Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2019-10-09
Buyer: Educational Research Centre
Country: IE
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Competitive dialogue
CPV classification: 72000000 | 72212190 | 72220000: Systems and technical consultancy services
Estimated value: 900000 EUR
Submission deadline: 2019-11-08
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: The Educational Research Centre (ERC) has a statutory mandate to provide and support standardised testing in schools. The ERC is aiming to provide schools and test-takers (who have access to appropriate devices and internet connection) with an easy to use online assessment system that is reliable, secure, engaging for test-takers, and meaningful in terms of the reports that it provides. The ERC wishes to procure an integrated end-to-end testing system that supports the ERC’s aims of providing a range of high-quality standardised tests and reports to schools, enabling schools to manage the purchase and administration of tests, and facilitating the ERC’s development of innovative assessment solutions.The integrated online assessment system will cover test development, item banking, assignment of test credits, test session set-up and implementation, test-taker and test item level reporting, hosting and technical support.
The ERC has a statutory mandate to provide and support standardised testing in schools. The ERC is aiming to provide schools and test-takers (who have access to appropriate devices and internet connection) with an easy to use online assessment system that is reliable, secure, engaging for test-takers, and meaningful in terms of the reports that it provides. The ERC does not view the online assessment system as a static entity — quite the opposite. To respond to changes in education policies and curricula, digital technologies and assessment and measurement technologies, the ERC needs a flexible and responsive assessment system that also fits with its strategic priorities of internal capacity building and research and development. This procurement sets out to achieve this.
(i) to develop high quality assessments and provide strong assessment support services to schools and centres of education; and
(ii) to conduct and disseminate commissioned and independently-initiated national and international research, assessment and evaluation studies.
The ERC’s strategic plan (2019-2021) has as one of its 10 goals to produce a regularly updated suite of high-quality and relevant assessments that reflects best international practice and serves the needs of the educational system, as well as those of schools, teachers, parents and learners.
The ERC wishes to procure an integrated end-to-end testing system that supports the ERC’s aims of providing a range of high-quality standardised tests and reports to schools, enabling schools to manage the purchase and administration of tests, and facilitating the ERC’s development of innovative assessment solutions.
The integrated online assessment system will cover test development, item banking, assignment of test credits, test session set-up and implementation, test-taker and test item level reporting, hosting and technical support.
It is envisaged that the term of the contract will be 5 years (60 months) with the option to extend for up to a further 3 years. The maximum term shall not exceed 8 years in total.
As set out in the information memorandum and pre-qualification questionnaire. It is envisaged that the 4 top-scoring candidates will be invited to participate in the dialogue, subject to that number qualifying.
It is envisaged that the term of the contract will be 5 years (60 months) with the option to extend for up to a further 3 years. The maximum term shall not exceed 8 years in total.
1) The ERC will use the Irish Government Procurement portal (www.etenders.gov.ie) for this competition. Access to this portal is free of charge. Interested parties must formally register their expression of interest for this competition on eTenders before they can gain access to the PQQ documentation. All information relating to and including the pre-qualification documents, any clarifications and changes will be issued/published via this portal. The ERC will not accept responsibility for information relayed (or not relayed) via third parties;
2) The ERC will not be responsible for any costs, charges or expenses incurred by candidates or tenderers;
6) Please note in relation to all documents, where reference is made to a particular standard, make, source, process, trademark, type or patent, this is not to be regarded as a de facto requirement. In all such cases it should be understood that such indications are to be treated strictly and solely for reference purposes only, to which the words ‘or equivalent’ will always be appended;
7) Without prejudice to the principle of equal treatment, the ERC is not obliged to engage in a clarification process in respect of PQQ Submissions with missing or incomplete information. Therefore, candidates are advised to ensure that they return fully completed questionnaires in order to avoid the risk of elimination from the competition;
8) The estimated value set out at II.1.5) is the estimated value over the potential 8-year term of the contract. The ERC estimates that the value of the contract over the potential 8-year term is between 800 000 to 900 000 EUR. The estimated value of the contract over the initial 5 years is in the region of 500 000 to 600 000 EUR.

Eligibility requirements: As stated in the information memorandum and pre-qualification questionnaire.

Award value: 900000