Planning

Provision of the NMC OSCE delivery services

NURSING AND MIDWIFERY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

25 Jan 2021 at 17:55

Summary of the contracting process

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is planning to initiate a procurement process for the "Provision of the NMC OSCE delivery services" in the United Kingdom. This prior information notice (PIN) indicates that the NMC will identify and appoint up to five partners to deliver the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) as part of their Test of Competence. The estimated contract value is £100 million, with the maximum duration of five years. A formal Contract Notice is expected to be published by March 15, 2021, and the existing contracts will expire in February 2022.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in education and training services, particularly in vocational training. Companies that can demonstrate experience in delivering clinical examination services or training for healthcare professionals would be well-suited to compete in this procurement. The re-procurement also aims to enhance the existing partnerships and cater to the increasing demand for overseas-qualified nursing professionals in the UK, aligning with the government's commitment to recruit additional nurses for the NHS.

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.

Notice Title

Provision of the NMC OSCE delivery services

Notice Description

This is a prior information notice for the forthcoming concession contract for more than 1 but a maximum of 5 partners who will deliver the Objective Structured Clinical Examination the (OSCE) on behalf of the NMC. The OSCE will need to be made available to nurses, midwives and nursing associates who trained outside England and who want to apply to join our register or those seeking to re-join our register after a long period away from practice. Please find the link to our website which provides more information about our registration process www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-registerCurrently three universities throughout the United Kingdom deliver these services, however these contracts are due to expire in February 2022. Additionally the NMC strategic priority to review the route to registration for overseas trained applicants will begin in 2022. Therefore, to continue delivering the OSCE beyond 2022 for overseas and readmission applicants, we are required to retender the current contracts. We are looking to re-procure these services for maximum contract duration of five years, comprising of an initial term with extension options.

Lot Information

Lot 1

This is a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to advertise that the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) plans to run a procurement process during 2021 to identify and appoint a number of partners who will work with us to provide the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) part of our Test of Competence. The appointed service provider(s) will deliver the OSCE examination on behalf of the NMC and be responsible for delivering their services with the targets as described within the NMC's relevant statement of requirements and supporting documentation.The existing Test of Competence comprises two parts, the Computer Based Test (CBT) consisting of a number of multiple choice questions and a practical objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Together, these components seek to provide a holistic assessment of a candidate's ability to practise safely and effectively in the UK. Please find the link to our website which provides more information about the OSCE www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/register-nurse-midwife/trained-outside-the-eueea/new-application/how-to-guide/about-the-osce/ . As part of our remit to support both health and social care across the four countries (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland), the NMC has committed to working closely with the NHS to ensure ongoing OSCE capacity to support their international nursing recruitment programme, aimed at expanding additional supply and supporting trusts to reduce their nursing vacancies. The government have committed to recruit 50,000 new nurses to the register by 2024. A significant proportion of that number are expected to come from overseas.The new OSCE delivery contracts will continue to be concession contracts, similar in form to the existing contracts. The re-procurement exercise allows us to build upon and improve the existing partnering model we have already established. The maximum contract duration will be five years, comprising of an initial term with extension options.Concessions Contract Regulations 2016 (CCR) allows for a two stage 'restricted' style tender process to be used. This process would allow the NMC to assess and shortlist bidders in two stages. Only shortlisted bidders are then invited to submit a tender. This approach fits within our timeline and ensures there is sufficient contingency to on-board new concessionaires if they are successful in the tender process.The NMC has issued this Prior Information Notice (PIN) in order to conduct a market engagement exercise ahead of a forthcoming tender for the provision of the OSCE services. Before tendering for these services the NMC wishes to better understand the market and variety of options available which will help inform the eventual procurement exercise. Providers interested in partaking in this market engagement exercise are requested to express an interest in this PIN via the In-tend e-Sourcing portal https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/nmc where Market engagement stage has been published (Project Name: Provision of the NMC OSCE Delivery Services, Project reference: REG-00000295). The questionnaire may be completed and returned via the In-tend portal by midday 15/02 /2021 to allow us to gather feedback from the market and assist in developing the procurement strategy. Additional information: Please note no tender documents have been issued at this stage - the functional requirements and capability specification will be published in the future SQ and Invitation to Tender documents with the Find a Tender Contract Notice. The procurement will use the Intende-Sourcing portal https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/nmc

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-028d2c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/001494-2021
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

80490000 - Operation of an educational centre

80530000 - Vocational training services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Jan 20215 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
15 Mar 2021Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NURSING AND MIDWIFERY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Zoran Kahvo
Contact Email
procurement@nmc-uk.org
Contact Phone
+44 2076815480

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
W1B 1PZ
Post Town
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
Marylebone
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

