--- title: "Digital Languages Mentoring Project (Beta)" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-356576dd-69c6-446f-8d59-057cd7316ceb" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-356576dd-69c6-446f-8d59-057cd7316ceb" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-356576dd-69c6-446f-8d59-057cd7316ceb.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-356576dd-69c6-446f-8d59-057cd7316ceb.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION" published: "2019-08-16" --- # Digital Languages Mentoring Project (Beta) Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-356576dd-69c6-446f-8d59-057cd7316ceb [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-356576dd-69c6-446f-8d59-057cd7316ceb) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-356576dd-69c6-446f-8d59-057cd7316ceb.json) ## Summary The Department for Education (DfE) in England is conducting a tender for the "Digital Languages Mentoring Project (Beta)", aimed at enhancing the uptake of Modern Foreign Languages among Year 8/9 pupils. The procurement is currently in the Tender stage, with submissions due by 20 September 2019. The project is set to take place in at least 40 state-maintained schools across England and has a total contract potential value of £1,985,000 over a maximum term of 22 months, starting from 1 November 2019 to 31 August 2020. The selected provider will focus on engaging disadvantaged pupils and developing a robust evaluation model to measure the project's impact. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the education and training services sector, particularly those focused on digital platforms and mentoring solutions. Companies with experience in developing educational resources, conducting user research, or working with schools to implement impactful programmes would be well-suited to compete for this contract. The project’s emphasis on collaboration and innovation is particularly favourable for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) looking to expand their footprint in the education landscape. ## Notice The Department for Education (DfE) is seeking a Provider to deliver the beta phase of the Digital Languages Mentoring Project, building on the 2018-19 alpha pilot, which will encourage pupils in Year 8/9 to choose Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) at GCSE level. The project will be run in state maintained schools in England, with MFL undergraduate students from universities in England as mentors. The pupils will be of mixed abilities, mixed gender and mixed socio-economic backgrounds. We are particularly interested in the capacity for the project to affect the choices of disadvantaged pupils and pupils who might not otherwise choose a language. The project's ambition is to inspire them to choose to study languages at GCSE level. This is a digital project (as well as involving face to face visits) - using a digital platform to host interesting and stimulating digital resources to spark pupils' attention related to global culture and the value of languages. (The digital platform is being developed under a separate contract). The private beta phase will run in at least 40 schools in England, from late January 2020 to the end of February or early March. The project will be delivered by the time Year 9 pupils make their subject choices for GCSEs. Mentors will work with small groups of 10-12 pupils, with a total pool of at least 1,000 pupils. The contract includes the option to progress to the public beta phase of the pilot, to run in academic year 2020-21 with a pool of at least 6,000 pupils (subject to approval and funding). The Provider will be required to; - run a dedicated programme of engagement, continuing the approach from the alpha phase. Activities from the alpha pilot will be available to bidders on request. - work with the Department to develop a robust evaluation model that provides clear evidence of the impact on participating pupils, including both qualitative and quantitative data. - collaborate with the DfE product manager to prepare for the GDS service assessment at the end of the private beta pilot, focusing on the digital platform and compliance with GDS standards. - commission user research to shape and evaluate the digital platform. The user research will need to be compatible with and support assessment of the platform against GDS standards. - work with digital experts within the DfE and third parties who will review the digital platform in line with the GDS specifications. The DfE digital team will look at specific digital elements such as security and data protection, in order to support with GDS assessments and advise on future expansion of the digital element of the project. For more details on the requirement and to access the tender documents please visit https://education.app.jaggaer.com/. Additional information: This contract is for an initial private beta term of up to 10 months at a maximum value of PS485,000, with the option to extend for a further public beta term of 12 months at a maximum value of PS1.5m, taking the total potential contract value to PS1,985,000 (exclusive of VAT) over a term of 22 months. The option to extend the contract is dependant on internal approvals and funding and is at the sole discretion of the DfE. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/68462487-0fd2-4ff7-a59f-ebcf04c4d0ff | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (above threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 16 Aug 2019 | | Submission deadline | 20 Sep 2019 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Nov 2019 - 31 Aug 2020 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1,985,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | South West London | | Postcode | SW1P 3BT | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London | | Local authority | Westminster | | Electoral ward | St James's | | Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 80 - Education and training services ### Codes - 80000000 - Education and training services ## Release History - 16 Aug 2019 at 19:22 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/68462487-0fd2-4ff7-a59f-ebcf04c4d0ff ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/68462487-0fd2-4ff7-a59f-ebcf04c4d0ff 16th August 2019 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder ## Notice URLs - https://education.app.jaggaer.com/ ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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