Provision of SPSV Driver Entry Test Review

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1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

The National Transport Authority (NTA) requires a supplier to conduct reviews and provide recommendations for its Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) Driver Entry Test. This service involves statistical analysis of test performance and question effectiveness to ensure the tests remain fit for purpose, fair, and defensible. The supplier will assist the NTA in enhancing the design, development, and delivery of these tests, aligning with industry best practices.

The scope of services includes:

• SPSV Driver Entry Test Review:
• Industry Knowledge Module: Statistical analysis of question performance, identification of over/under-performing questions, and recommendations for improvement. This module comprises 54 multiple-choice questions randomly selected from a bank of 500, based on the NTA's "Official Manual for Operating in the SPSV Industry."
• Area Knowledge Module: Statistical analysis of question performance, identification of over/under-performing questions, and recommendations for improvement. This module uses 36 multiple-choice questions randomly selected from a county-specific bank of 2,185 questions.
• Test Design Consultancy: Expert guidance on test design methodologies, materials, and processes. This includes developing or refining test materials to align with industry best practices and testing standards, providing advice on accessibility, fairness, and inclusivity, and recommending optimal test delivery approaches. Guidance on secure test ID verification and preventing cheating is also required.

The Authority anticipates conducting two (2) reviews during the four-year contract term, with a potential for up to three (3) reviews in total. The first review is expected to cover approximately 15,000 tests administered since 2025. Reviews may cover the Industry Knowledge Module only, the Area Knowledge Module only, or both modules. Data will be provided in Microsoft Excel or PowerBI format.

Key activities include:

• Initiation meetings.
• Analysis of the Authority’s question bank.
• Presentations and reports on findings.
• Workshops with stakeholders to discuss identified issues and recommendations.
• Formal reporting of recommendations.
• Outlining industry best practices for SPSV Driver Entry Test management and question bank maintenance.
• Reviewing existing test design methodologies, materials, and processes.
• Providing guidance on secure test verification and check-in processes.

The Authority may commission consultancy services on an as-required basis and reserves the right not to commission any assignments.

3. Background & buyer context

The National Transport Authority (NTA) is a statutory non-commercial body operating under the Department of Transport, established by the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and expanded by the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009. Its remit includes developing and maintaining a regulatory framework for the control and operation of small public service vehicles (SPSVs) and their drivers. This tender falls under the NTA's responsibility for regulating the SPSV sector, specifically the delivery and ongoing review of the SPSV Driver Entry Test, which is a mandatory requirement for obtaining an SPSV Driver Licence in Ireland. The NTA is seeking external expertise to conduct an independent review of the test's performance and question bank, ensuring its continued relevance and effectiveness.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance: Not specified for this tender.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience:
• Tenderers must provide details of two (2) relevant or similar examples of projects undertaken since 1st January 2023.
• Examples should be comparable in scope, scale, and complexity to the services described in Section 3.
• Only the first two provided examples will be evaluated.
• Projects can be ongoing.
• Each example must not exceed one (1) A4 page.
• Client names and contact persons for references must be provided.
• Personnel:
• Details of the proposed team are required, including structure, size, roles, responsibilities, experience, and qualifications (via CVs).
• The Proposed Team section has a maximum length of ten (10) A4 pages.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

Criterion Weight (%) Sub-criteria