Nursing and Midwifery Council: Nursing and Midwifery Council Overseas Registration Project

UK-London: Educational software package.

Section I: Contracting Authority
   I.1)Name, Addresses and Contact Point(s):
      Nursing and Midwifery Council
      23 Portland Place, London, W1B 1PZ, United Kingdom
      Tel. +44 2076815488, Fax. +44 2074363805, Email: tenders@nmc-uk.org, URL: www.nmc-uk.org
      Contact: Procurement Department, Attn: Head of Procurement

      Further information can be obtained at: As Above       
      Specifications and additional documents: As Above       
      Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to: As Above       
   
   I.2)Type of the contracting authority:
      Other: Professional Health Regulator

   I.3) Main activity:
      Health

   I.4) Contract award on behalf of other contracting authorities:
      The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities: No

Section II: Object Of The Contract: SERVICES
   II.1)Description
      II.1.1)Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority: Nursing and Midwifery Council Overseas Registration Project
      II.1.2)Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance: SERVICES         
         Service Category: 24

         Region Codes: UK - UNITED KINGDOM         
      II.1.3) Information about a public contract, a framework or a dynamic purchasing system:The notice involves a public contract                                                       
      
      II.1.5)Short description of the contract or purchase:
      Educational software package. Educational software development services. Operation of an educational centre. Information technology services. The NMC is seeking to renew its assessment of overseas nurses and midwives competence using online exam and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) formats for approximately 1100 people per year (this volume of applicants may fluctuate annually, and the NMC cannot guarantee any minimum number of overseas applicants). The services required for this project are grouped as 5 lots: 1) Online Exam Content Development 2) a) Online Exam IT platform and b) Exam Centres 3) OSCE Content Development 4) OSCE Delivery Facilities 5) Clinical Placement in a real-life health/clinical environment.
         
      II.1.6)Common Procurement Vocabulary:
         48190000 - Educational software package.
         
         72212190 - Educational software development services.
         
         80490000 - Operation of an educational centre.
         
         72222300 - Information technology services.
         

      II.1.7) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA):
         The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): No       
      II.1.8)Lots:
         This contract is divided into lots: Yes          
         If yes, tenders should be submitted for: One or more lots

      II.1.9)Information about variants:
         Variants will be accepted: Yes    
   
   II.2)Quantity Or Scope Of The Contract
      II.2.1)Total quantity or scope:
      The current Overseas Registration process referred 1100 applicants onto its Overseas Nursing Programme this year. It is estimated that the volume of applicants may go up or down during the life of the contract. However, it is anticipated that the new online test of competence may help to encourage more overseas applicants, particularly in years beyond the initial ones when, subject to the service being successful, will be expanded so that it can accessed via secure facilities overseas, and hence make it easier and less costly for applicants to participate in this first stage of the registration process. The programme timescales estimate it starting in the Autumn of 2014.                  
         Estimated value excluding VAT:
         Range between: 1,000,000 and 10,000,000
         Currency: GBP
               
      
      II.2.2)Options: Yes
         If yes, description of these options: The NMC is a professional regulator and plans to collaborate with other regulators who tender for similar services in support of their overseas applicants' registration process. The purpose of opening this tender up to other regulators, is so as to stimulate collaboration, and it aims to identify future need of other regulators within the first 36 months of the contract. Therefore, although the range shown spans £1m to £10m, the NMC anticipates that its own requirements will comprise of approximately £3m of set up costs (including in-house project support costs) in the first year, followed by approximately £750K of annual maintenance costs (therefore, totally approximately £5m over the life of the contract). N.B. These ranges are only estimates and intended only as a guide.       
      If known, Provisional timetable for recourse to these options:
                  
         Duration in months: 60 (from the award of the contract)
                            
         II.2.3)Information about renewals:
            This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
                   
   II.3)Duration Of The Contract Or Time-Limit For Completion      
         Duration in months: 60 (from the award of the contract)

   Information About Lots
            
      Lot No: 1
      Title: Online Examination Content Development

      1)Short Description:      
      The NMC is seeking suppliers for development of academic health related questions to test the competency of overseas Nurses and Midwives. The questions will form the basis of a question bank which will can then be uploaded to a secure information technology training website.

      2)Common Procurement Vocabulary:
         75121000 - Administrative educational services.
            FA01-6 - For educational use
         
      3)Quantity Or Scope:      
      The development of a question bank of clinical questions relating to nurses and midwives which can be used for a test of competency. The NMC currently receives approximately 1100 applicants from overseas nurses and midwives per year. This volume may fluctuate on a yearly basis and the NMC cannot guarantee any minimum number of applicants in any one year.               
      4)Indication About Different Date For Start Of Award Procedures And/Or Duration Of The Contract                                          
         Scheduled date for:
            Start of works:
            Completion of works:
                        
                  
         5)Additional Information About Lots:         
            The timescales for development and completion of questions for the Test of Competence service are anticipated to start in the Autumn of 2014.      
      Lot No: 2
      Title: Provision of Online Test of Competency Examination Information Technology Platform

      1)Short Description:      
      The NMC requires provision of an online IT platform to administer its Overseas Registration Programme Test of Competency examinations.

