Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Home Office
Home Office
London
SW1P4DF
UK
Contact person: HOELT Commercial Team
E-mail: HOELT2024@homeoffice.gov.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.gov.uk/home-office
I.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:
https://homeoffice.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Market testing for Home Office English Language Testing (HOELT) services
II.1.2) Main CPV code
75131100
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short 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.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
1 130 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
The development, evaluation and ongoing support of the Home Office English Language Test (HOELT)
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
48190000
72000000
72212190
75110000
79000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
BD
CN
GH
IN
NG
PH
PK
SA
ZA
ZW
Main site or place of performance:
UK and 141 locations globally
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
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.
II.2.14) 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 No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Global facilitation of HOELT and associated services
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
32571000
35125110
48190000
72000000
75110000
75131100
80490000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
BD
CN
GH
IN
NG
PH
PK
SA
ZA
ZW
Main site or place of performance:
UK and 141 locations globally
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
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.
II.2.14) 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.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
07/04/2025
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.3) Additional information
1. To express an interest, participants must first be registered on the Home Office’s eSourcing Portal (JAGGAER). If you have not yet registered, this can be done online at https://homeoffice.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html by following the Register Here Link.
2. Please note that, to register, you must have a valid DUNS number (as provided by Dun and Bradstreet) for the organisation which you are registering and who will be entering into a contract if invited to do so.
3. Registering on Jaggaer will not provide immediate access to the RFI. Once you have registered on JAGGAER, a registered user can express an interest for a specific procurement. This is done by emailing HOELT2024@homeoffice.gov.uk as below:
Email subject line: (RELEVANT LOT) HOELT Procurement - Expression of Interest.
Email to include: Organisation name (as registered on JAGGAER), Contact name, E-mail address and telephone number.
4. Once the above steps are completed, participants will be granted access to the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) event in JAGGAER.
5. Participants should then complete and return their signed NDA via JAGGAER, in order to be added to the RFI event once live.
6. An Industry Day will be held for interested Suppliers on 25th September 2024 (subject to change). This Industry Day will be held virtually. Further details for the Industry Day to follow upon receipt of a signed NDA.
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
28/08/2024