General Pharmaceutical Council: Pharmacists' Common Registration Examination

UK-London: Pharmacy services.
Section I: Contracting Authority
      I.1) Name and addresses
             General Pharmaceutical Council
             Level 14, One Cabot Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4QJ, United Kingdom
             Tel. +44 2037138000, Email: procurement@pharmacyregulation.org
             Contact: Procurement Lead
             Main Address: https://www.bipsolutions.com, Address of the buyer profile: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK858641854
             NUTS Code: UK
      I.2) Joint procurement
      The contract involves joint procurement: No.
      In the case of joint procurement involving different countries, state applicable national procurement law: Not provided       
      The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body: No.
      I.3) Communication
      The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Pharmacy-services./4KZSR2K89U
      Additional information can be obtained from: the abovementioned address
      Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically via https://www.delta-esourcing.com to 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://www.delta-esourcing.com
      I.4) Type of the contracting authority
            Other type:: Pharmacy health regulator
      I.5) Main activity
            Other activity:

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
      II.1.1) Title: Pharmacists' Common Registration Examination       
      Reference Number: GPhC102
      II.1.2) Main CPV Code:
      85149000 - Pharmacy services.

      II.1.3) Type of contract: SERVICES
      II.1.4) Short description: The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is seeking experienced providers of high stakes online professional assessment examinations, together with the associated administrative education services such as the sourcing of suitable, and accessible venues from which an online computer based examination can be administered. The scope of services includes delivery of a secure computer-based assessment to candidates on two single agreed dates in test locations distributed across the UK; a secure platform that manages exam questions in multiple formats; test booking services; candidate support services; invigilation services; proctoring services (as required); reporting services and other related services.
N.B. The title of this tender has changed from 'Online National Pharmacy Registration Assessment Examination' shown in the original PIN published 29/04/2024 (Delta reference 858641854 FTS Ref.013803-2024), and the estimated total value has been adjusted down from £4.8m to £4m, but all other details including the scope remain unchanged.       
      II.1.5) Estimated total value:
      Value excluding VAT: 4,000,000       
      Currency: GBP
      II.1.6) Information about lots:
      This contract is divided into lots: No       
   
II.2) Description
      
      II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
      80400000 - Adult and other education services.
      80430000 - Adult-education services at university level.
      80490000 - Operation of an educational centre.
      85149000 - Pharmacy services.
      75121000 - Administrative educational services.
      
      II.2.3) Place of performance:
      UK UNITED KINGDOM
      
      II.2.4) Description of procurement: The General Pharmaceutical Council's (GPhC's) Pharmacists' Common Registration Examination is hosted across a number of geographical locations within the UK. The scope of services includes delivery of a secure computer-based assessment to candidates on two single agreed dates in test locations distributed across the UK; a secure platform that manages exam questions in multiple formats; test booking services; candidate support services; invigilation services; proctoring services (as required); reporting services and other related services. The current format of the delivery model for this examination is that all candidates sit the exam on the same day which is held once in the summer and once in the autumn. This delivery model is the preferred method of the GPhC. The contract procedure for this tender opportunity will be in accordance with regulation 29 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 "Competitive procedure with negotiation" (CPN).
      II.2.5) Award criteria:
            Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents            
      II.2.6) Estimated value:
      Value excluding VAT: 4,000,000       
      Currency: GBP       
      II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
      Start: 01/01/2026 / End: 31/12/2029       
      This contract is subject to renewal: Yes       
      Description of renewals: Initial contract terms is for 24 months with option to extend for a further 2 periods of 12 months each - 48 months in total, At the end of the 48 month period (or sooner if not extended) the contract will be retendered for renewal.
      II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited:
             Envisaged number of candidates: 3
            
      Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates: In the competitive procedure with negotiation, the minimum number of candidates shall be 3 in accordance with reg.65(4).
Stage 1 will comprise of a standard Supplier Questionnaire together with 5 additional service specific questions that will be weighted and scored. Shortlisted bidders will be invited to submit their outline tender proposal at stage 2. Please do not submit a tender response at the same time as you submit your supplier questionnaire proposal as it will not be opened or scored.
      II.2.10) Information about variants:
      Variants will be accepted: No
      II.2.11) Information about options:
      Options:       No             
      Description of options: Not provided
      II.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues:
      Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue: No
      II.2.13) Information about European Union funds:
      The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No       
      Identification of the project: Not provided             
      II.2.14) Additional information: Please complete the Supplier Questionnaire by the initial closing date of 5th September 2024 at 17:00 BST Noon. Although the tender documents are included for you to examine, please DO NOT submit a tender proposal unless you are shortlisted and invited to do so. Any TENDER proposals submitted on 5th September 2024 will NOT be evaluated.       


