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Published 12 Apr 2021, 22:55 BST

Official UK procurement notice

THE PROVISION OF UK BASED LANGUAGE TRAINING & EXAMINATIONS

Official notice

Authority: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Central government)

10 lotsServicesOpen procedure
Sectors: Education & Training (80) Delivery: UK
Awarded value£23,363,7055 contracts · exc. VAT
Submissions closed 28 May 2021awarded 1 Apr 2022
Awarded to Language Services Direct Limited +3 more5 awards
Contract term 3 yrsends 31 Mar 2025 · extension options published · starts 1 Apr 2022

Re-procurement plannedPROVISION OF UK BASED LANGUAGE TRAINING · tender expected

What is being bought10 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

Language training and examination services play a critical role in ensuring that officers from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and across Her Majesty's Government (HMG) have the appropriate level of foreign language skills. This is to enable them to operate confidently and effectively to help fulfil HMG's objectives and project and enhance the UK's global influence overseas.

Officers use their language skills in a variety of contexts such as engaging with politicians, dealing with local authorities and officials, speaking to businesses, talking to students, negotiation, giving speeches and media interviews, engaging on social media, reading newspapers and understanding broadcasts.

We expect this opportunity will be of interest to providers of language training, including universities, in a large number of languages, Centres of Excellence that specialise in one or several languages, and providers of online testing or examinations services including but not limited to those with existing capability in online language proficiency testing.

CPV: Education and training services · Provision of language courses

Lots and requirements (10)Procurement structure

10 lots · 5 with a published value (£24,392,380 together) · evaluation weights differ by lot
Lot #1PRIME PROVIDER - UK BASED LANGUAGE TRAININGRenewal 3 yrsPublished value£13,708,146

The current language training and examination services contracts for Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) end on 31 March 2022. We (the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, hereafter referred to as ‘the Authority’) are offering 5 lots to suppliers to replace these contracts. Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 are for language training services and Lot 5 is for examinations services.

UK GOVERNMENT (HMG) PROVISION OF UK-BASED LANGUAGE TRAINING SERVICES – LOT 1 – MAIN PROVIDER

Aim

  1. To identify and contract a ‘Main Provider’ to deliver a managed, professional language school including (but not limited to) the following requirements:
  • Deliver UK-based language training mapped against the Common European Framework for Languages: www.coe.int/en/web/common-europe… ↗ .
  • Deliver 3 types of language assessments, including 2 mapped against the Common European Framework for Languages: www.coe.int/en/web/common-europe… ↗ .
  • Provide central management of the Language Centre at the Authority’s King Charles Street building.
  • Deliver administration services.
  1. The appointed Main Provider will have full responsibility for delivering the requirements described within this Specification. The Main Provider will be expected to support HMG’s objective of delivering excellence in language training within a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and value for money.

Further information is available via tender documents.

Contract period: 1 Apr 2022 – 31 Mar 2025 (3 yrs)
Delivery: UK
Extensions: 3 x 12 month optional extension years are available in addition to the initial contract periodVariant bids: not allowed
80000000 Education and training services80580000 Provision of language courses
Lot #2CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR FRENCHRenewal 3 yrsPublished value£2,436,476

The current language training and examination services contracts for Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) end on 31 March 2022. We (the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, hereafter referred to as ‘the Authority’) are offering 5 lots to suppliers to replace these contracts. Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 are for language training services and Lot 5 is for examinations services.

UK GOVERNMENT (HMG) PROVISION OF UK-BASED FRENCH LANGUAGE TRAINING SERVICES – LOT 2 – CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR FRENCH

Aim

  1. To identify and contract a ‘Centre of Excellence for French’ to deliver a managed, professional language training service including (but not limited to) the following requirements:
  1. The appointed Centre of Excellence for French will have full responsibility for delivering the requirements described within this Specification. The Centre of Excellence for French will be expected to support HMG’s objective of delivering excellence in language training within a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and value for money.

