Decision details

Permission is being sought to approve a 1 year contract to an organisation to fulfil the specialist operational lead moderator role for delivery of the Local Authority statutory duties for key stage 1 (KS1) moderation.
Invitation to Tender (ITT) was issued on the North West Portal “The Chest” on 13 August 2021 with a return date of the 6 September 2021. ITT submissions were received from 1 organisation.
A comprehensive selection process was undertaken by an evaluation panel and a scoring moderation meeting was held on the 9 September 2021. The outcome of this process was that organisation has the relevant skills, knowledge and experience to lead the statutory moderation.

RESOLVED - That: option 1 be approved to award the contract to the organisation named in the delegated decision paper.

Option 1 - Approve the award of contract to organisation stated in the delegated decision paper for the operational KS1 lead moderator.
This option poses limited risk to the Council as a formal ITT process has been completed and quality of the submission agreed by the evaluation panel. Any risks to delivery and implementation of the programme will be identified and mitigation put in place. Emerging risks will be managed through formal contract monitoring processes. There is funding through the Designated Schools Grant for statutory moderation duties for Local Authorities.
Option 2 - Not to award the contract to any organisation
This could pose a risk to the Local Authority as there is a lack of capacity and expertise within the LA EYs and Learning Service to undertake the operational lead role. This role has been externally commissioned since 2014 in order to fulfil the LA’s statutory duties.

Option 2 - Not to award the contract to any organisation

A comprehensive selection process was undertaken by an evaluation panel and a scoring moderation meeting was held on the 9 September 2021. The outcome of this process was that the organisation mentioned in the delegated decision paper has the relevant skills, knowledge and experience to lead the statutory moderation.