--- title: "Online Schools Quality Assurance - Prior Information Notice" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-6feb4de8-8640-4bab-95f1-eb0b038cddac" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-6feb4de8-8640-4bab-95f1-eb0b038cddac" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6feb4de8-8640-4bab-95f1-eb0b038cddac.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6feb4de8-8640-4bab-95f1-eb0b038cddac.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION" published: "2019-10-08" --- # Online Schools Quality Assurance - Prior Information Notice Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-6feb4de8-8640-4bab-95f1-eb0b038cddac [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-6feb4de8-8640-4bab-95f1-eb0b038cddac) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6feb4de8-8640-4bab-95f1-eb0b038cddac.json) ## Summary The Department for Education (DfE) is initiating a public procurement process titled "Online Schools Quality Assurance - Prior Information Notice." This process focuses on the assessment of online schools in England, aiming to appoint a qualified Quality Assurance Body that will conduct inspections and ensure these educational institutions meet certain standards. Currently in the planning stage, key dates include an engagement end date on 8 January 2020, with a scheduled publication for the Invitation to Tender (ITT) expected in October or November 2019. The contract is anticipated to run for at least two years, starting in February or March 2020, within the secondary education services industry category. This procurement opportunity presents significant growth potential for businesses, particularly those specialising in educational quality assurance, inspection services, or related consultancy. Companies positioned in the education sector, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary or community sector enterprises (VCSEs), will be well-suited to compete for this contract. The expected concession contract will offer a revenue model based on fees charged to online schools participating in the accreditation scheme, enabling providers to tap into a rapidly expanding market. ## Notice SHORT DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES: The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to notify the market of the Department for Education's (DfE) intention to undertake a procurement exercise to appoint a suitably experienced Quality Assurance Body to inspect online schools as announced in the consultation on online schools published on 5 September 2019. More details of the consultation can be found here: https://consult.education.gov.uk/independent-education-division/online-schools-accreditation-scheme/consult_view DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES : A feasibility study has taken place to look at the possibility of a voluntary accreditation and registration scheme for online schools. There is a growing market of online schools in England, who offer a full curriculum, and/or represent a child's main or only source of formal education. The sector is developing rapidly and now encompasses a wide range of providers. The number of children educated by online providers is relatively small as a proportion of the school system as a whole, but the sector is expanding and forms a major part of non-standard education provision. As a result of the consultation in to online schools the DfE intend to launch a voluntary registration scheme for online schools providers. Online schools providers will have to meet certain standards, similar to those for independent schools in England, in order to be accredited by the DfE. The DfE are seeking to appoint a Quality Assurance Body that will carry out inspections against the non-statutory online school standards (OSS), and report to the department on their findings. We anticipate that online schools will be re-inspected within a four year period to allow their accreditation to continue. The competitive process to appoint a Quality Assurance Body will result in a concession contract being awarded, for a proposed period of at least two years, with the successful provider carrying out the QA inspections for DfE during this period. The value of the contract will become clear during the procurement process. It is proposed that there will be no payment by the DfE for this work; the funding for the successful bidder will derive from the fee structure agreed to be charged to online schools and the number of schools joining the scheme. Additional information: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A Market Engagement Webinar was hosted by the DfE on 25 September 2019. As part of the engagement event one-to-one 15 minute surgeries were held by appointment with the relevant interested parties. The event allowed DfE to gain a greater understanding of the market and potential solutions to shape the service and any contract that it will procure. The Q&A information pack from the event can be accessed at the top of this section. (see attachment 'Online schools QA Final') Indicative dates for procurement: (Please note: these timescales are indicative and are subject to change at DfE's absolute discretion.) - September 2019 - Early Market Engagement - October/November 2019 - Publish Invitation To Tender (ITT) - January/February 2020 - Indicative contract award The DfE intends to utilise a single stage open procedure (under the Light Touch Regime) to award a concession contract. Further information on the procurement process will be provided during the market engagement activity. SCHEDULED DATE FOR PUBLICATION OF CONTRACT NOTICE: October/November 2019 START AND END DATES OF THE CONTRACT: February/March 2020 - February/March 2022 The DfE will be administering the procurement process electronically via the DfE e-Tendering Portal; Jaggaer. No hard copy documents will be issued and all communications with DfE (including final submission of tenders) will be conducted via the Jaggaer Portal. Bidders who are not already registered on the portal can register here: https://education.app.jaggaer.com For any assistance required in registering bidders should contact the Jaggaer helpdesk: help_UK@jaggaer.com This Prior Information Notice is for information only and is not a call for competition. The Department reserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not award contract(s). Accordingly, the Authority will not be liable for any bid cost, expenditure, work or effort incurred by a supplier in acting on the basis of this notice. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1d3281d0-7d39-4030-b588-8be98abe7bb7 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 8 Oct 2019 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 8 Jan 2020 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | 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 - 80200000 - Secondary education services ## Release History - 8 Oct 2019 at 10:26 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1d3281d0-7d39-4030-b588-8be98abe7bb7 - 8 Oct 2019 at 10:25 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1d3281d0-7d39-4030-b588-8be98abe7bb7 - 8 Oct 2019 at 10:24 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1d3281d0-7d39-4030-b588-8be98abe7bb7 - 8 Oct 2019 at 10:20 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1d3281d0-7d39-4030-b588-8be98abe7bb7 - 17 Sep 2019 at 14:51 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1d3281d0-7d39-4030-b588-8be98abe7bb7 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/1d3281d0-7d39-4030-b588-8be98abe7bb7 8th October 2019 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/e24cba8b-c5d1-43d2-8f80-45f25cb71c75 n/a - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/2f62421d-e41b-4eb6-860e-4f83f3727b98 n/a - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/a66c87a5-fd09-46e1-a0b1-5d3a5d2ffa9b n/a - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/87b15592-25a2-4681-bcff-d06f45165345 n/a ## Notice URLs - https://consult.education.gov.uk/independent-education-division/online-schools-accreditation-scheme/consult_view - https://education.app.jaggaer.com ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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