Planning

Market Engagement for the provision of educational Screening and Assessment Tools to use within the future Prison Education Service.

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

19 Jul 2023 at 16:05

Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Justice is planning a tender for the provision of educational Screening and Assessment Tools to be used within the Prison Education Service. The process involves engaging potential suppliers through a Prior Information Notice (PIN). There will be market engagement events in September 2023 where suppliers may present their proposed approaches. The tender aims to support the next generation of adult education services in English prisons, with a focus on accurate assessment tools for educational attainment. The final procurement process will adhere to MoJ procurement policy and PCR15.

Businesses providing assessment tools for areas such as Functional Skills, English, Mathematics, and Digital Skills would be well-suited to compete in this tender. The Ministry of Justice seeks tools that can accurately identify prisoners' educational levels and additional needs to support their successful engagement with education in prison. This tender presents an opportunity for suppliers to contribute to the development of a modern digital infrastructure that aids decision-making and tailored support plans. Companies adept at providing high-quality, accessible, and validated assessment tools should explore this tender to support the rehabilitation and education of prisoners in English prisons.

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Notice Title

Market Engagement for the provision of educational Screening and Assessment Tools to use within the future Prison Education Service.

Notice Description

His Majesty's Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) is implementing a new Prison Education Service (PES) programme which is working to design and implement the next generation of adult education services in prisons in England. The service will include an initial 'Screening and Assessment' process, delivered via tools that accurately identify prisoners' educational attainment and ability levels, as well as potential additional needs to support successful engagement with prison education. We aim to embed the procured Screening and Assessment tools as part of a modern and robust digital infrastructure that supports data analysis, decision making, tailored support plans and access to appropriate education pathways, through integration with other 3rd party systems as required. We welcome bids from parties who can provide assessment tools for all or part of the required Screening and Assessment subject areas. We will consider the procurement of assessment tools which meet single or multiple specified subject areas if this is deemed likely to represent the best option for both quality and value.

Lot Information

Lot 1

As part of the roll-out of Prison Education Service (PES), we are exploring capabilities within the market to better understanding the availability and suitability of Screening and Assessment (S&A) tools. The tools must cover 'Functional Skills' assessments, including English, Mathematics and Digital Skills educational levels. There is also a requirement for an 'Additional Learning Needs Indication Tool' (ALNIT), and assessments for reading, for 'English for Speakers of Other Languages' (ESOL) where identified. The desired package will consist of tools which are validated and designed to create high quality, accessible, and accurate information on additional learning needs and functional skills levels across the prison estate. Information generated by the tools will be used to inform a prisoner's starting point and the support required to successfully engage with rehabilitative activities within prison, across education, skills and work. The intention is that the implementation of the new PES Initial S&A process will be ready for deployment, with tools in place and staff trained for delivery, for 1 April 2025. The tools procured must as minimum meet the following requirements: Provision of a digital Functional Skills tool, to assess the prisoner's skills and ability in Mathematics, English, ICT, Reading and ESOL literacy. Provide accurate results which define the prisoner's ability. Provision of an effective, high quality and evidenced based additional learning needs indicator tool which can produce accurate results, which inform education and prison-wide additional needs support planning processes. The additional learning needs indicator tool should: Clarify what the indicators of neurodivergent needs are for the individual, including any areas of strength as well as areas of need Suggest where further specialist assessment may be needed, and indicate where further diagnostic assessment may be needed, by suitably qualified psychology, learning disability, nursing or specialist education staff. Clearly identify practical strategies and reasonable adjustments to be put in place to support individuals both within education and more widely within the prison regime and in community healthcare. Tools must generate results which are recorded by the Contractor and made available digitally live to the delivery Contractors, the Learner and the Authority after completion and in line with any pre-agreed regular data submissions. The results must be able to be used to inform the learning pathway of individual Learners. The Contractor shall ensure that: Tools are of a consistent quality for completion data, outcomes and progress to be efficiently recorded and analysed to identify trends and patterns. Tools provided meet the standards required to deliver outcomes as outlined in the PES Quality Framework, make sure that it has a system in place for monitoring quality and effectiveness of its provision of the Services. Work with key stakeholders to ensure that information from S&A is relevant on release can be shared in line with information sharing guidance. Tools are compatible with MoJ/HMPPS Digital strategy and delivery teams to ensure continual compatibility with online systems, hardware and software. Tools are reviewed and updated at a frequency agreed with the Authority to ensure that the quality and content of the tools is up-to-date and reflects leading industry standards. Engage with the governance process and provide timely and accurate MI and data reporting Tools are capable of being administered during the initial 30 day prisoner settlement period so results are available within agreed timescales following reception of individuals into the Establishment. Data should be available in real-time once completed. Tools must be accessed, completed, and capture output in a digital format on a web-based platform. Contingency arrangements should also be considered in the event that primary access is unavailable Additional information: Tools must age appropriate Accessibility requirements will be essential HMPPS reserve the right to conduct an additional stage of performing a demonstration of proposed tools. Organisations are required to hold 27/09/2023 for this optional stage. Should further engagement proceed on this date, a small selection of participants will be invited at the earliest possible time

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-03e38e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020847-2023
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

48 - Software package and information systems

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

48190000 - Educational software package

72222300 - Information technology services

75231230 - Prison services

80340000 - Special education services

80420000 - E-learning services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Jul 20232 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
23 Nov 2023Expired
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
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
Contact Name
Stuart Taylor
Contact Email
stuart.taylor6@justice.gov.uk
Contact Phone
+44 7517498009

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1H 9AJ
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

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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