Test Operations Service - Market Engagement Event

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) is an executive agency of the Department for Education which is required to deliver statutory National Curriculum Assessments (NCAs), including Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 assessments. The Test Operations Service project has been launched to seek a Supplier to deliver NCAs on behalf of the STA in England only from the 2025-26 test cycle onwards when the current contract expires.

The purpose of this notice is to notify the market of the STA's intention to undertake pre-procurement market engagement prior to commencing procurement activity to appoint a suitably qualified Supplier to deliver the Test Operations Service. The Market Engagement Event will consist of an online presentation delivered by the STA, detailing its high-level requirements, and explaining how potential Suppliers may ready themselves for any procurement process that may follow. Information will also be available on the procurement process and timetable, with an open Q&A session for Suppliers to raise any questions. This will be held online on 22 November 2021 at 11:00-12:30.

Following the online presentation, STA is proposing to hold follow up 1:1 sessions with interested Suppliers on weeks commencing 29 November and 6 December 2021. This will provide further opportunity for dialogue with potential Suppliers regarding the requirements, and for Suppliers to meet key members of the project team. 1:1 sessions will be available to book following the presentation.

If you would like to attend the Market Engagement Event, please register an expression of interest on the Jaggaer e-sourcing platform at https://education.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html and follow the "View Opportunities" link. Suppliers will then need to access the Test Operations Services Market Engagement Event (ssq_175 - Test Operations Service Market Engagement Event) and respond to the question contained in the qualification envelope within the opportunity listing. This must be completed by 12:00 on 18 November 2021 via the Jaggaer e-sourcing portal.

Please note that by attending this session you consent for it to be recorded and made available on the Jaggaer platform.

Additional information: The publication of this notice does not signify the commencement of any procurement process and does not constitute any commitment by STA to undertake any procurement exercise.

In the event that STA might decide to commence any procurement process as contemplated by this notice, a separate notice will be published at the relevant time.

STA is keen to ensure that potential suppliers have as much notice as is possible about the services we wish to procure and this supports our agenda about encouraging engagement with Small and Medium Suppliers.

Disclaimers and conditions: STA retains the right to not procure and this early market engagement event is not binding. Any communication made between DfE and any party in connection with this requirement, shall not be relied upon as constituting a contract, agreement or representation that any contract will necessarily be offered.

STA reserves the right to change without notice any documents and communications, in whole or in part. Under no circumstances shall STA incur any liability in respect of this supporting documentation and STA will not reimburse any costs incurred by any parties in connection with their use of these communications nor in connection with participation at the Early Market Engagement event.

This early market engagement event is suitable for suppliers that have knowledge, capacity and capability and track record to meet the requirements when the competition is published.

The Authority administers all procurements electronically via the Department for Education e-procurement Solution portal (Jaggaer).

No hard copy documents will be issued and all communications with the Authority (including final submission of Tender responses) must be conducted via Jaggaer.

To ensure all communications relating to this procurement are received, potential suppliers must ensure that the point of contact they nominate in the Jaggaer portal is accurate at all times. Access to the Jaggaer portal is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year anywhere in the world via the internet unless notified otherwise by the Jaggaer portal.

Note: The email address provided in this notice will not be activated until Monday 1st November. In the meantime, please ensure that queries about the Market Engagement Event or upcoming procurement are directed in the first instance to the Jaggaer e-sourcing portal.