Procurement of an Integrated Online Assessment System for Schools in Ireland

Description

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. Lot 1: 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. The dual mission of the ERC is: (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. A key element of this goal is the procurement of a new online assessment system. 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.