Computer Based Exam System - Soft Market Testing Exercise

The University of Southampton is currently exploring a range of Computer Based Exam System options in order to scope the specification requirements for the replacement of its current system.

The current system is used by numerous students, tutors, invigilators, Exams Office staff and is supported by the University's internal IT department.

The University is keen to explore all options that may be currently available in the marketplace and, as part of this process, is conducting a soft market testing exercise to identify system solution(s) that must include the following:

1. Formative and summative assessments
2. Range of question types
3. Ability to cope with approximately 38,000 students taking approximately 10,000 tests per year and scalable to support future growth beyond this
4. Ability to import existing assessment materials from QuestionMark Perception
5. Ability to integrate with Banner and other University systems

Interested parties are invited to complete and return the Soft Market Testing Exercise (SMTE) Questionnaire providing information on any available system(s) which the believe are capable of meeting these requirements, or details of any alternative solution which the consider would meet the University's requirements be another method.

The deadline for the receipt of completed SMTE Questionnaires is 13th January 2017 (12.00 noon).

Responses received as part of this exercise shall be used to shape the University's final specification of system requirements and scope any resulting procurement process.

Please Note: This SMTE is intended to allow interested organisations with appropriate expertise to outline their views and provide impartial information to the University with no commitment to themselves or the University. This is not a call for competition at this stage.

Additional information: The University is utilising an electronic tendering tool (In-Tend: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton) to manage this SMTE and to communicate with interested parties. All documentation in relation to this tender can be downloaded from the In-Tend portal.

The University will not be issuing hard copy documents to organisations and all communications with the University including the submission of SMTE Questionnaires will be conducted via the In-Tend portal.

If you are not already registered with the University of Southampton, you will need to register in In-Tend in order to access the SMTE Questionnaire.

Once you have logged in, click on Current Tenders and locate the relevant project. You will then be able to register your interest against the project and access all documentation.

To submit your return, please follow the instructions below:

1. Log In
2. Click Tenders
3. Locate the relevant project
4. View Details
5. Click on the tab relating to the relevant project stage (e.g. SMTE Questionnaire)
6. Click on the Attach Documents button and upload your return.
7. Check ALL your response documents are uploaded and displayed in the My Tender Return panel. The system will only permit your organisation to make one return.
8. Click the red Submit Return button.

Please note that, to preserve the integrity of the SMTE procedure, all queries must made be via the correspondence function within the In-Tend portal.

The deadline for the receipt of completed SMTE Questionnaires is Friday 13th January 2017 (12.00 noon).