Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2016-05-20
Buyer: British Council
Country: UK
Region: LONDON
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Open procedure
CPV classification: 72000000
Submission deadline: 2016-06-10
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: The British Council are looking for a flexible and robust e-assessment platform to deliver their current and future testing needs across the globe.
The organisation has been involved in the field of English language testing for 65 years, working with a number of UK partners to develop and deliver testing products. The British Council launched its first wholly owned computer-based assessment product, Aptis, in August 2012, which has since been followed by a number of variants for different audience segments. The British Council also has a variant developed in partnership with another organisation, and plans further partnerships of this type. In addition, the British Council has developed other CB assessment products and plans to expand their assessment business by developing the product portfolio further and increasing the number of markets in which their tests are available. Partnership is key to that expansion and the British Council would like to offer services in test publishing and CB delivery to UK organisations with whom it already works in a pen and paper capacity and other new partners.
This expansion needs to be underpinned by robust quality assurance, and the need to have a test platform that supports them in demonstrating the statistical validity and reliability of their products.
No special legal form is required but each supplier will be required to become jointly and severably responsible for the contract before acceptance.
(a) Is bankrupt or is being wound up, where his affairs are being administered by the court, where he has entered into an arrangement with creditors, where he has suspended business activities or is in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure under national laws and regulations;
(b) Is the subject of proceedings for a declaration of bankruptcy, for an order for compulsory winding up or administration by the court or of an arrangement with creditors or of any other similar proceedings under national laws and regulations;
(c) Has been convicted by a judgement which has the force of res judicata in accordance with the legal provisions of the country of any offence concerning his professional conduct;
(d) Has been guilty of grave professional misconduct proven by ay means which the contracting authorities can demonstrate;
(e) Has not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which he is established or with those of the country of the contracting authority;
(f) Has not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of taxes in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which he is established or with those of the country of the contracting authority;
(g) Is guilty of serious misrepresentation in supplying the information required under this section or has not supplied such information;
(h) Has been the subject of a conviction for participation in a criminal organisation as defined in Article 2(1) of Council Joint Action 98/733/JHA;
(i) Has been the subject of a conviction for corruption, as defined in Article 3 of the Council Act of 26.5.1972 and Article 3(1) of Council Joint Action 98/742/JHA3 respectively;
(j) Has been the subject of a conviction for fraud within the meaning of Article 1 of the Convention relating to the protection of the financial interests of the European Communities;
(k) Has been the subject of a conviction for money laundering, as defined in Article 1 of Council Directive 91/308/EEC of 10.6.1991 on prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering.

Eligibility requirements: Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if requirements are met: (a) Is bankrupt or is being wound up, where his affairs are being administered by the court, where he has entered into an arrangement with creditors, where he has suspended business activities or is in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure under national laws and regulations; (b) Is the subject of proceedings for a declaration of bankruptcy, for an order for compulsory winding up or administration by the court or of an arrangement with creditors or of any other similar proceedings under national laws and regulations; (c) Has been convicted by a judgement which has the force of res judicata in accordance with the legal provisions of the country of any offence concerning his professional conduct; (d) Has been guilty of grave professional misconduct proven by ay means which the contracting authorities can demonstrate; (e) Has not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which he is established or with those of the country of the contracting authority; (f) Has not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of taxes in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which he is established or with those of the country of the contracting authority; (g) Is guilty of serious misrepresentation in supplying the information required under this section or has not supplied such information; (h) Has been the subject of a conviction for participation in a criminal organisation as defined in Article 2(1) of Council Joint Action 98/733/JHA; (i) Has been the subject of a conviction for corruption, as defined in Article 3 of the Council Act of 26.5.1972 and Article 3(1) of Council Joint Action 98/742/JHA3 respectively; (j) Has been the subject of a conviction for fraud within the meaning of Article 1 of the Convention relating to the protection of the financial interests of the European Communities; (k) Has been the subject of a conviction for money laundering, as defined in Article 1 of Council Directive 91/308/EEC of 10.6.1991 on prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering. Means of proof required. These conditions are outlined in the Qualification Questionnaire. Means of proof required. These conditions are outlined in the Qualification Questionnaire.
Means of proof required. These conditions are outlined in the Qualification Questionnaire.