Soft Test - Supply of an End Point Assessment (EPA) system for apprenticeships

The University of Derby is a large provider of apprenticeships from levels 2 - level 7. Apprenticeships are offered in a wide variety of sectors on a wide variety of Standards. The University has run apprenticeship programmes since 2014 and over that time implemented a range of systems in order to onboard, track and see the successful achievement of apprenticeships. Sometimes these systems have been prescribed by professional bodies we work with. The University is both a provider and an End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) for its apprentice programmes.

As the University is seeking to develop and further grow its apprenticeship programmes, with the compliance requirements from external bodies (such as ESFA), it is undertaking an exercise to explore what EPA systems are available to help the University manage all aspects of their end point assessments with rigour and efficiency, and be of benefit to the University to support this growth.

Initially, the University would like to hear from providers of EPA systems about their offering to explore how it could be of benefit to the University.

Respondents may then be invited to a separate, open dialogue workshop session to present and discuss their proposal to the University at a time/date to be advised.

The University currently has a number of systems to support its apprenticeship provision.

The University wants to know how the system:

• records evidence and manages resources
• demonstrate compliance with the latest version of funding rules
• ensure that there is security in any audit that the University may undergo
• enable the University to provide evidence for Ofsted inspections
• integrates with other existing apprentice systems

The system is required to be implemented and fully mobilised including all training by early 2024.

The University has identified the following requirements for the EPA:

Ability to display timescales required for completing EPA - showing when the EPA needs to be started, the Gateway, milestones and criteria

Ability to manage appointments as part of the EPA process - send appointments, understand who has accepted or responded.

Ability to share information effectively with independent external EPA assessor and show milestones and record progress to EPA Ability to hold and manage gateway processes and documentation onwards to end point assessment.

Ability to allow preparation of guidance materials for Apprentices and Employers at the beginning of the programme

Ability to record results (outcomes) for each apprentice - result (EPA award), EPA Milestone and date of achievement

Ability for apprentices to submit answers to the EPA assessment questions

Ability to support users to meet the standards for EPAO and display the timescales required for completing the EPA.

Ability to identify where apprentices are after end point assessment - Identification of apprentices ready for gateway.

Please provide indicative costings in support your proposal.