Further information is available via tender documents

Contract period: 1 Apr 2022 – 31 Mar 2025 (3 yrs)
Delivery: UK
Extensions: 3 x 12 month optional extension years are available in addition to the initial contract periodVariant bids: not allowed
80000000 Education and training services80580000 Provision of language courses
Lot #3CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR SPANISHRenewal 3 yrsPublished value£2,616,938

The current language training and examination services contracts for Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) end on 31 March 2022. We (the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, hereafter referred to as ‘the Authority’) are offering 5 lots to suppliers to replace these contracts. Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 are for language training services and Lot 5 is for examinations services.

UK GOVERNMENT (HMG) PROVISION OF UK-BASED SPANISH LANGUAGE TRAINING SPECIFICATION – LOT 3 – CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR SPANISH

Aim

To identify and contract a ‘Centre of Excellence for Spanish to deliver a managed, professional language training service including (but not limited to) the following requirements:

  1. The appointed Centre of Excellence for Spanish will have full responsibility for delivering the requirements described within this Specification. The Centre of Excellence for Spanish will be expected to support HMG’s objective of delivering excellence in language training within a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and value for money.

Further information is available via tender document

  1. To identify and contract a ‘Centre of Excellence for Spanish to deliver a managed, professional language training service including (but not limited to) the following requirements:
  1. The appointed Centre of Excellence for Spanish will have full responsibility for delivering the requirements described within this Specification. The Centre of Excellence for Spanish will be expected to support HMG’s objective of delivering excellence in language training within a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and value for money.

Further information is available via tender document

Contract period: 1 Apr 2022 – 31 Mar 2025 (3 yrs)
Delivery: UK
Extensions: 3 x 12 month optional extension years are available in addition to the initial contract periodVariant bids: not allowed
80000000 Education and training services80580000 Provision of language courses
Lot #4CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR ARABICRenewal 3 yrsPublished value£4,200,000
  1. The current language training and examination services contracts for Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) end on 31 March 2022. We (the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, hereafter referred to as ‘the Authority’) are offering 5 lots to suppliers to replace these contracts. Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 are for language training services and Lot 5 is for examinations services.

UK GOVERNMENT (HMG) PROVISION OF UK-BASED ARABIC LANGUAGE TRAINING SPECIFICATION – LOT 4 – CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR ARABIC

Aim

  1. To identify and contract a ‘Centre of Excellence for Arabic’ to deliver a managed, professional language training service including (but not limited to) the following requirements:
  1. The appointed Centre of Excellence for Arabic will have full responsibility for delivering the requirements described within this Specification. The Centre of Excellence for Arabic will be expected to support HMG’s objective of delivering excellence in language training within a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and value for money.

Further information is available via tender documents

Contract period: 1 Apr 2022 – 31 Mar 2025 (3 yrs)
Delivery: UK
Extensions: 3 x 12 month optional extension years are available in addition to the initial contract periodVariant bids: not allowed
80000000 Education and training services80580000 Provision of language courses
Lot #5EXAMINATIONSRenewal 3 yrsPublished value£1,430,820
  1. The current language training and examination services contracts for Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) end on 31 March 2022. We (the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, hereafter referred to as ‘the Authority’) are offering 5 lots to suppliers to replace these contracts. Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4 are for language training services and Lot 5 is for examinations services.

UK GOVERNMENT (HMG) PROVISION OF ONLINE LANGUAGE EXAMINATIONS SPECIFICATION – LOT 5 – EXAMINATIONS PROVIDER

Aim

  1. To identify and contract an ‘Examinations Provider’ to deliver a managed, professional examination provision including (but not limited to) the following requirements:
  • Deliver formal online language examinations mapped against the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR): www.coe.int/en/web/common-europe… ↗ .
  • Deliver application, marking, moderation, and appeals services.
  • Deliver administration services, including (but not limited to): staffing; examiner selection, training, and monitoring; full service reporting and evaluation.
  1. The appointed Examinations Provider will have full responsibility for delivering the requirements described within this Specification. The Examinations Provider will be expected to support HMG’s objective of delivering excellence in language examinations within a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and value for money.

