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Educational Testing Service

Answer

The procurement and award of contracts for national curriculum assessment delivery services is the responsibility of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). They carry out this function independently of Government.I am satisfied that they have carried out their responsibilities in relation to the contract with ETS Europe with all due diligence. The QCA Board, on which my Department has an observer, received the report on the conduct of the procurement for this contract which has successfully passed Office for Government Commerce (OGC) scrutiny. I have asked David Gee, managing director of the National Assessment Agency, to write to the hon. Member setting out the checks that were made. A copy will be placed in the Library.Letter from David Gee, dated 9 June 2008:"I have been asked to write to you in response to your parliamentary questions about the due diligence carried out by the QCA prior to the Board's decision to select ETS Europe as our delivery partner for national curriculum assessment.""An independent expert consultancy conducted a complete and thorough financial due diligence exercise on Education Testing Services. Their recommendation was that ETS was in a fit and proper financial state to be awarded the contract.""All tenderers were required to identify referees. These referees were approached independently for an in-depth interview covering key aspects of the tenderer's record of delivery and reputation. The QCA's examination of ETS's referees gave us full confidence in appointing ETS as our delivery partner for national curriculum assessment services."

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

477 c371-2W; 209826

Session

2007-08

Subjects

National curriculum tests Educational Testing Service

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk