2009 Series 12 Toolbox development
Tender number: 01/01-09
*** This tender has now closed ***
View the Toolbox Series 12 E-Learning Resource Development tender information (PDF 178KB) or view in Word (523 KB)
Tender queries and responses
Q1. We are interested in submitting a tender, but would like to know if our RTO needs to have the training package we wish to develop on our Scope of registration. We currently have Certificate II in Retail and Hospitality, but I believe we are still on the WRR and THH packages
You would need to have the certificate you wanted to develop resources for on your scope of registration - the version you deliver in the classroom isn't so relevant, however materials would need to be developed to the latest training package.
Q2. Please explain exactly what is wanted for the Tourism, Hospitality and Events, and Retail units that have been grouped together.
There is a nationwide move by the government to regulate the food saftey area in the hospitality and retail industries. The three units selected are relevant to the various sectors. A lot of information is generic, but there would be a need to make sector specific references, for example within case studies, assessment advice, etc. NOTE: The ISC has since advised that this needs to be relevant to the Retail and Hospitality sectors.
Q3. We are not an RTO but have been developing Toolbox style e-learning materials for VET across Australia for some time. Could you tell me please if our organisation would be considered a suitable lead agent for Toolbox development? While our tender would be in consortia with an RTO, they have indicated that they would prefer that we lead and manage the project as our expertise and experience is greater.
Unfortunately you are unable to be the lead agent. As this is a government tender we’re obligated to uphold the eligibility criteria. The RTO you are referring to are able to be the lead agent and would need to be the project manager with a strong role in the development, however you could be part of a consortium with them.
Q4. How would the reference group feel about us extending on a previous Toolbox using new units that are on the priorities list?
It's not up to the reference group, it's something that would need to be discussed with the relevant Industry Skills Council. Approval is required from them prior to submitting a tender. You will need to contact them and discuss the option.
Q5. If we put in two tenders, will that increase our chances, and what are the chances that we would get the bigger one in preference to the smaller one?
All tenders are judged on their merit at the time by the reference group. No team will be awarded two development tenders, and all tenders are assessed individually.
Q6. Can an ISC be a partner in the development of a Toolbox?
No. There would be a conflict of interest for an ISC to be involved as a partner to a lead agent/RTO. ISC’s advice is taken into consideration in the selection process. Tenderers are also required to have a letter of recommendation from an ISC for any priority areas they want to develop in. The ISC can be involved via the reference group once the successful tenderer has been announced and can also supply a subject matter expert to the developing team, but can not be a paid participant in development.
Q7. What if we want to develop up to 150 hours, but one unit is over 80 hours and we'd like it to be bigger than the 150 hours would cover?
You wont' necessarily be developing 80 hours of materials. In the response template you need to advise how many of those hours you will be developing, and how many of those hours are covered by pre-existing materials. This will allow a higher scope for development than the hours attached to the particular unit.
Q8. Are all the resources QA'd and given the quality tick? Do we need to budget for that? Do we select our own assessor at DEEWR?
Yes, all Toolboxes must receive the quality tick before they are released. That is paid for by our project so you don't need to budget for it. You don't get to select your own assessor as we have regular assessors already available to our project and familiar with our products.
Q9.How is a Toolbox constructed? Is it developed unit by unit to stand alone, or all the resource in one area?
For a look at how Toolboxes are constructed take a look at the preview site. The latest couple of series are good examples. Some are scenario based where the units might blend together, others are quite individual. It depends on the best design for the materials.
Q10.The Food Safety priorities could be developed to cover other Skills Councils areas. Can we put in a submission with these other areas as well as that would be a more beneficial resource?
You can only apply to develop what is in the RFT. Each priority area is submitted by the individual ISC's so normally a Toolbox will only cover one skills councils area of need. When you discuss your submission with the ISC you could discuss your proposal and they may feel that it's a worthwhile development for the next series to build onto anything developed this year.
Q11.How much is available for development and what is the average paid for a Toolbox?
There is $1.07m available. Depending on the size of the developments, there can be between 5 and 8 projects selected for this amount. You need to work out what your submission is worth using the formula in the response template attached to the RFT.
Q12.I have resources that I deliver to international students who are enrolled in an Australian RTO and are preparing to study in Australia. I'm interested in this funding to turn those resources into e-learning resources.
The funding available for these developments is for Australian RTOs only, but the resources developed must be from the list of priorities provided by the ISC's and included in the RFT. If the materials you are interested in developing are not in this priority list, they won't be selected for development.
Q13.I'm a developer who works alongside RTO's to develop learning materials. Can I apply for this development funding? If I partner with an RTO, can I be the lead agent?
You will need to apply jointly with an RTO, and the RTO will need to be the lead agent, and also have the qualification you are applying for on their scope of registration. You can take a major role in the development, but the RTO will need to be listed as the lead agent on the development.
Q14.As part of an organisation who haven't developed a Toolbox before, are we better off submitting a tender for a smaller project? What would you suggest?