Further information is available via tender documents

Contract period: 1 Apr 2022 – 31 Mar 2025 (3 yrs)
Delivery: UK
Extensions: 3 x 12 month optional extension years are available in addition to the initial contract periodVariant bids: not allowed
80000000 Education and training services80580000 Provision of language courses
Lot #6CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR SPANISHAwardedLot estimate not published
  1. To identify and contract a ‘Centre of Excellence for Spanish to deliver a managed, professional language training service including (but not limited to) the following requirements:
Delivery: UK · King Charles Street
80580000 Provision of language courses
Lot #7EXAMINATIONS PROVIDERAwardedLot estimate not published
  1. To identify and contract an ‘Examinations Provider’ to deliver a managed, professional examination provision including (but not limited to) the following requirements:
  • Deliver formal online language examinations mapped against the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR): www.coe.int/en/web/common-europe… ↗ .
  • Deliver application, marking, moderation, and appeals services.
  • Deliver administration services, including (but not limited to): staffing; examiner selection, training, and monitoring; full service reporting and evaluation.
Delivery: UK
80580000 Provision of language courses
Lot #8UK BASED LANGUAGE TRAINING & EXAMINATIONS – LOT 1: PRIME PROVIDERCancelledLot estimate not published
  1. To identify and contract a ‘Main Provider’ to deliver a managed, professional language school including (but not limited to) the following requirements:
  • Deliver UK-based language training mapped against the Common European Framework for Languages: www.coe.int/en/web/common-europe… ↗ .
  • Deliver 3 types of language assessments, including 2 mapped against the Common European Framework for Languages: www.coe.int/en/web/common-europe… ↗
  • Provide central management of the Language Centre at the Authority’s King Charles Street building.
  • Deliver administration services.
Delivery: UK
80580000 Provision of language courses
Lot #9UK based French Language Training - Centre of Excellence for FrenchCancelledLot estimate not published
  1. To identify and contract a ‘Centre of Excellence for French’ to deliver a managed, professional language training service including (but not limited to) the following requirements:
Delivery: UK · King Charles Street
80580000 Provision of language courses
Lot #10CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR ARABICCancelledLot estimate not published
  1. To identify and contract a ‘Centre of Excellence for Arabic’ to deliver a managed, professional language training service including (but not limited to) the following requirements:
Delivery: UK · King Charles Street
80580000 Provision of language courses

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored

Lots publish different evaluation splits; there is no single procedure weighting.

LotQualityPriceSplit
6 · CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR SPANISH7030
7 · EXAMINATIONS PROVIDER7030
8 · UK BASED LANGUAGE TRAINING & EXAMINATIONS – LOT 1: PRIME PROVIDER7030
9 · UK based French Language Training - Centre of Excellence for French3030
10 · CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR ARABIC7030
Lot distribution rule: Suppliers accessing tender documentation, please see attachment 2 - Instructions To Tenderers in relation to the separation of training and examination responsibilities and awarding of each of the five (5) Lots.
What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 30 points on every lot: a 10% discount moves about 3 points.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
No (one-off requirement)
First published
12 Apr 2021, 22:55 BST
Last source update
9 May 2022, 14:21 BST
Award evaluation window
1 Jun 2021 – …
Authority reference
JAGGAER PROJECT REF: 5703 FTS Ref: 2021/S 000-007656
FTS notice number
2022/S 000-011993
Classification (CPV)
Education and training servicesProvision of language courses
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-02a559 Find a Tender
Contract terms
Electronic trading
e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment