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-h6vhtk-028d2c-2021-01-25T17:55:26Z",
    "date": "2021-01-25T17:55:26Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-028d2c",
    "description": "The NMC reserves the right to not progress to a full potential procurement exercise as a result of this PIN until they are fully ready to do so which will be communicated to the marketplace by the issuing of the formal Contract Notice which at this stage is estimated to be published in March 2021. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the In-tend e-Sourcing portal at: https://www.intendhost.co.uk/nmc .The contract value stated in this PIN is the current best estimate test income over a maximum 5 year contract/s. This may be revised if required prior to the issue of the Contract Notice.",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-028d2c",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "32014L0024",
            "scheme": "CELEX"
        },
        "title": "Provision of the NMC OSCE delivery services",
        "status": "planned",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "80490000",
            "description": "Operation of an educational centre"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "description": "This is a prior information notice for the forthcoming concession contract for more than 1 but a maximum of 5 partners who will deliver the Objective Structured Clinical Examination the (OSCE) on behalf of the NMC. The OSCE will need to be made available to nurses, midwives and nursing associates who trained outside England and who want to apply to join our register or those seeking to re-join our register after a long period away from practice. Please find the link to our website which provides more information about our registration process www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-registerCurrently three universities throughout the United Kingdom deliver these services, however these contracts are due to expire in February 2022. Additionally the NMC strategic priority to review the route to registration for overseas trained applicants will begin in 2022. Therefore, to continue delivering the OSCE beyond 2022 for overseas and readmission applicants, we are required to retender the current contracts. We are looking to re-procure these services for maximum contract duration of five years, comprising of an initial term with extension options.",
        "value": {
            "amount": 100000000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "description": "This is a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to advertise that the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) plans to run a procurement process during 2021 to identify and appoint a number of partners who will work with us to provide the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) part of our Test of Competence. The appointed service provider(s) will deliver the OSCE examination on behalf of the NMC and be responsible for delivering their services with the targets as described within the NMC's relevant statement of requirements and supporting documentation.The existing Test of Competence comprises two parts, the Computer Based Test (CBT) consisting of a number of multiple choice questions and a practical objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Together, these components seek to provide a holistic assessment of a candidate's ability to practise safely and effectively in the UK. Please find the link to our website which provides more information about the OSCE www.nmc.org.uk/registration/joining-the-register/register-nurse-midwife/trained-outside-the-eueea/new-application/how-to-guide/about-the-osce/ . As part of our remit to support both health and social care across the four countries (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland), the NMC has committed to working closely with the NHS to ensure ongoing OSCE capacity to support their international nursing recruitment programme, aimed at expanding additional supply and supporting trusts to reduce their nursing vacancies. The government have committed to recruit 50,000 new nurses to the register by 2024. A significant proportion of that number are expected to come from overseas.The new OSCE delivery contracts will continue to be concession contracts, similar in form to the existing contracts. The re-procurement exercise allows us to build upon and improve the existing partnering model we have already established. The maximum contract duration will be five years, comprising of an initial term with extension options.Concessions Contract Regulations 2016 (CCR) allows for a two stage 'restricted' style tender process to be used. This process would allow the NMC to assess and shortlist bidders in two stages. Only shortlisted bidders are then invited to submit a tender. This approach fits within our timeline and ensures there is sufficient contingency to on-board new concessionaires if they are successful in the tender process.The NMC has issued this Prior Information Notice (PIN) in order to conduct a market engagement exercise ahead of a forthcoming tender for the provision of the OSCE services. Before tendering for these services the NMC wishes to better understand the market and variety of options available which will help inform the eventual procurement exercise. Providers interested in partaking in this market engagement exercise are requested to express an interest in this PIN via the In-tend e-Sourcing portal https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/nmc where Market engagement stage has been published (Project Name: Provision of the NMC OSCE Delivery Services, Project reference: REG-00000295). The questionnaire may be completed and returned via the In-tend portal by midday 15/02 /2021 to allow us to gather feedback from the market and assist in developing the procurement strategy. Additional information: Please note no tender documents have been issued at this stage - the functional requirements and capability specification will be published in the future SQ and Invitation to Tender documents with the Find a Tender Contract Notice. The procurement will use the Intende-Sourcing portal https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/nmc",
                "status": "planned"
            }
        ],
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "80000000",
                        "description": "Education and training services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "80530000",
                        "description": "Vocational training services"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryLocation": {
                    "description": "United Kingdom"
                },
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2021-03-15T00:00:00Z"
        }
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-FTS-3145",
            "name": "Nursing and Midwifery Council",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Nursing and Midwifery Council"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "www.nmc-uk.org",
                "locality": "London",
                "region": "UK",
                "postalCode": "W1B 1PZ",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Zoran Kahvo",
                "telephone": "+44 2076815480",
                "email": "procurement@nmc-uk.org"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.nmc.org.uk",
                "buyerProfile": "http://www.nmc.org.uk",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "UK Healthcare Regulator"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "COFOG",
                        "id": "07",
                        "description": "Health"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-FTS-3145",
        "name": "Nursing and Midwifery Council"
    },
    "language": "en"
}