Planning

Market Testing for Home Office English Language Testing (HOELT) Services: Second Round Request for Information

HOME OFFICE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

06 Nov 2024 at 16:25

Summary of the contracting process

The Home Office is initiating a second round of market engagement for the provision of English Language Testing services under the UK Visas and Immigration's HOELT programme. This procurement process, currently in the planning stage, aims to transition from a concession model to direct contracts with suppliers. The project is divided into two primary lots: the development and ongoing support of a branded test and the global facilitation of the tests, including a customer booking platform and test centre provisions. The second round Request for Information (RFI) will go live during the week of 11th November 2024, with responses due by 11th December 2024. The total estimated contract value is £1,130,000,000, subject to test volume adjustments, and services will be required across the UK and 141 international locations.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in educational software, IT services, communications infrastructure, biometric sensors, and secure test delivery. Companies with expertise in these areas, particularly those capable of developing, evaluating, and supporting large-scale testing services, and managing secure identity-verification processes, will find this tender particularly well-suited. Engaging in this process could provide substantial business growth potential for firms that can deliver high-quality, reliable English Language Testing services on a global scale under stringent security and integrity protocols mandated by the Home Office.

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Notice Title

Market Testing for Home Office English Language Testing (HOELT) Services: Second Round Request for Information

Notice Description

SECOND ROUND RFI This notice is to introduce a second round of market engagement for the testing of a new delivery model for provision of English Language Testing services and gain an understanding of the products, services, and innovations available in the market. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is seeking a second round of input from the market to build a business case to inform future specifications, 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 and capability for delivery. Secure English Language Testing is currently delivered by multiple concessionaires who are responsible for providing their version of the test, test facilities, and all associated services. The Home Office is planning to move away from a concession model and contract directly with suppliers. The service is also planned to be disaggregated into two service lines: 1) The development, evaluation and ongoing support of a Home Office branded test to be used globally for all HOELTs, and 2) The facilitation of tests globally, including a customer booking platform, test centre provision, invigilation, and ID-verification. The two services will be lotted as outlined below. The contract value is an estimate only, developed using estimated test volumes, and is therefore subject to change. The content of this PIN, including the nature of works, services and estimated value, may be subject to change.

Lot Information

The Development, Evaluation and Ongoing Support of the Home Office English Language Test (HOELT)

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 a Home Office English Language Test (HOELT) for the provision of the test in the UK and the rest of the world. Some immigration application routes require customers to evidence competency in the English language. As such, completing a HOELT to an agreed standard may be required from individuals before applying for entry clearance from outside the UK, extending settling in the UK or for applying for British Citizenship. The HOELT will assess a customer's competency in speaking and listening and dependent on the route, reading and writing English, between levels A1 to C1 of the Common Education Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Tests are currently provided by multiple suppliers, however UKVI is seeking to procure a dedicated test to be owned by the Home Office and used by all customers globally. The chosen test developer will also be responsible for: * Maintaining and updating the test * Provision of a test delivery system which will assess a Customer's English language ability * Securely receiving test data from test centres, marking of the test and sending test results back * Evaluating and moderating all tests taken * Performing anti-fraud checks * Gaining independent assurance of the test The content of this PIN, including the nature of works, services and estimated value, may be subject to change. Additional information: A second round Request for Information (RFI) will be published w/c 11th November 2024, with a deadline of 11th December 2024. Bidders who have expressed interest and returned a signed NDA via the Jaggaer portal will be granted access to the RFI once it is live. Details on how to register via the Jaggaer portal can be found at the bottom of this notice.

Global Facilitation of HOELT and Associated Services

There is a global requirement for the facilitation of HOELT. This includes design and maintenance of an online platform for customers to book tests and receive results, physical test centres, invigilators, and ID-verification services. The Home Office has a requirement for HOELT to be 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. Additional information on the current service can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prove-your-english-language-abilities-with-a-secure-english-language-test-selt The content of this PIN, including the nature of works, services and estimated value, may be subject to change. Additional information: A second round Request for Information (RFI) will be published w/c 11th November 2024, with a deadline of 11th December 2024. Bidders who have expressed interest and returned a signed NDA via the Jaggaer portal will be granted access to the RFI once it is live.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04b472
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035979-2024
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

32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

48 - Software package and information systems

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

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

32571000 - Communications infrastructure

35125110 - Biometric sensors

48190000 - Educational software package

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

72212190 - Educational software development services

75110000 - General public services

75131100 - General personnel services for the government

79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

80490000 - Operation of an educational centre

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,130,000,000 £1B-£10B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Nov 20241 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
6 Apr 2025Expired
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
HOME OFFICE
Contact Name
HOELT Commercial Team
Contact Email
hoelt2024@homeoffice.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

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
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)

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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