Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study

Tender description

The International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) is preparing for the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2027, which will mark the ninth cycle of this international assessment. TIMSS, conducted every four years since its inception in 1995, provides invaluable trend data on pupils' mathematics and science achievements, as well as contextual information about their learning experiences. Scotland has confirmed its participation in TIMSS 2027. The TIMSS International Study Centre (ISC) at Boston College, USA, will serve as the international study centre for this cycle, working closely with the IEA and the National Study Centres of participating countries to ensure the study's success. Each participating country is responsible for appointing a National Research Coordinator (NRC). The NRC plays a crucial role in ensuring the success of the study within their country by working closely with the ISC and adhering to its guidelines. This Scottish Government wish to appoint a suitably qualified institution or organisation to undertake the responsibilities of the NRC and conduct the required fieldwork for TIMSS 2027 in Scotland. Lot 1: The specific aims of the work will be to: Act as National Research Coordinator (NRC) for Scotland: Serve as the primary liaison between Scotland and the TIMSS International Study Centre (ISC) at Boston College, IEA Amsterdam, IEA Hamburg, and RTI International. Participate in International NRC Meetings: Engage in international NRC meetings conducted in English to collaborate on study protocols and procedures. Prepare and Administer TIMSS 2027 Assessments for P5 and S2: Ensure that the TIMSS 2027 study instruments are prepared and administered according to IEA specifications and strict operational and response rate requirements, while aligning with Scottish Government research guidelines. Manage Sampling, Data Collection, and Data Processing: Oversee the sampling, data collection, coding, and data cleansing processes for TIMSS 2027 in Scotland. Provide Cleaned Data Sets: Deliver cleaned electronic data sets from TIMSS 2027 field trials and main studies to the ISC and the Scottish Government. Contribute to the TIMSS 2027 Encyclopaedia: Prepare and submit a country chapter detailing Scotland’s educational context and practices. Submit Reports to the Scottish Government: Provide one report on the TIMSS 2027 field trials and one on the main studies to the Scottish Government. The contract does not include delivering Scotland’s national report as this will either be prepared by Scottish Government or commissioned to a service provider under a separate contract at a later date. Tenderers are encouraged to propose cost-effective solutions that optimise the the available budget, focusing on efficient management of expenses, overheads, and profit to ensure successful delivery. While bids should generally align with this budget, some flexibility is expected where necessary, and the Scottish Government reserves the right to clarify any aspects of a price proposal.