Department of Education / RFQ NSW Premier's Spelling Bee Word List Supplier - TAU-PSB-23-01

The objective of this RFQ is to identify an organisation capable of providing the official wordlists for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 NSW Premier’s Spelling Bee.

The NSW Premier’s Spelling Bee was introduced in 2004 and is a fun and educational way to engage primary school kids in literacy and spelling.

The program includes activities to encourage students to improve their vocabulary and spelling, promoting literacy skills in combination with the English K – 6 Syllabus.

In 2022 approximately 168,700 students were involved in the competition with a total of 826 NSW schools (metropolitan and regional). The State Finals attracted 30 junior primary and 30 senior primary students. Figures for the 2023 Spelling Bee will be available in September 2023.

The final round of the completion has previously been attended by the NSW Premier and the Minister for Education.

The 2023 spelling bee:

•         opened on Thursday 27 April 2023

•         regional finals will be held from 7 August to 18 August 2023

•         state finals will be held on Friday 3 Nov 2023.

The 2024 and future spelling bee dates are to be confirmed.

theartsunit@det.nsw.edu.au

• Conditions For Participation

• All persons (whether or not they submit a proposal) having obtained or received this RFQ may only use it, and the information it contains, in compliance with these Conditions.

• A proposal may only be submitted:

• before Closing Time and Date;

• by completing the Response;

• via the response submission method;

• in an Accepted File Format;

• in accordance with these Conditions.

• By submitting a proposal the respondent confirms that:

• it complies with the Requirements (except as identified in the response);

• if it is successful and the department wants to proceed with the proposal, the respondent will enter into a contract on the terms of Proposed Contract;

• it has examined all information relevant to the risks and contingencies and other circumstances having an effect on the proposal; and

• it has satisfied itself that it is financially and practically viable for it to enter into and perform  its proposal.

• A proposal received after the Closing Time and Date will not be considered by the department unless the department, at its absolute discretion, is satisfied that the integrity and competitiveness of the RFQ process will not be compromised.

• Any proposal submitted by the respondent will remain open for acceptance by the department for the Tender Validity Period.

• The department policy is to engage in the highest standards of ethical behaviour and fair dealing. The department requires the same standards from those entities with which it contracts. The respondent acknowledges that it has read, understood and agrees to comply with the requirements of the department’s Statement of Business Ethics and the NSW Government’s Supplier Code of Conduct.

• Respondent's risk

The respondent acknowledges it is participating in this RFQ at its sole risk and cost and that the department is not liable to it for any expenses or costs incurred by it in connection with this RFQ, including where the RFQ process has been discontinued.

• The Department’s Rights

• The department, at its absolute discretion, may discontinue the RFQ process; reject any proposal; decline to issue any contract; or procure the Deliverables separately from this RFQ process.

• Without limiting the above, the department also reserves the right to

• accept or reject any non-conforming proposals (that is, any proposal that does not comply with these Conditions or the Requirements). Such proposals must provide separate and sufficient detail of where they are non-conforming, including technical details where available;  

• alter, amend or vary this RFQ (including the Conditions and the Requirements) and the process outlined in this RFQ at any time before the Closing Date and Time;

• request further information from any respondent including financial information;

• request site visits or invite the respondent to make a presentation regarding its proposal;

• take into account any information about the respondent that the department receives from any source, including but not limited to any site inspections and presentations;

• to negotiate with any or all of the respondents after the Closing Time and Date about any terms of the RFQ or these Conditions and the department may accept a proposal which has been varied in negotiations.

• Respondent eligibility

• The respondent may only submit a proposal if it has an ABN and is a legal entity with the capacity to enter into a contract to perform its proposal.

• If any part of the Deliverables is to be supplied by a sub-contractor, the contract would be entered into by the respondent and the respondent will be responsible for the subcontractor's performance of the contract.

• The department encourages participation of small and medium enterprises, including Aboriginal owned businesses and employers of people with disability (Australian Disability Enterprises) wherever this is applicable to the requirements. Respondents should clearly indicate their status. The Contact Support Office should be notified if any aspect of this RFQ provides unnecessary barriers that effectively prohibit participation by these businesses.

• RFQ process

• The department seeks conforming proposals, however, Respondents may, if they choose, submit a non-conforming proposal that is intended to offer a different method of meeting the object and intent of the Requirements (an Alternative Proposal). Alternative Proposals will only be considered if submitted in conjunction with a conforming proposal. An Alternative Proposal must be clearly marked “Alternative Proposal”.

5.2         The respondent may only vary its proposal with the consent of the department
  provided that, in the department’s view, it would not:

• substantially alter the original RFQ proposal; or

• result in the revising or expanding of a RFQ proposal in a way that would give the respondent an unfair advantage over other respondents.

• Expected dates

The expected date for contract signing and the expected date for supply of Deliverables are indicative only and may change.

• Proposal Evaluation

The department will assess proposals to identify the offer that it considers to be the best value for money.

• Disclosure of information

Details of this RFT and the outcome of the tender process may be disclosed if required in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW).

• Complaints Process

• It is the NSW Government’s objective to ensure that industry is given every opportunity to win Government contracts. Should any entity feel that it has been unfairly excluded from tendering or unfairly disadvantaged, it is invited to write to:

Group Director, Procurement

NSW Department of Education

Level 8, 259 George Street

Sydney NSW 2000

Seen wordlists Monday 4 March 2024

Unseen wordlists for regional finals Monday 1 July 2024

Unseen wordlists for state final Monday 7 October 2024

Dates for subsequent years to be advised