Strategic Digital Partner

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).