Section III: Legal, Economic, Financial And Technical Information
   III.1) Conditions for participation
      III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
      List and brief description of conditions:          
      There are no restrictions on who can participate in this tender, and it is not reserved for any particular profession or member of a trade body, however potential bidders should be able to confirm that they can meet all the requirement is the specification as the GPhC wants the operational delivery of the examination to be solely the responsibility of the supplier from end to end.
A summary of the essential minimum requirements include (but not limited to):
- experience of providing high stakes exams sittings including offering a candidate management service
-- ability to deliver online assessments for the UK in decentralised locations providing one day sittings for 4,000 exams in the summer and 1,500 in the autumn
- sufficient capability and experience to submit a bid against the high-level requirements such as online exams,
- ability to provide a full invigilation service
N.B. The GPhC is in the process of reviewing its examination processes, but has no plans within the next two years to change its current delivery model. Bidders are asked to only submit proposals that reflect the current service delivery model, in order to reduce the amount of disruption to the current examination process.    
      III.1.2) Economic and financial standing          
      Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents       
      List and brief description of selection criteria:       
      Not Provided    
      Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :       
      Not Provided    
      III.1.3) Technical and professional ability    
      Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
      List and brief description of selection criteria:       
      Not Provided      
      Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :          
      Not Provided   
      III.1.5) Information about reserved contracts (if applicable)   
      The contract is reserved to sheltered workshops and economic operators aiming at the social and professional integration of disabled or disadvantaged persons: No       
      The execution of the contract is restricted to the framework of sheltered employment programmes: No    
      
   III.2) Conditions related to the contract
      III.2.1) Information about a particular profession    
      Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision:          
      Not Provided    
      III.2.2) Contract performance conditions       
      Suggested SLA and KPIs are included in the tender documents. However, these are aspects of the contract that the GPhC and the shortlisted bidder(s) may negotiate.          
      III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
      Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract: Yes    

Section IV: Procedure
   IV.1) Description NEGOTIATED
      IV.1.1) Type of procedure:   
   
   IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system    
         The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement - NO    
         In the case of framework agreements justification for any duration exceeding 4 years: Not Provided    
   IV.1.4) Information about reduction of the number of solutions or tenders during negotiation or dialogue: Yes.
   IV.1.5) Information about negotiation: Yes.
   IV.1.6) Information about electronic auction:
      An electronic auction will be used: No
      Additional information about electronic auction: Not provided
   IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
      The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes       
   IV.2) Administrative information
      IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure:
         Notice number in the OJ S: 2024/S 000 - 013803       
      IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
       Date: 05/09/2024 Time: 17:00
      IV.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates: 11/09/2024       
      IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English,       
      IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender:
         Duration in month(s): 4
      
      

Section VI: Complementary Information
   VI.1) Information about recurrence
   This is a recurrent procurement: Yes    
   Estimated timing for further notices to be published: Earliest after 2 years (July 2026 for new contract start date January 2028) or Latest July 2028 for new contract start day January 2030.
   VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
   Electronic ordering will be used Yes       
   Electronic invoicing will be accepted Yes       
   Electronic payment will be used Yes       
   VI.3) Additional Information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement and the primary bidder must have sufficient resources or capacity to be able to manage and deliver the required end to end service.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Pharmacy-services./4KZSR2K89U

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/4KZSR2K89U
   VI.4) Procedures for review
   VI.4.1) Review body:
             General Pharmaceutical Council
       Level 14, One Cabot Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4QJ, United Kingdom
       Email: procurement@pharmacyregulation.org
       Internet address: https://www.pharmacyregulation.org
   VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures:
Not provided
   VI.4.3) Review procedure
   Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:    
    Not Provided    
   VI.4.4) Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained:
Not provided
   VI.5) Date Of Dispatch Of This Notice: 05/08/2024

Annex A