Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2019-11-05
Buyer: The Secretary of State for Transport
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Restricted procedure
CPV classification: 30211300 | 48190000 | 48220000 | 48330000 | 48332000
Submission deadline: 2019-12-02
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), an executive agency of the Department for Transport, is acting in its capacity as procurement agent on behalf of the secretary of state for transport to appoint a supplier for the provision of a Test Engine and Test Content Management (TETCM) system across Great Britain and Northern Ireland as part of the Future Theory Test Service (FTTS). The contract is also for the benefit of the driver and vehicle agency (an executive agency of the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure) (‘DVA’) where indicated. The TETCM system will provide software to enable development (test content management) and delivery (test engine) of test content by DVSA. This system will enable DVSA to author and manage the test content which will be used by regional test centres (the ‘TCN’ providers) and in-house theory test centres (other partners) to deliver the tests to candidates across the UK and Northern Ireland.
The Future Theory Test Service (FTTS) project supports DVSA's 2017-2022 strategy which has a stated aim to help people stay safe on Britain's roads, and is aligned with the ‘helping you through a lifetime of safe driving’ theme. In the longer term, the proposed changes will enable DVSA to transform the effectiveness of learning and assessment interventions and improve the road safety benefit of its services.
The contract is for an implementation period followed by 4 years and renewal options of up to 12 months. Over the life of the contract options will be considered for services including consultancy, online proctoring and test innovations.
The software and related services may be used by DVSA to develop and deliver other content and tests as required from time to time.
The value range is 20 000 000 GBP to 33 000 000 GBP which is further explained in the procurement documents. These values are provided to give potential suppliers an indication of a contract value only.
Potential suppliers should note that DVSA has also released an OJEU Notice to procure a test centre network, which is a separate but related capability for FTTS.
DVSA consider that if a potential supplier intends to bid for both the TCN procurement and this procurement that it has a potential conflict of interest given both procurements are running at the same time and the solution of the TETCM procurement is relevant to the TCN procurement. Potential suppliers are therefore required to follow the conflict of interest procedures outlined in the procurement documents for both procurements.
The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.To participate in this procurement candidates must send an expression of interest to: https://dft.delta- esourcing.com .All correspondence and expressions of interest relating to this procurement must be made through this system. DVSA expressly reserves the right:
(i) not to award any or the whole contract as a result of the procurement process related to the publication of this notice; and
(iii) to procure some or all of their needs and requirements covered by this notice outside of this procurement exercise and resulting agreement.
In no circumstances will DVSA be liable for any costs or losses incurred by the candidates. Any expenditure, work or effort undertaken prior to contract award is accordingly a matter solely for the commercial judgement of the candidate.
In accordance with Regulation 86 and 87 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, DVSA has incorporated a minimum 10 calendar days standstill period prior to contract award.
Bidders have the right to appeal provided for within the Public Contract Regulations 2015. Any such proceedings must be brought before the High Court of England and Wales.