 million. The organisation is located at 2 Marsham St, Westminster, London SW1P 4DF.

This tender by the Home Office presents an opportunity for businesses to participate in the market engagement for Secure Testing Services. Companies offering secure testing solutions and personnel services could find this tender particularly suited to their expertise. The procurement method is an Open procedure (above threshold), with key dates including the RFI response deadline on 31st August 2023. Businesses looking to expand their services in the government sector should consider engaging with this opportunity.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Customer - Secure English Language Testing (STS24)

Notice Description

Find a Tender Service Notice Reference: 2023/S 000-021709 Market engagement to gain an understanding of products, services and innovations available in the market as well as testing changes to the current services in order to in order to inform a business case for potential future Secure English Language Testing. The Secretary of State for the Home Department, acting through the Home Office's UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), is the Authority reviewing options for a potential future procurement of Secure Testing Services (STS) for the provision of a Secure English language Test (SELT) service in the UK and the rest of the world. Home Office immigration policy establishes an English language requirement that customers are required to evidence. As such, completing a SELT to an agreed standard, may be required from individuals before applying for entry clearance from outside the UK to enter the UK, or gaining leave to remain to extend their stay in the UK, or for Settlement in the UK, or for naturalisation as a British Citizen. The SELT assesses a customer's competency in speaking and listening and dependent on the route of entry, reading and writing English, between levels A1 to C1 of the Common Education Framework of Reference for Languages (CERF). Tests are taken under UKVI-prescribed secure conditions where secure relates to: 1. Processes to verify the identity of the customer; 2. Ensuring that it is only the validated customer who takes the test and does so under exam conditions with an appropriately trained invigilator to eliminate the ability to cheat; 3. Ensuring results are not released until the provider has completed additional verification checks to ensure that collusion and fraud have not taken place; and 4. Ongoing audits, both internal and via external independent auditors, of the physical test points, processes and delivery systems in order to ensure that the security and integrity protocols are being strictly adhered to. Approximately 160,000 customers in the UK took the test in the period April 2022 to March 2023 inclusive with a further 490,000 across 136 countries, outside the UK. Additional information on the service can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prove-your-english-language-abilities-with-a-secure-english-language-test-selt The tests are currently delivered as concession agreements split into two lots, UK and Rest of World. UKVI is seeking input from the market to build a business case to support a potential re-procurement and inform a potential future specification to ensure that the service is delivered with the highest current levels of security, integrity and customer satisfaction. This market data gathering will include but not be limited to testing the feasibility of potential procurement options and the market's capacity, capability, and insight. Additional information: Following the publication of this PIN, there will be a Request for Information (RFI) questionnaire requesting data and insight to support this programme. In addition there will be a virtual supplier event on the 16th of August 2023 at 14:00 BST until 15:30 BST that will enable respondents to gain an overview of the service and ask clarification questions, aiding their understanding of the potential requirements, before completing the RFI. It is the Home Office's intention to record this event and make it available on request to those that intend to respond to the RFI but could not attend. In order to participate in the RFI and virtual supplier event, participants must complete and return an NDA. The RFI and NDA will be managed electronically via the Home Office's eSourcing Portal (JAGGAER). To participate in this procurement, participants must first be registered on the eSourcing Portal. If you have not yet registered on the eSourcing Portal, this can be done online at https://homeoffice.app.jaggaer.com by following the link 'To register click here'. Please note that, to register, you must have a valid DUNS number (as provided by Dun and Bradstreet) for the organisation which you are registering, who will be entering into a contract if invited to do so. Once you have registered on the eSourcing Portal, a registered user can request access to the NDA. This is done by emailing STS24SELT@homeoffice.gov.uk . Your email must clearly state the exact name that you used to register on Jaggaer. Once enabled by the Buyer you should receive a link to the NDA from Jaggaer. Once you have submitted an NDA you will be given access to the independent RFI portal where you can complete the RFI. You can also then go to https://www.techuk.org/what-we-deliver/events/home-office-ukvi-selt-market-engagement-event.html to register for the virtual event. We will endeavour to process requests to take part in the RFI and receive an NDA in two working days. We will endeavour to process completed NDAs and allow access to the RFI in two working days. You MUST have submitted your NDA and registered by 12:00 BST on the 14th of August 2023 to attend the event live. The event will be recorded and made available to those that can not attend. For technical assistance on use of the eSourcing Portal please contact the JAGGAER Supplier Helpdesk at customersupport@jaggaer.com or 0800 069 8630 (0800 - 1800hrs). Responses to the RFI are requested by 12:00 British Summer Time on Thursday the 31st of August These dates and times may be updated, with messages noting any changes provided via the eSourcing Tool

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-76b45c10-61d7-457f-8dbd-af4e07a0a60c
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8d7d0187-9b08-4cfa-9d29-74765c07cead
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure (above threshold)
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

CPV Codes

75131100 - General personnel services for the government

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£390,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Jul 20232 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
26 Jul 2023Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
25 Jul 2023 - 31 Aug 2023 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HOME OFFICE
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Post Town
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

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. 

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