Teacher Recruitment Support Service (TRSS)

This contract is for the Teacher Recruitment Support Service (TRSS), an advisory service that supports both candidates to apply to initial teacher training (ITT) and teachers to return to the profession.

The Provider will offer a personalised service based on the specific needs of each enquirer, to be delivered through inbound calls, webchats, outbound calls, one-to-one advisory services, and via an email and SMS CRM programme

Each enquirer will be encouraged to convert their initial interest in teaching to an application for teacher training or returning to teaching. The service will provide information on routes into initial teacher training and returning to teaching, and recommend activities that may increase the chance of a successful application.

The service requirements may change over time in response to Government policy.

We are seeking one national provider (or consortium) to support and motivate people to enter teaching careers, either through ITT or through returning to the profession, by providing:

• A first point of contact and advice for anyone interested in a teaching career, via telephone and webchat.

• One-to-one support from dedicated advisors for eligible candidates who want to train to teach shortage subjects.

• A targeted advisory service for qualified teachers looking to return to the profession in designated subjects.

• A database of those who have registered their interest in training or returning to teaching. NCTL will issue targeted emails and request outbound calls to registered candidates as part of its marketing campaign, delivered through the service provider.

• Support for the School Experience Programme (SEP) through an online portal that gives potential trainee teachers easy access to schools offering classroom experience.

• Social media support for NCTL recruitment and marketing activity, responding to online enquiries and encouraging candidates to register with the service.

• Support to school leaders for applications to become designated as a Teaching School or System Leader

The indicative value range for the primary contract term (3 years) is £9 million to £12 million inclusive of all expenses but exclusive of VAT. It is anticipated that the contract would be awarded in June 2016, with delivery of the contract commencing from 1 September 2016. The primary term would run from September 2016 to August 2019. Subject to satisfactory contractor performance; ministerial agreement; and availability of funding, there will be an option to extend the contract for up to two academic years. Any extension would run from September 2019 to August 2020 for one year, and from September 2020 to August 2021 for a further year.

Additional information: The service is provided to support candidates who are interested in applying for teacher training at English training providers and schools, and teachers who are looking to return to the English state school sector. This includes taking enquiries from candidates who are not domiciled in England. The service does not support recruitment to teacher training outside of England.

The annual volume of people using the service is high; detailed indicative volumes are listed in the Specification document.

The service makes an important contribution to boosting the number of successful applicants in shortage subject areas. From September 2014 to August 2015 it enabled 4,027 candidates to gain school experience prior to submitting an application to ITT. Over the same period, one-to-one advisors supported 7,761 candidates in hard to fill subjects.

NCTL will be looking for innovative proposals in line with government expectations in securing greater value for money.

Registration for the procurement.

This procurement will be run through an e-procurement system named REDIMO2. REDIMO2 is NCTL’s e-procurement system, used for contracting for most works, goods and services that are awarded following an electronic competitive tendering process.

To participate in this procurement (RFX137) you will need to register on REDIMO2 (If you are not already). Please register at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nctl-e-procurement-system-redimo

Please e-mail our helpdesk commercial.admin@education.gsi.gov.uk if you have any queries with registering your details on REDIMO2.

Once the Invitation to Bid is launched it will be visible for bidders to respond.

This Invitation to Bid will be launched on 10 March 2016.

All Tender documentation will be made available from REDIMO and Bidders should ensure that they have read all documentation prior to submitting a response.

All bidders will be required to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement before certain sensitive/in confidence documents can be released via REDIMO.

Where appropriate, the successful bidder will be required to deliver a Deed of Guarantee at the same time as the execution of the Agreement.