Online Schools Quality Assurance - Prior Information Notice

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES: The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to notify the market of the Department for Education's (DfE) intention to undertake a procurement exercise to appoint a suitably experienced Quality Assurance Body to inspect online schools as announced in the consultation on online schools published on 5 September 2019. More details of the consultation can be found here: https://consult.education.gov.uk/independent-education-di... DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES : A feasibility study has taken place to look at the possibility of a voluntary accreditation and registration scheme for online schools.

There is a growing market of online schools in England, who offer a full curriculum, and/or represent a child's main or only source of formal education. The sector is developing rapidly and now encompasses a wide range of providers.

The number of children educated by online providers is relatively small as a proportion of the school system as a whole, but the sector is expanding and forms a major part of non-standard education provision. As a result of the consultation in to online schools the DfE intend to launch a voluntary registration scheme for online schools providers.

Online schools providers will have to meet certain standards, similar to those for independent schools in England, in order to be accredited by the DfE. The DfE are seeking to appoint a Quality Assurance Body that will carry out inspections against the non-statutory online school standards (OSS), and report to the department on their findings.

We anticipate that online schools will be re-inspected within a four year period to allow their accreditation to continue. The competitive process to appoint a Quality Assurance Body will result in a concession contract being awarded, for a proposed period of at least two years, with the successful provider carrying out the QA inspections for DfE during this period.

The value of the contract will become clear during the procurement process. It is proposed that there will be no payment by the DfE for this work; the funding for the successful bidder will derive from the fee structure agreed to be charged to online schools and the number of schools joining the scheme.

Additional information: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A Market Engagement Webinar was hosted by the DfE on 25 September 2019. As part of the engagement event one-to-one 15 minute surgeries were held by appointment with the relevant interested parties.

The event allowed DfE to gain a greater understanding of the market and potential solutions to shape the service and any contract that it will procure. The Q&A information pack from the event can be accessed at the top of this section.

(see attachment 'Online schools QA Final') Indicative dates for procurement: (Please note: these timescales are indicative and are subject to change at DfE's absolute discretion.) - September 2019 - Early Market Engagement - October/November 2019 - Publish Invitation To Tender (ITT) - January/February 2020 - Indicative contract award The DfE intends to utilise a single stage open procedure (under the Light Touch Regime) to award a concession contract. Further information on the procurement process will be provided during the market engagement activity.

SCHEDULED DATE FOR PUBLICATION OF CONTRACT NOTICE: October/November 2019 START AND END DATES OF THE CONTRACT: February/March 2020 - February/March 2022 The DfE will be administering the procurement process electronically via the DfE e-Tendering Portal; Jaggaer. No hard copy documents will be issued and all communications with DfE (including final submission of tenders) will be conducted via the Jaggaer Portal.

The Department reserves the right not to enter a formal procurement process and not award contract(s). Accordingly, the Authority will not be liable for any bid cost, expenditure, work or effort incurred by a supplier in acting on the basis of this notice.