Market testing for Home Office English Language Testing (HOELT) services

Tender description

This notice is to introduce market engagement for the testing of a new delivery model for provision of English Language Testing services and gain an understanding of the products, services, and innovations available in the market. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) is seeking input from the market to build a business case to inform future specifications to ensure that the service is delivered with the highest current levels of security, integrity and customer satisfaction. This market data gathering will include but not be limited to testing the feasibility of potential procurement options and the market's capacity and capability for delivery. Secure English Language Testing is currently delivered by multiple concessionaires who are responsible for providing their version of the test, test facilities, and all associated services. The Home Office is planning to move away from a concession model and contract directly with suppliers. The service is also planned to be disaggregated into two service lines: 1) The development, evaluation and ongoing support of a Home Office branded test to be used globally for all HOELTs, and 2) The facilitation of tests globally, including a customer booking platform, test centre provision, invigilation, and ID-verification. The two services will be lotted as outlined below. The contract value is an estimate only, developed using estimated test volumes, and is therefore subject to change. The content of this PIN, including the nature of works, services and estimated value, may be subject to change. Lot 1: The development, evaluation and ongoing support of the Home Office English Language Test (HOELT) The Secretary of State for the Home Department, acting through the Home Office's UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), is the Authority reviewing options for a potential future procurement of a Home Office English Language Test (HOELT) for the provision of the test in the UK and the rest of the world. Some immigration application routes require customers to evidence competency in the English language. As such, completing a HOELT to an agreed standard may be required from individuals before applying for entry clearance from outside the UK, extending settling in the UK or for applying for British Citizenship. The HOELT will assess a customer's competency in speaking and listening and dependent on the route, reading and writing English, between levels A1 to C1 of the Common Education Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Tests are currently provided by multiple suppliers, however UKVI is seeking to procure a dedicated test to be owned by the Home Office and used by all customers globally. The chosen test developer will also be responsible for: • Maintaining and updating the test • Provision of a test delivery system which will assess a Customer’s English language ability • Securely receiving test data from test centres, marking of the test and sending test results back • Evaluating and moderating all tests taken • Performing anti-fraud checks • Gaining independent assurance of the test The content of this PIN, including the nature of works, services and estimated value, may be subject to change. Additional information: A Request for Information (RFI) will be published w/c 2nd Sept with a deadline of 4th October. Bidders who have expressed interest and returned a signed NDA via the Jaggaer portal will be granted access to the RFI once it is live. A virtual Industry Day will be held for interested Suppliers on 25th Sept 2024 (subject to change). Further details for the Industry Day to follow w/c 2nd Sept. Lot 2: Global facilitation of HOELT and associated services There is a global requirement for the facilitation of HOELT. This includes design and maintenance of an online platform for customers to book tests and receive results, physical test centres, invigilators, and ID-verification services. The Home Office has a requirement for HOELT to be taken under UKVI-prescribed secure conditions where secure relates to: 1. Processes to verify the identity of the customer; 2. Ensuring that it is only the validated customer who takes the test and does so under exam conditions with an appropriately trained invigilator to eliminate the ability to cheat; 3. Ensuring results are not released until the provider has completed additional verification checks to ensure that collusion and fraud have not taken place; and 4. Ongoing audits, both internal and via external independent auditors, of the physical test points, processes and delivery systems in order to ensure that the security and integrity protocols are being strictly adhered to. Additional information on the current service can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prove-your-english-language-abilities-with-a-secure-english-language-test-selt The content of this PIN, including the nature of works, services and estimated value, may be subject to change. Additional information: A Request for Information (RFI) will be published w/c 2nd Sept with a deadline of 4th October. Bidders who have expressed interest and returned a signed NDA via the Jaggaer portal will be granted access to the RFI once it is live. A virtual Industry Day will be held for interested Suppliers on 25th Sept 2024 (subject to change). Further details for the Industry Day to follow w/c 2nd Sept.