The National Mathematics Education Centre

We propose to tender for a national organisation to support the teaching of mathematics in schools. The contract for the National Mathematics Education Centre will commence from 1 August 2016 for 3 years, with an option to extend the contract for a further 2 years. The value of the contract will be approximately £5.1m to the period up to 31 March 2019 (please note that these figures will include any VAT that may be applicable).

This organisation forms part of the overall drive to reinforce the importance of mathematics education, improve the teaching of mathematics and increase the mathematical attainment of young people.

The Department funds 35 Maths Hubs across England to support schools and colleges to drive the transformation of mathematics education. The national centre will coordinate the Hubs at a national level by agreeing their annual plans, providing expert support and challenge and monitoring and reporting on progress and success. The Hubs will continue delivering projects that respond to local need and priorities set by the Department for Education. Amongst the current priorities are projects to transform the teaching of primary mathematics through south-east Asian mastery methods, trialling the use of high quality resources and textbooks and boosting post-16 participation in mathematics.

Further information can be found here: - Maths Hubs: http://www.mathshubs.org.uk/ - Mastery Teaching: https://www.ncetm.org.uk/resources/47230 - Recent speech on maths by Schools Minister, Nick Gibb: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/getting-the-basics-right-in-mathematics

Broad aims:

The national centre will:

• start in August 2016 and provide a strong and effective leadership and co-ordination role the existing 35 Maths Hubs;

• provide support to help spread effective practice from Hubs and other successful projects nationally to improve the teaching of mathematics in all primary and secondary schools;

• transform teaching of primary mathematics through robust implementation of models and approaches from south-east Asian mastery teaching;

• enable Maths Hubs to provide valued support to schools to teach the new mathematics curriculum and qualifications including GCSE mathematics, Core Maths and A/AS mathematics and further mathematics, working with national programmes;

• drive improvement to the professional development of mathematics teachers, through improvements to professional development and curriculum materials;

• Act as a source of expertise in mathematical education issues for government and its partners by providing high quality advice and information on issues in mathematics teaching.

Additional information: DfE intends to hold a Supplier Engagement Event on 6 April 2016 in central London. This event will provide an opportunity for all interested suppliers to be informed about the further details of the requirements, enable dialogue with potential suppliers and to provide a Q&A forum. Information will also be available on the proposed procurement process and timetable and suppliers will be able to meet key members of the DfE project team involved in this procurement.

DfE intends to contract with either a supplier who proposes to offer the whole service (with or without subcontractors) or a consortium of suppliers who have joined together to offer the whole service. At the bidding stage a consortium must be either a legal entity or have a lead organisation which is authorised to act on behalf of its members with which DfE can contract. Suitably qualified Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) who consider that they have the necessary skills and experience to support the programme are encouraged to attend the Supplier Engagement Event.

The contract will be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) and Contracts Finder under the Light Touch regime. It is anticipated that the OJEU Contract notice will be advertised in April 2016.

Disclaimers and conditions: No information provided by the DfE, contained in this notice or in any communication made between DfE and any party in connection with the National Maths Education Centre contract shall be relied upon as constituting a contract, or representation that any contract will necessarily be offered.

DfE reserves the right to change without notice any documents and communications, in whole or in part, during the procurement process for the National Maths Education Centre contract. Under no circumstances shall DfE incur any liability in respect of any documentation issued as part of this process nor shall DfE reimburse any costs incurred by any parties in connection with attendance or participation at the planned Supplier Engagement Event on 6 April 2016.

Suppliers need to pre-register to attend the Supplier Engagement Event by emailing: [email protected] by 30 March 2016. Suppliers must send their attendees names (no more than two per organisation attending) and the organisation name. This information will be shared with all other attendees unless you expressly inform the Department that you do not wish so. Venue details will be emailed to all attendees.

The supplier event will be used to help finalise requirements. It is intended that those who join the supplier event will be able to give their thoughts on the specification above and on particular issues that we will raise on the day.