Braille Quality Assurance Experts – Prior Notice of Up-coming Procurement

We recently received the below email from STA, TendersTD and believe it is genuine. We will provide more information as and when we receive it.

Dear Suppliers,

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA), an executive agency of the Department for Education (DfE) is looking to recruit Braille experts to quality assure modified Braille versions of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 National Curriculum tests to ensure that these are accurate, accessible and fit for purpose.

The national curriculum tests include the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check, English reading (key stage 1 and key stage 2), English grammar, punctuation and spelling (key stage 1 and key stage 2), mathematics (key stage 1 and key stage 2).

The STA is looking to recruit experienced Braille experts for quality assuring the modified Braille versions of the Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 National Curriculum tests. We are looking for individuals or organisations with excellent knowledge of contracted Braille (for key stage 2) and uncontracted Unified English Braille (for key stage 1) as well as experience of proofing complex Braille materials.

The successful Braille experts will:

  • Have experience of proof-reading paper-based Braille materials;
  • Have expertise in reviewing assessment materials;
  • Be flexible and available to review materials in various locations as and when required in agreement with the relevant STA project team.

This is not a full time position and requires availability only during the proofing windows.

The indicative procurement timeline is provided in the table below. We shall be notifying those on our distribution list when the procurement goes live.

DateStage
15 April 2024Invitation to Tender (ITT) issued
12 noon, 10 May 2024Deadline for clarification questions
12 noon, 24 May 2024Deadline for submission of tenders
28 June 2024Award Notices issued to tenderers

If you are aware of any other Braille experts who may be interested in applying for this opportunity, please do alert them to this opportunity by forwarding this information to them.

Many thanks and best regards,
Rashida Akbar
Standards and Testing Agency
Department for Education
Cheylesmore House, 5 Quinton Road, Coventry CV1 2WT
Email: [email protected]
Please note my working hours are 8am – 4pm
Prefered method of contact: Email or phone (please do not message me via MS Teams as this is not very accessible for me)
Pronouns: she/her