Source: https://tendernation.io/opportunities/01a13c4a-2f34-71ee-862d-5fbee53f2a92/test-operations-services-tops awarded GB open procedure Suitable for SMEs # Test Operations Services (TOpS) [Department For Education](https://tendernation.io/buyers/department-for-education) Open field Estimated value £95,000,000 to £225,000,000 Published 21 Oct 2015 Deadline Closed 23 Aug 2016 ## Who can bid - Buyer says suitable for SMEs The buyer ticked “suitable for SMEs” on the notice. Anyone can still bid. - Buyer says suitable for VCSEs The buyer ticked “suitable for voluntary, community and social enterprises” on the notice. - Open procedure Anyone can submit a full tender; there is no shortlisting stage. [More contracts for small businesses and VCSEs](https://tendernation.io/opportunities/for-small-businesses) ## About this tender The STA was set-up as an executive agency of the Department for Education (DfE) in October 2011. The purpose of the STA is to develop and administer National Curriculum Assessments (NCAs) and assessments in England as part of the government’s agenda to raise educational standards through structural change, school improvement strategies, and a rigorous accountability framework where tests in the core subjects, currently at the end of Year 6 form an important measure of children’s long-term education and life chances. The outcomes of the NCAs are published annually at an individual school level in the School Performance Tables by government and are an important factor in parental choice of schools. The current NCAs are Key Stage 1 (“KS1”) and Key Stage 2 (“KS2”) tests in the core subjects of English and Mathematics, and the KS1 Phonics Screening Check (“PSC”). The tests are sat by the full cohort of pupils, currently 580,593 in 15,500 state schools in England. The successful economic operator will be required to undertake activities required for the successful delivery of all NCAs. This will include: printing; the logistics associated with securely delivering test papers and other materials to participating schools; collecting and distributing tests scripts to markers; the successful completion of onscreen marking of the NCAs within a defined time frame; and to deliver all support required by participating schools for their successful administration of the NCAs. See 'Attachments' (links) for the full version of the original advert and also the recent corrigendum which includes all the changes to the procurement process published in Tenders Electronic Daily. Additional information: See Attachments for the Tenders Electronic Daily corrigendum for a summary of all the changes. See Links for the Tenders Electronic Daily original advert. Read full description ## CPV classification Education and training services Source Contracts Finder (UK) [View official notice](https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/eace29ea-adc8-11e6-9901-0019b9f3037b) Never miss a tender like this again Get AI summaries, deadline alerts and a bid pipeline for tenders matched to your business. Free to start. 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