THE SCOTTISH CREDIT AND QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK PARTNERSHIP

WRITTEN ESTIMATE FOR European Commission Funded Project “Working with Sectors to develop Recognition of Prior Learning”

July 2011

SCOTTISH CREDIT AND QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK PARTNERSHIP A Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in Scotland – Company number 311573 Registered Office: 39 St Vincent Place, Glasgow G1 2ER THE SCOTTISH CREDIT AND QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK PARTNERSHIP

Purpose: INVITATION TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN ESTIMATE.

On behalf of the UK National Coordination Points, The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership (SCQF Partnership) invites written estimates for the provision of consultancy work on an EC funded project entitled “Working with Sectors to develop RPL”.

This document provides information and background on EQF implementation in the UK and on the UK Frameworks and sets out their requirements. The document is in four sections: Section 1 summarises the background to the UK Frameworks and EQF implementation in the UK; Section 2 provides the contract specification; Section 3 details the instructions for the submission of the estimate; Section 4 sets out the information required from the consultant/contractor.

The document is designed to ensure that all estimates are given equal and fair consideration. It is important therefore that you provide all the information requested in the format and order specified in Section 4.

1. (a) BACKGROUND TO EQF PROJECTS AND IMPLEMENTATION IN THE UK

The UK’s National Coordination Points for the EQF (NCPs) have collaborated in a programme of implementation activities that have communicated the EQF to potential stakeholders and opened a means of feedback from stakeholders about their needs in terms of making best use of the EQF. In addition the NCPs began an investigation into how the EQF could enhance and support the validation of learning. The requirement to include a reference to EQF levels on certificates is considered challenging and this issue was explored tentatively with those likely to be involved in making decisions in this area. Finally the EQF will only work if there is high trust in the quality and outcomes of the referencing process in all countries. With this in mind, the NCPs set out to support countries in understanding the UK referencing process and to determine progress made by these countries in the referencing process. Thus there were five projects established to take this work forward. They were: 1. Communications activities 2. Recognising learning from different settings 3. Sectoral engagement with the EQF 4. EQF levels and their place on certificates of UK qualifications 5. International peer learning

These projects represent the first formal process of implementing the EQF in the UK. The UK NCPs identified communications, sectoral engagement, presenting the EQF levels on certificates and building trust with other country systems as the priorities for collaborative action. The NCPs see this as the start of a process that will gain momentum as the EQF becomes more widely understood and used.

For more information and to view the summary report of each of the projects activities, key messages and conclusions please visit www.scqf.org.uk and in the Quick Links menu choose European and International /EC funded projects.

1. (b) BACKGROUND TO THE SCOTTISH CREDIT AND QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK PARTNERSHIP

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) was developed to help the needs of Scotland’s learners, learning providers and employers. It is a unified framework for

2 qualifications in Scotland, which incorporates most of the mainstream Scottish Qualifications: the qualifications of Higher Education Institutions; SQA National Qualifications; Higher National Qualifications and Scottish Vocational Qualifications.

The SCQF is a descriptive framework that can help learners, learning providers and employers to understand and compare qualifications. It provides a common language for learning, making the relationships between qualifications easier and allowing more flexibility and choice in learning.

The SCQF aims to:  Help people of all ages and circumstances to access appropriate education and training over their lifetime to fulfil their personal, social and economic potential.  Enable employers, learners and the public in general to understand the full range of Scottish qualifications, how qualifications relate to each other and how different types of qualifications can contribute to improving the skills of the workforce.

The SCQF was launched in 2001 and in November 2006, Partners established the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership (SCQF Partnership), a company limited by guarantee. Members of the Company are : Scotland’s Colleges; the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education; Scottish Ministers; the Scottish Qualifications Authority; and Universities Scotland. In addition in 2009 the Board co-opted another Director representing employment interests. The Company has charitable status.

The Company objects are:  to maintain the quality of the Framework;  to further promote and develop its use;  and to maintain and develop relationships with other frameworks in the UK and Europe.

As this particular project is being led and managed by the SCQF Partnership on behalf of the UK, a brief background to the Credit and Qualifications Framework Wales (CQFW) and the Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF) are provided in the following sections.

