E-Learning Resource Development - Request for Tenders
Flexible Learning Toolboxes - Series 11
Tender No. 01/01-08
Tenders are requested from vocational education and training (VET) organisations suitably qualified to act as Lead Agent in the development of e-learning resources (Flexible Learning Toolboxes).
Toolbox resources are defined as a collection of web-based learning objects and other materials (including teaching guides and technical guides) developed to support online training in an industry area.
Applications that demonstrate creativity and understanding of current online learning practices are encouraged. VET organisations that have not previously been involved in the development of Toolboxes are encouraged to apply.
Tenders must be lodged by 12.00pm noon (EDT) Friday 22nd February 2008.
Selection of projects is managed by members of the Flexible Learning Toolboxes Reference Group and advised by participating Industry Skills Councils (ISCs).
Where the Lead Agent does not have relevant Scope of Registration status, their consortium partner(s) must include an RTO with Scope of Registration in the subject matter of the intended Toolbox project. This RTO is expected to have a strong role in the project.
Download the full text of the Request for Tender, including contact details and lodgement information: Request for Tender - Toolbox Series 11: E-Learning Resource Development - Tender No. 01/01-08 (Word - 537KB).
Please take the time to view the Tender queries and responses below.
Important Amendments
January 24, 2008
The priority areas for development have been updated to include a further priority submitted by the Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council.
January 15, 2008
The RFT has been updated to remove the following priority area:
SIF07 Funeral Services
Certificate III
Please also view the full list of priority areas for development.
Tender queries and responses
Q1. Is it possible to have a two state partnership, with both partners being an RTO?
Yes. You should outline how your teams will work together, what your individual roles are, and previous joint projects so that the Reference Group can see your history.
Q2. Who is on the selection committee? Are the ISC's represented?
The Reference Group is made up of representatives from the Framework and the VET sector from across Australia. The ISC's are not represented on the Reference Group as a whole, however one ISC member is included where possible to give an industry perspective. Applicants do need to discuss tender applications with them and get their support prior to submitting. Relevant ISC’s will be given copies of the Tenders submitted in their own specific area in order to provide the Reference Group with feedback before selection.
Q3. The Health priorities list 3 certificates but only one unit. What is required to be developed?
The one unit that is listed is a core unit for the three certificates listed. Developers may want to submit a tender to develop one generic unit that could be used across the sectors, or they may have ideas around supplying sector relevant customisations/versions. As long as the requested unit is addressed, all ideas will be considered. It's a good idea to discuss ideas with the ISC.
Q4. Will there be further development available in this area next year? Do you know what the priorities will be for the next series?
Priorities are not decided until approximately December prior to the year of development, and are based on skills needs as advised by the ISC's at the time.
Q5. How do we charge when funding is available for up to 300 hours but we won't be developing for 300 hours?
Quoting is up to the individual tenderers. You need to factor in all your costs for the amount of hours you will be developing. We can't advise on what should be quoted.
Q6. If we want to use existing resources to create a toolbox for series 11, can we retain copyright to use the resources in another form potentially in the future?
All material included in the Toolbox will be owned by the Commonwealth of Australia, and during the development process appropriate permissions must be collected to facilitate this. However, on negotiation with eWorks and with written consent from TVET Australia (acting on behalf of the Commonwealth), developers may be granted permission to use existing resources for educational purposes beyond the development of the Toolbox.
When developing your tender, the intent to use existing resources in the development process should be clearly highlighted.
It is also expected that the use of existing materials will result in efficiencies or enhancements in other areas of the project (eg budget, scope, multimedia development).
Q7. Is the funding only for the priority areas listed? Can we develop for other areas that we deliver?
Toolbox funding is only made available for development of the priority areas listed on our website. The priority areas applied for must also be on the tenderer's Scope of Registration.
Q8. We're working on a resource with the ISC involved and think it would be a good Toolbox resource. Can we apply to develop for something not on the priorities list?
No, the ISC nominates the priorities as areas requiring resources and skills development, and we are only able to fund development in those areas.
