Multi-Party Framework Agreement for the Provision of Financial and Risk Appraisal of Applicant Providers

Description

Arising from this tender competition QQI will establish a framework agreement for the provision of financial and risk assessment of applicant providers who seek access to QQI for the approval of their QA procedures prior to validating programmes leading to QQI awards or applying to use the IEM. Currently QQI in its application process, requires applicant providers to provide details including: • Ownership, shareholders and key executives • Financial records • Tax compliance, including tax clearance certificate • Statutory declaration of compliance with national legislation The framework will involve the award of an initial contract and additional contracts over the 4 year life of the framework. In order to identify possible improvements to the assessment process and scale of issues which may arise over the life of this framework, QQI will award an initial contract for support from a professional specialist firm to work with QQI to: (i) Review its current process for financial and risk assessment of applicant providers (please see information on the process available on www.qqi.ie website using the links listed at 4.1 above); (ii) Identify areas for enhancement of the assessment process to minimise the risks of engaging with new providers and streamline the process; (iii) Advise QQI on market trends specific to the education and training sector in terms of legal structure of Applicant Providers particularly involving international participants and ensure that appropriate checks or mechanisms can be put in place in order to provide reasonable assurance that the financial and legal status of such applicants is sound. QQI envisage that this piece of work should involve no more than 10-12 days. In relation to the possible 20% of applicants that we envisage may need further financial and risk appraisal his support will be awarded on the basis of a mini- tender process for annual appointment and allocation of work via the cascade method.