1(c). BACKGROUND TO THE CREDIT AND QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK WALES

The CQFW is a fully inclusive learning, qualifications and credit framework and was adopted by the Welsh Assembly Government in 2003. The framework has three pillars of learning: Higher Education – Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ); Regulated Qualifications – National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and the emerging Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF); and Quality Assured Lifelong Learning which includes community, company and work based learning.

The framework was adopted to promote the lifelong learning agenda in Wales and operates in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government and the Higher Education Funding council for Wales (HEFCW).

The framework operates with the same common principles as adopted throughout the UK with learning programmes described in terms of learning outcomes, based on level descriptors ((in Wales there are nine levels), and credit values (10 hours of learning time for one credit). All the three pillars have a quality assurance process.

1(d). BACKGROUND TO THE QUALIFICATIONS CREDIT FRAMEWORK

The Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) was formally introduced in 2008 following a two year period of trialling. The QCF forms a major strand of the UK Vocational Qualifications

3 Reform Programme, so its initial focus has been on vocational and related qualifications. It is intended that it will include all qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland other than higher education qualifications (which are covered by the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) and the qualified status granted by professional bodies. The QCF also forms part of the CQFW.

The QCF is designed as an inclusive and flexible regulated framework of units and qualifications that is capable of recognising the widest possible range of quality assured learner achievements. It introduces a standard currency for achievement in the form of a framework of levels based on learning outcomes, as well as a system of credit. As well as being the national framework for qualifications (other than higher education qualifications) in England and Northern Ireland, the QCF therefore has a wider application as a unit-based credit framework. It has an entry level plus 8 levels.

The following sections in this document provide details of the Company’s requirements and instructions for the written estimate.

2. CONTRACT SPECIFICATION

This project builds on work carried out in 2010 – 2011 to map recognition and transferability of skills in major sectors. The aim of this assignment is to continue work in the five key sectors1 to identify companies/employers who are looking at or who have developed strategies for coping with mobility and recognition. The principal focus will be the role of qualifications frameworks and in particular the European Qualifications Framework in the case studies. A secondary focus will be the extent to which these companies validate/credit rate non formal and recognise informal learning. The project would seek to ascertain from the companies identified the extent to which they use RPL to:

(A) help employees use their existing skills and knowledge for career development, personal progression and mobility, and (B) advise employees on matching their skills and knowledge to existing qualifications and national occupational standards

The companies should be solidly based in the UK or be international companies. The appointed consultant will carry out the required research to identify companies in relation to the rationale set out above along with the identification of any sectoral differences or implications for RPL and report on the findings and results. This will involve identification of a minimum of 4 companies, ideally one of each based in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The consultant will also produce the final written up case studies for the project as outlined above. Whilst it is the responsibility of the consultant to fully describe their proposed methodology within their submission document there are a number of key activities which we have set out below.

Specific Project activities

A. While carrying out this project the consultant should:

 Conduct research to identify companies  Carry out a short research project to identify approaches to RPL along with the rationale and context, producing a report which also addresses the issue of language related to RPL to ensure follow up activities are understood and in context.  Scope the use of National Qualifications Frameworks and the European Qualifications Framework by employers for the recognition and transferability of skills and qualifications to aid mobility of the workforce  Identify any sectoral differences or implications for RPL  Contribute to an event to share practice, strengths and challenges and discuss opportunities for further collaboration or development of RPL

1 Land-based industries; social care; construction; health; travel and tourism

4  Provide written up case studies

B. Once the initial project research is completed the consultant will be required to attend and present his/her findings at an event which will be attended by representatives from the identified sectors, a representative from each of the relevant country NCPs and representatives from selected companies who are engaged with the project. The focus for this event will be:

 To inform the representatives on the outcomes from the research findings;  To discuss the relevant findings for each of the identified sectors;  To agree how best to disseminate the outcomes of the research across the identified sectors  To valorise EQF related benefits in terms of recognition and transferability of qualifications and levels and types of mobility within the five identified sectors;

C. Produce the agreed Case Studies and produce a Project Report.

Outputs and timescales for project

This project will be directed by a Working Group consisting of representatives from Welsh Government, Ofqual, Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA), UK Commission for Employment and Skills, Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB) and City & Guilds. The day to day management of the project will be carried out by Margaret Cameron (Manager) and Anthony O Reilly (Project Officer) of SCQFP. The main outputs will be the production of a Report and Case Studies as specified above and the milestones will be agreed but these are the indicative dates:

 Develop a draft Interim Report for M Cameron/A O Reilly and the Working Group by 20 January 2012

 Develop draft Case Studies and a draft Final Project Report by 06 April 2012. Meet with M Cameron/A O Reilly and receive comments on the drafts from the Working Group.