Q9. The total nominal hours developed for online delivery as required in the RFT are rather elusive for the TLI07 training package as the purchasing guide hasn’t been released as yet to my knowledge. To that end, and after speaking with the National Industrial Skills Training Centre, I have at this stage quoted nominal hours based on the TDT02 training package. Research into changes between the two training packages suggests that the hours would remain the same. Please advise if this would be acceptable or if there is an avenue toward gathering information from the purchasing guide in question.
The hours for the Certificate II in Transport and Logistics (Warehousing and Storage) should remain the same so you could quote on those hours but mention the circumstances in the RFT submission. The hours in the purchasing guide will be relevant to classroom delivery rather than flexible delivery. Please note that you need to contact the ISC and discuss the application and get their support via participation in your Reference Group, should you be successful, prior to submitting your tender.
Q10. Can we use Excel to create a digital model within a TBX?
Putting data in Excel shouldn't be a problem as long as a version with accessibility features is used and the data/program is still accessible as per government guidelines.
Q11. 1) What exactly are the promotional documents (3.2.5)? Are they the plastic packaging the CD-ROMs come in? The user manual folders and marketing material? The marketing information found inside the CD cover? 2) What exactly are the presentation scripts (3.2.6)? Are these scripted presentations for demonstrators? Is it us presenting the product to e-Works/Flexible Learning Advisory Group (FLAG)? 3) What do they expect from these marketing documents/package (promo documents and presentations scripts)? 4) Is this considered an added cost or part of the tender costings?
This all refers to what we call the CD Booklet information. It’s a document that we put together on this end on completion of the project. We supply a template that makes it all very simple and straightforward for developers to supply us with that information. What we would ask for is: An electronic image in a specified format to put on the cover of the resource. Explanatory text – a short description of the project and information such as the qualification, units of competency developed, etc. (This will also be used as an explanation of the resource for our website so you can look at preview pages to get an idea of what would be asked for.) The written presentation script – this is simply a step by step sequence and explanation providing teachers and presenters with a path through your Toolbox highlighting it’s most interesting and important features for demonstrations and promotions. These demonstrations/promotions may be undertaken by various presenters including us, yourselves when presenting to your reference group or other groups if required, by our Toolbox Champions, or by teachers. You would not be presenting to FLAG at any stage, however our team may need to and we would then use the script. The above are not expected to be added costs, they are simply part of the development process along with the Teacher guide/Technical guide, etc, and most of the information required you will have gathered by the time you complete your project anyway. All other marketing materials such as plastic covers, etc, are supplied by the publishers. There is not a cost to you.
Q12. I'm in the process of finalising our submission for the latest round of Toolbox RfTs and was wondering if you could clarify 'Nominal Hours to be developed for online delivery' for me please. Is this the number of e-learning hours we intend to produce?
Yes, you need to tell us how many hours you will be actually developing materials for. In some cases you may be using materials that have been previously developed and don’t require further work from your team, or there may be a large practical component in the unit that you can’t develop materials for, ie where the student needs to go and do some practical work as part of the course hours and you are developing the theory side of the unit.
Q13. The response template encourages tenderers to provide examples of past product development. As much of this is CD-ROM based, is there a mailing address to forward this material to?
If you have it on a server anywhere, you can include a URL. If not, you can post a CD to me at the address below (see RFT for address details).
Q14. Does the 20 page limit for the Tender submission include letters of support?
No, the letters of support can be added as an attachment.
Q15. The tender document notes that tenderer’s are encouraged to provide samples of past product development. Please advise if website addresses are acceptable.
URL’s are acceptable. Please feel free to list them in your submission.
Q16. Could you please let me know if you have an FTP site available to upload examples of work.
We don’t have an FTP site. You’ll need to either send us your URL, or put samples on a DVD/CD.
Q17. Do those CD/DVD samples need to be submitted with the tender or can they follow?
They can follow. You should reference them in your submission. When we send the tenders out to our reference group to read we wouldn’t send the CD/DVD’s as there would be too many copies to make. If there was a URL they could look at that. If you send a CD/DVD we would take that to the selection meeting and they would ask to look at it there if they wanted more information about your work.
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