FOI release

Invitation to tender - process

Published 12 October 2010

  • Date requested: 21 September 2010
  • Publish date: 12 October 2010
  • Updated: 16 November 2010

1. Request

Can the department provide details of the suppliers who applied for inclusion, were successful and not unsuccessful at pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQ) and invitation to tender (ITT) stage, and information on the values of each sub-lot for the following contract?

2. Release

2.1 Framework Agreement Contract UK-London: Education Services

This refers to the tender for the management of the network of regional Science Learning Centres to provide continuing professional development to science teachers and support staff to improve the teaching and learning of science in maintained schools throughout England.

European procurement law required the department to run a new tender exercise in order to continue funding the regional Science Learning Centres. As a result the department issued a PQQ and invited bids for one organisation to manage the operation of all of the regional centres together. The tender required an additional stipulation that the successful bidder should take strategic direction/leadership from the National Science Learning Centre, to ensure cohesion across the network.

One tender was received from Myscience.co Ltd (trading as the National Science Learning Centre). The value of the tender was approximately £18 million and they were successful in being awarded the contract.