      2)Common Procurement Vocabulary:
         48190000 - Educational software package.
                  72212190 - Educational software development services.
                  80000000 - Education and training services.
                  72222300 - Information technology services.
         
      3)Quantity Or Scope:      
      The NMC currently receives approximately 1100 applications from overseas (non EU based) nurses and midwives wishing to register to practice in the UK. The NMC wishes to procure an online IT platform from which to run its new competency tests for these applicants. The IT platform needs to have security features that are compatible and recognised by the European Union in order to safeguard the integrity of the examination data and results.               
         Value range between: 50,000 and 1,000,000
         Currency: GBP      
                     
      4)Indication About Different Date For Start Of Award Procedures And/Or Duration Of The Contract                        
         Duration in months: 60
                                          
                  
         5)Additional Information About Lots: Not Provided
               
      Lot No: 3
      Title: Development of content for an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

      1)Short Description:      
      Development of content for an Objective Structured Clinical Examination for Overseas Nurses and Midwives wishing to register with the NMC so that they can practice in the UK.

      2)Common Procurement Vocabulary:
         48814400 - Clinical information system.
            FA01-6 - For educational use
         
      3)Quantity Or Scope:      
      It is anticipated that the OSCE will be initially delivered in the UK, however, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) reserves the right to explore the option in subsequent years of administration of this examination in a country close to the country of residence of the overseas nurse or midwife applying for inclusion on the NMC register. The NMC currently receives approximately 1100 applications from overseas nurses and midwives seeking registration so that they can practice in the UK. The volume of applications may fluctuate during the life of the contract and the NMC cannot guarantee a minimum volume of applications in any one year.               
         Value range between: 500,000 and 5,000,000
         Currency: GBP      
                     
      4)Indication About Different Date For Start Of Award Procedures And/Or Duration Of The Contract                        
         Duration in months: 60
                                          
                  
         5)Additional Information About Lots: Not Provided
               
      Lot No: 4
      Title: Provision of Delivery Facilities from which Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) can be hosted

      1)Short Description:      
      The NMC is seeking suitable facilities where it can administer its Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs). OSCE are set up as a kind of mock-clinical setting where nurses and midwives practical and theoretical competences and skills can be observed and examined. Suppliers would need to be able to provide an OSCE setting that either was based in a hospital, a medical centre, or a similar environment where access to common medical and clinical props are available and accurate.

      2)Common Procurement Vocabulary:
         75122000 - Administrative healthcare services.
                  70332000 - Non-residential property services.
                  75121000 - Administrative educational services.
                  80490000 - Operation of an educational centre.
         
      3)Quantity Or Scope:      
      The NMC currently processes approximately 1100 applications for overseas nurses and midwives wishing to register to practice in the UK. The volume of demand for OSCE provision may fluctuate over the life of the contract. Suppliers with premises where day to day clinical activities take place and/or where a bespoke training facility for clinical assessments is already in operation may feel that the risk of having such facilities in place may be lower than if a new supplier needed to invest in the provision of such venues that did not already exist.               
         Value range between: 500,000 and 5,000,000
         Currency: GBP      
                     
      4)Indication About Different Date For Start Of Award Procedures And/Or Duration Of The Contract                        
         Duration in months: 60
                                          
                  
         5)Additional Information About Lots: Not Provided
               
      Lot No: 5
      Title: Clinical Placements for Overseas Nurses and Midwives as part of the NMC Registrations Requirements

      1)Short Description:      
      The provision of a clinical placement stage for overseas nurses and midwives who have passed the online test of competency and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a option which NMC may wish to explore. Expressions of interest are therefore sought from providers of such services so that the NMC can engage in competitive dialogue with suppliers to this market to ascertain whether adding this extra or alternative stage to the Overseas Registration Process will add value, and whether to proceed with this additional element of the process.