 Present the agreed Interim Report at the Consultation Event – date to be agreed but likely to be late April 2012

 Send final version of Case Studies and Project Report, taking account of comments from the Working Group, to M Cameron/A O Reilly by 25 May 2012

It is anticipated that the total cost for this project will be no more than £15,000.00 (inc VAT and any travel and subsistence).

3. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF THE WRITTEN ESTIMATE

Please do not hesitate to contact Anthony O Reilly if you require further information. Contact details are: Anthony O Reilly SCQF Partnership 39 St Vincent Place Glasgow G1 2ER e-mail: a.o’[email protected] or [email protected] Tel: 0141 225 2932

3.1 Timetable and administration arrangements

Return of written estimates 5.00pm on 19 August 2011

5 Expected date of award 29 August 2011

3.2 Evaluation Criteria The written estimates will be evaluated fairly to ascertain which represents the best value for money in terms of the criteria.

Your response to our requirements will be evaluated under the following headings:

 The ability to undertake the work outlined in the Contract Specification;  Within the agreed timescale;  Evidence of your understanding of our business needs;  Value for money.

(Please note that the order in which the criteria are listed does not imply relative importance.)

3.3 Administration arrangements

a. Submission of estimates The written estimate should be submitted by email to Anthony O Reilly along with one hard copy in the same name and to the postal address above.

b. Receipt of estimates Written estimates will be received up to the time and date stated. The SCQF Partnership does not undertake to consider any written estimates received after that time.

c. Acceptance of Estimate By issuing this invitation the SCQF Partnership is not bound in any way and does not have to accept the lowest, or any estimate.

d. Confidentiality All information supplied by the SCQF Partnership to you must be treated in confidence and not disclosed to third parties except insofar as this is necessary to obtain sureties or quotations for the purpose of submitting the tender. All information supplied by you to the SCQF Partnership will similarly be treated in confidence except that references may be sought from banks, existing or past clients, or other referees submitted by the proposer.

4. INFORMATION REQUIRED FROM PROPOSER

It is important that you provide all the information requested below. Please provide it in the order and format indicated. Part 1 Breakdown of prices and rates

Part 2 Information about your organisation

Part 3 Details of the service, including details of the team who would be working on the engagement

Part 4 A Quality Plan

Part 5 Additional information

PART 1 BREAKDOWN OF PRICES AND RATES

Insert here your breakdown of prices and rates. This should include an overall cost for the contract and specific details of costs for:

6  professional services  administration  travel and subsistence  meetings  VAT*

*please confirm whether or not you are registered for VAT. Please also set out the VAT liability of the services to be provided to SCQF.

PART 2 INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ORGANISATION

Please include here information about your organisation including; number of staff, management structure, a description of the nature of the work carried out by your organisation, and any other information which may be of assistance in considering your tender.

Please also indicate any European or British quality standards achieved or being sought.

PART 3 DETAILS OF THE SERVICE, INCLUDING DETAILS OF THE TEAM WHO WOULD BE WORKING ON THE ENGAGEMENT.

1 Give details of the resources you expect to use to service the contract, including the number of staff you expect to use for providing the service.

2 Indicate in each case whether you expect staff to be drawn from within your organisation, be newly recruited or sub-contracted.

3 Please enter the names and position held by key staff.

4 Please provide details of experience of key staff involved in the contract.

PART 4 QUALITY PLAN

Give details of how you will ensure that a high quality service is maintained and that all targets set out in the Contract Specification will be met.

1 Set out your proposals for the monitoring and reporting on the quality of the services delivered including the performance checks you will perform, their frequency and scope, and who will perform them.

2 Set out your proposed contract management system.

3 Set out your strategies and procedures for dealing with complaints and problems.

Note: your quality plan will not itself form part of the contract, but any elements within it which the parties agree to be essential to the delivery of the service will be incorporated within the specification and form part of any contract resulting form your tender.

PART 5 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Set out any additional information you think would be helpful in support of your proposal, including any additional facilities not included in the specification you could or will offer that will add value to the service that you will provide.

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