Publisher note: IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL POTENTIAL SUPPLIERS In order to participate and gain access to all documentation in relation to this procurement, potential suppliers should access the FCDO’s e-procurement portal, JAGGAER ONE, available via the below link. URL: https://fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html Once logged in, search for project reference 5703 and / or itt_4268 If a potential supplier is not registered on the portal, click the link above to be taken to the home page, click the “Click here to register!” button, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete registration. Registration takes approximately 5 minutes and is free of charge. TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION (2FA) Potential suppliers should note that two-factor authentication will be required to access the FCDO’s e-procurement portal, JAGGAER ONE, which requires Google Authenticator to be downloaded onto a mobile device. For more information in relation to two-factor authentication, a guide can be accessed by clicking the link on the home page of the FCDO’s e-procurement portal, JAGGAER ONE. FURTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION Potential Providers wishing to participate should note that there are 5 lots to this tender. When accessing the project (5703), you must access itt_4268 first. This is the Selection Questionnaire. Failure to do so means that you will not be able to access any of the Lots 1 - 5 respectively OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES AND PUBLIC BODIES WITH ACCESS TO CONTRACT The service provision will be available to Central Government Departments, their Executive Agencies and their Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs), and any successors (hereafter Her Majesty’s Government/HMG). Without limiting the forgoing, the following is an indicative list of the Central Government bodies which will have access to use the contract resulting from this procurement. These contracts will not preclude HMG from sourcing alternative language training and examinations, with the exception of the Authority unless otherwise stated in the Specification: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street Attorney General's Office Cabinet Office Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Department for Education Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs Department for International Trade Department for Transport Department for Work & Pensions Department of Health & Social Care HM Treasury Home Office Ministry of Defence Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government Ministry of Justice Northern Ireland Office Office of the Advocate General for Scotland Office of the Leader of the House of Commons Office of the Leader of the House of Lords Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland Office of the Secretary of State for Wales UK Export Finance

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: Jaggaer · Who buys & how to bid on JAGGAER
Supplier login requiredLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free; latest Chrome/Edge/Firefox only — corporate browsers fail
Submission deadline
28 May 2021, 17:00 BST
Submission channel
{"electronicSubmission","written"}
Accepted languages
en
Bid validity
90 days from the deadline
Bids opened
1 Jun 2021, 12:00 BST
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

fcdo.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html ↗

Timeline

28 May 2021 → 9 May 2022 · 4 dates
  1. Submission deadline
    28 May 2021, 17:00 BST
  2. Bids opened
    1 Jun 2021, 12:00 BST
  3. Contract starts
    1 Apr 2022, 00:00 BST
  4. Notice published
    9 May 2022, 14:21 BST

Notice history

1 event · 2 releases on Find a Tender
  1. Status changed to complete
    9 May 2022, 14:21 BST

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 5
Awarded value £23,363,7055 contracts exc. VAT
Bids received 5
Contracts signed 5latest 1 Apr 2022
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Lot 6 · CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR SPANISH1 award
Langauge Services DirectSMEPROVISION OF CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR SPANISH£2,341,016 †—Awarded
Lot 7 · EXAMINATIONS PROVIDER1 award
The Language Shop LimitedSME£1,924,185 †—Awarded
Not linked to a lot3 awards
Language Services Direct LimitedPROVISION OF LOT 1: PRIME PROVIDER – UK BASED LANGUAGE TRAINING SERVICES.£12,883,982 †—Awarded
Language Services Direct LimitedPROVISION OF CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR FRENCH£2,434,671 †—Awarded
Language Services DiretSMEPROVISION OF CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR ARABIC£3,779,851 †—Awarded

Contracts

Bid statistics published by the authority

LotBidsSMEVCSEValid bid range
6 · CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR SPANISH3bids———
7 · EXAMINATIONS PROVIDER2bids———
Whole notice5bids———

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office

Contracting authorityCentral GovernmentMinistry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisionsGeneral public services King Charles Street, London, UK, SW1A 2AHContact name, email, phone Published organisation website ↗

Dispute resolution & review bodies

  • Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR)Mediation body London
  • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development OfficeReview bodyReview contact point London

Bidders & participating suppliers

5 commercial parties on the notice

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

  • Economic and financial selection criteriatenderEconomic and financial selection criteria
  • Technical selection criteriatenderTechnical selection criteria