      2)Common Procurement Vocabulary:
         80490000 - Operation of an educational centre.
            RD10-9 - In health sciences
         
      3)Quantity Or Scope:      
      The NMC currently receives approximately 1100 applications per year from overseas (non EU) nurses and midwives wishing to be added to the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register so that they can legally practice in the UK. The volume of applications may fluctuate over the life of the contract and the NMC cannot give any assurances or guarantee any minimum number of applications in any one year.               
         Value range between: 500,000 and 5,000,000
         Currency: GBP      
                     
      4)Indication About Different Date For Start Of Award Procedures And/Or Duration Of The Contract                        
         Duration in months: 60
                                          
                  
         5)Additional Information About Lots: Not Provided
                  
Section III: Legal, Economic, Financial And Technical Information
   III.1)Conditions relating to the contract
      III.1.1)Deposits and guarantees required:
      For newly formed organisations with insufficient requirements of evidence of 3 years trading and audited accounts, the NMC reserve the right to ask for bank references and/or bank guarantees or performance bonds, or where the organisation is linked to a larger parent company, financial assurances by way of parent guarantee.
      
      III.1.2)Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions governing them:
      Payments to suppliers will be paid in installments at key dates agreed between the contractual parties linked to satisfactory delivery and performance of that stage of the contract. Payment will be made 30 days from receipt of a correct and authorised and agreed invoice submitted by the supplier.
      
      III.1.3)Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded:
      Joint and several liability
      
      III.1.4)Other particular conditions:
         The performance of the contract is subject to particular conditions: Not Provided      
   III.2)Conditions For Participation
      III.2.1)Personal situation of economic operators, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers:
         The Authority will apply all the offences listed in Article 45(1) of Directive 2004/18/EC (implemented as Regulation 23(1) of the Public Contract Regulations (PCR) 2006 in the UK) and all of the professional misconducts listed at Article 45(2) of Directive 2004/18/EC (see also Regulation 23(2) in the PCR 2006) to the decision of whether a Candidate is eligible to be invited to tender.
         
         A full list of these criteria are at http://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/project/reasonsForExclusion.html#pcr
         
         Candidates will be required to answer these questions as part of the qualification process. For candidates who are registered overseas, you will need to declare if you have any offences/misconduct under your own countries laws, where these laws are equivalent to the Regulation 23 lists. Candidates who have been convicted of any of the offences under Article 45(1) are ineligible and will not be selected to bid, unless there are overriding requirements in the general interest for doing so. Candidates who are guilty of any of the offences, circumstances or misconduct under Article 45(2) may be excluded from being selected to bid at the discretion of the Authority.
      
      III.2.2)Economic and financial capacity
         Economic and financial capacity - means of proof required:         
         (a) appropriate statements from banks or, where appropriate, evidence of relevant professional risk indemnity insurance;
         (b) the presentation of balance-sheets or extracts from the balance-sheets, where publication of the balance-sheet is required under the law of the country in which the economic operator is established;
         (c) a statement of the undertaking's overall turnover and, where appropriate, of turnover in the area covered by the contract for a maximum of the last three financial years available, depending on the date on which the undertaking was set up or the economic operator started trading, as far as the information on these turnovers is available.

      
      III.2.3)Technical capacity
         Technical capacity - means of proof required         
         (a) a list of the works carried out over the past five years, accompanied by certificates of satisfactory execution for the most important works. These certificates shall indicate the value, date and site of the works and shall specify whether they were carried out according to the rules of the trade and properly completed. Where appropriate, the competent authority shall submit these certificates to the contracting authority direct;
         (b) a list of the principal deliveries effected or the main services provided in the past three years, with the sums, dates and recipients, whether public or private, involved. Evidence of delivery and services provided shall be given: - where the recipient was a contracting authority, in the form of certificates issued or countersigned by the competent authority, - where the recipient was a private purchaser, by the purchaser's certification or, failing this, simply by a declaration by the economic operator;
         (c) an indication of the technicians or technical bodies involved, whether or not belonging directly to the economic operator's undertaking, especially those responsible for quality control and, in the case of public works contracts, those upon whom the contractor can call in order to carry out the work;
         (d) a description of the technical facilities and measures used by the supplier or service provider for ensuring quality and the undertaking's study and research facilities;
         (e) where the products or services to be supplied are complex or, exceptionally, are required for a special purpose, a check carried out by the contracting authorities or on their behalf by a competent official body of the country in which the supplier or service provider is established, subject to that body's agreement, on the production capacities of the supplier or the technical capacity of the service provider and, if necessary, on the means of study and research which are available to it and the quality control measures it will operate;
         (f) the educational and professional qualifications of the service provider or contractor and/or those of the undertaking's managerial staff and, in particular, those of the person or persons responsible for providing the services or managing the work;
         (g) for public works contracts and public services contracts, and only in appropriate cases, an indication of the environmental management measures that the economic operator will be able to apply when performing the contract;
         (h) a statement of the average annual manpower of the service provider or contractor and the number of managerial staff for the last three years;
         (i) a statement of the tools, plant or technical equipment available to the service provider or contractor for carrying out the contract;
         (j) an indication of the proportion of the contract which the services provider intends possibly to subcontract;
         (k) with regard to the products to be supplied: (i) samples, descriptions and/or photographs, the authenticity of which must be certified if the contracting authority so requests; (ii) certificates drawn up by official quality control institutes or agencies of recognised competence attesting the conformity of products clearly identified by references to specifications or standards.
         
         Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if requirements are met:
         A pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) will be issued to suppliers as a means of responding to the key threshold requirements as shown in a) to k).
In order to shortlist suppliers who have sufficient knowledge of the requirements and/or experience of providing similar services for the administration and delivery of Clinical Placement facilities to overseas nurses and midwives seeking registration so that they may practice in the UK. Suppliers will also be asked in the PQQ to provide answers to the following questions:
1) Please describe at a high level your understanding of the end to end process relating to similar projects; from the point at when a need for the administration of the clinical placement is identified, through to the point where candidates have completed their clinical placement, and the organising organisation is informed of their performance/results.
2) Please list the key areas of risks that you envisage in relation to the provision of clincial placements for projects similar to this one for overseas nurses and midwives seeking UK registration with the NMC, and how you would classify and manage each of these risks.         
         Minimum Level(s) of standards possibly required:
         The NMC is setting a high level evaluation criteria at 70% quality and 30% price.
Numerous questions will be asked at the PQQ in relation to the quality aspects which will be evaluated on the basis of a 0-5 scoring process, with 0 being the score for answers that fail to meet the minimum criteria, through to a maximum of 5 which is the score given to potential tenderers who exceed the minimum criteria. The minimum criteria to be shortlisted to the competitive dialogue stage of this tender is that 50% of the answers to the quality section need to achieve a minimum score of 3.      
      III.2.4)Information about reserved contracts: Not Provided   
   III.3)Conditions Specific To Service Contracts
      III.3.1)Information about a particular profession:
         Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession: No       
      III.3.2)Staff responsible for the execution of the service:
         Legal persons should indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff responsible for the execution of the service: Yes
Section IV: Procedure
   IV.1)Type Of Procedure
      IV.1.1)Type of procedure: Competitive Dialogue
      
      IV.1.2)Limitations on the number of operators who will be invited to tender or to participate:
                        Envisaged minimum number: 2 and maximum number: 6         
         Objective Criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates:
         Suppliers must score a minimum of 3 or more in 50% or more of the total technical questions.      
      IV.1.3)Reduction of the number of operators during the negotiation or dialogue: Not Provided   
   IV.2)Award Criteria
      IV.2.1)Award criteria:      
         The most economically advantageous tender in terms of
            The criteria stated below
            Criteria - Weighting
            Quality - Technical - Competence, compatibility with NMC/other operating systems, Availability, Reliability, Functionality, Maintenance - 30
            Quality - Security ( IPR, , scope of future delivery channels, content variations, disposal/renewals) - 20
            Quality - Customer satisfaction - 10
            Sustainability (Equality and diversity considerations, environmental impacts) - 10
            Price - 30

      IV.2.2)Information about electronic auction:
         An electronic auction will be used: No       

   IV.3)Administrative Information
      IV.3.1)File reference number attributed by the contracting authority: RT325      
      IV.3.2)Previous publication(s) concerning the same contract: No

      IV.3.3)Conditions for obtaining specifications and additional documents or descriptive document:

      Date: 24/01/2014
      Time-limit for receipt of requests for documents or for accessing documents: 15:00
         Payable documents: No       
      
      IV.3.4)Time-limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
         Date: 31/01/2014
         Time: 15:00      
      IV.3.5)Date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates: 18/02/2014      
      IV.3.6)Language(s) in which tenders or requests to participate may be drawn up:         English
         


Section VI: Complementary Information

   VI.1)This Is A Recurrent Procurement: Yes
      Estimated timing for further notices to be published: 2019
   VI.2)Information about European Union funds:
      The contract is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No       
   VI.3)Additional Information: 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, and the contract will be awarded on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Educational-software-package./XMRYT59643

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/XMRYT59643
GO-20131223-PRO-5354183 TKR-20131223-PRO-5354182
   
   VI.4)Procedures For Appeal
      VI.4.1)Body responsible for appeal procedures:
      Nursing and Midwifery Council
      23 Portland Place, London, W1B 1PZ, United Kingdom
      Tel. +44 2076815488, Email: tenders@nmc-uk.org

      Body responsible for mediation procedures:
               Nursing and Midwifery Council
         ., ., ., United Kingdom
         Tel. +44 2076815488, Email: tenders@nmc-uk.org, URL: www.nmc-uk.org

      VI.4.2)Lodging of appeals: Not Provided   
   
      VI.4.3)Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained:
            Not Provided

   VI.5) Date Of Dispatch Of This Notice: 23/12/2013

ANNEX A