Strategic Digital Partner

Location

Description

Following an unsuccessful tender in 2024, The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) are moving to pursue a direct award as a follow-on to the original tender. The move to a process for direct award was as a direct result of the reasons from the unsuccessful procurement in 2024. Following the failed tender a temporary arrangement was put in place with the incumbent supplier, and a review of the market was then undertaken taking into consideration the particular requirements that led to the unsuccessful tender, and the extremely limited potential market. This transparency notice reflects the process that was then needed to be followed. Extensive market research was conducted to identify potential suppliers that could meet the requirements, and then short-listing (detailed under procedure) was carried out based on the necessary capabilities, knowledge and experience. The short-listed suppliers were approached as it was deemed that they were best placed to meet ETF's requirement to build a new website as single open front door with updated branding, consolidating the ETF and SET websites. In line with the agreed technology strategy, the website will be developed using Umbraco technology. While ETF will continue to use Microsoft Dynamics CRM, alternative membership solutions will also be explored. The successfully appointed supplier will: - Support ETF's digital transformation programme to achieve our desired target state by implementing and supporting a CMS solution, inheriting our existing membership portal, and build any necessary integrations into CRM for off-the-shelf membership solution, events and CPD with Dynamics CRM. - To enhance a Single Sign On (SSO) solution, Azure B2C, across our digital estate. - Be a strategic digital partner for the ETF who shares a vision and a roadmap for the future. - Launch a CMS solution with strong digital architecture, navigation, useability, governance, and content management features. - Ensure the CMS is integrated with Google Analytics ready for launch to align with ETF's reporting and insight needs. - Meet relevant security, compliance, and accessibility standards. In summary, this transparency notice is to specify the reasonable approach to move to a direct award following a failed procurement, taking into account the specific reasons for the previous unsuccessful tender, and the following thorough identification, and process for final selection of a suitable supplier (see procedure).

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• None found

Legal Justification

The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) is looking to award a contract following an incomplete procedure for the Strategic Digital Partner (Content Management System) published under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 FTS/OJEU Ref: 20240321-000001 (2024/S 000-009142) On 21/03/2024 (XMLID=202395, Mail=TED32-XML07-20240321). Tenders or requests to participate were received and rejected. Essential requirement detailed in the original tender that were not able to be fulfilled include: - Digital partners should have an extensive portfolio of clients that are professional membership bodies - Compliance with DfE authority to operate - CRM ‘MUST’ requirements listed in Part 2 TRD excel spreadsheet. Of the 112 suppliers who registered their interest in the bid, several withdrew for the following reasons: - They didn't offer off-the-shelf platforms - They felt their solution was not suitable - They did not provide hosting, support and maintenance for Umbraco sites - There was concern that there was an existing UX agency partner - They had limited experience in the membership organisation space - They felt the functional requirements lent themselves more to an off the shelf product rather than bespoke - They felt they weren't the right technical fit. Note, ETF felt that Umbraco was an essential requirement to avoid security breaches. This incomplete procurement led ETF to identify suppliers that could be approached, switching the procurement process to a direct award. 21 suppliers who are Umbraco partners recommended on the Umbraco website (https://umbraco.com/partners/?skill=§or=&country=&level=) were considered for suitability. Suppliers were assessed on their ratings, whether they had membership experience (using dynamics) and whether they have worked in education. Out-of-the-box membership solutions suitable for the education sector was also considered. The list was shortlisted to 7 following this assessment. Digital agencies who cannot provide end-to-end solutions with Microsoft Dynamics off the shelf products were excluded. In April (2025), ETF arranged a series of demonstrations in which suppliers were asked to showcase their membership functionality. Membership requirements were shared will all suppliers. Some suppliers offered both Umbraco services and membership functionality, while in other cases, suppliers were brought together to meet ETF's needs. It is important to note that these sessions were not sales pitches but rather an opportunity for suppliers to demonstrate how their solution will meet ETF's specific requirements. No financial discussions were held during these sessions. Focus was primarily on scoring the solution against ETF's requirements. ETF are switching to a direct award following a failed procurement.

Other Information

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. **