New developers are very much encouraged to submit. If you haven't had experience developing a Toolbox before and would like to start with a smaller project, there are a few options in the priorities list. A list of 10 units doesn't mean that 10 are required to be developed in the Toolbox. You should decide which area you have on your scope of registration and are interested in, then contact the relevant skills council and discuss your options. You may decide with them to just develop a couple of the listed units, and there are also areas that only require one unit to be developed.
Q15.How many people are likely to participate in the development? Does an RTO still need to be involved for development of something where the ISC already has the content? If we need to partner with an RTO, how can we find someone who might work with us?
We will fund approximately five to seven developments, depending on the cost and size that meets our budget. Yes, an RTO must be involved regardless of the content or priority, and the RTO must be the lead agent and have the resource units on their Scope of Registration. We can't match you with anybody, but have now developed a registration form where you can register your details as a multimedia developer, or where an RTO can register as looking for a multimedia developer, and you can read that list to find a suitable partner. The URL is http://toolboxes.flexiblelearning.net.au/tenders/2009/script/view.php.
Q16.Can the toolbox proposal be for something new that I have developed or is there a list of things that need to be developed? I have created a new theoretical model that has practical uses. Do I need to get approval for what Ii have developed first by an educational body?
You should read the eligibility and other conditions in the RFT that is available on our website at http://toolboxes.flexiblelearning.net.au/tenders/2009/tender.htm. This document will give you a list of the priority areas for development. These are nominated by the Industry Skills Councils and cover high needs areas for development. These are the only areas that are funded with this project. You also need to be either an RTO, or partner with an RTO who would be the lead agent. The RTO also needs to have the area for development on their Scope of Registration.
Q17.We are completing our submission and it says we need to show that we have the support of the ISC. How do we show that?
You need to be consulting with the relevant ISC as you are preparing your submission. The ISC is a major stakeholder and the supplier of the priorities list. You need to ask them for a letter of support which must be attached to your submission. You also need to list a member of the relevant ISC as a representative on your reference group for the duration of the project. You can find a URL to the ISC's website in the priorities list in the tender document.
Q18.Do we need to develop all the units that are required to complete a qualification?
No, the qualification may include 12 units for example, but you might only develop 4 units. You should apply to develop what you are able to develop within the time and budget, and also what you have available on your scope of registration.
Q19.With regard to Attachment A: Tenderer’s Response Template, could you please clarify where the Tenderer could input relevant information such as past experience on such projects, successes etc.?
There are several areas that you could use to promote your organisations capacity, such as your project management capability, QA processes, etc, however the more specific information such as previous project experience or developments would fit appropriately under 1.3.5 where there is a heading for ‘Capability of the organisation/consortium’.
Q20.The indigenous development on the priorities list has all the content developed and available, and the skills council wants it developed into a Toolbox so it's mainly multimedia work. Does that still require an RTO to be involved as lead agent?
Yes, definitely. An RTO with the qualification on their scope of registration must always be involved in all developments, regardless.
Q21.Could we organise please a brief teleconference with you to introduce the team and to assist us to build a comprehensive Tenderer's response?
I'm unable to participate in a teleconference or personally meet with any teams regarding a current public Tender. To ensure that all respondents are treated equally and there are no advantages to any particular prospective developers, we must put all queries in writing on our website. You are welcome to email me a list of queries which I will respond to, and will also add to our public tender query log.
Q22.We've just had a TP endorsed which will be highly sort after by trainers this year, and we would like to include a development in that area for this series. How do we do that?
It's now too late to include any further development areas. These areas are provided by the Industry Skills Councils. If this is a newly endorsed qualification and is highly sort after you should lobby your skills council to ensure it is included in the development priorities when we contact them again in October for next year's development projects.
Q23.If we work with a state TAFE system, do we put the names of each one we work with, or just the state system name?
You will need to identify the Institute which will be the lead agent. The project manager will be located there and this will be where our main communication lies and where milestone payments will be directed. If you are also accessing project staff from other institutes they will also need to be identified, however only one of these will be the lead agent.
Q24.Is the Scope of Registration for the whole state system, or just what is covered in the tender? Can we just include a link to NTIS?
The Scope of Registration entry should be the RTO's individual number. They will know what that number is, or could get it from Student Records. A link to NTIS wouldn't prove Scope of Registration.
Q25.Full or part competency for the national units - is this the full competency being delivered by elearning? Breaking the units into knowledge and application, there will be a component that needs to occur in the workplace.
Full or part competency is what you are developing, not what is delivered. You may be using other materials previously developed, or there may be an external or hands on component. You should include the hours you are developing content and resources for, as compared to the hours required to complete the competency.
Q26.What is the number required for Scope of Registration?
This is your RTO number. Normally a four digit number.
Q27.If we have someone doing our multimedia work for us outside our organisation, are they listed as partners? We have liaised with the Skills Council. Do we include them as partners?
No. If you are subcontracting for multimedia you need to include their details and briefly indicate their experience, but they are not partners. Only those included in a business partnership would need to be included in the partners area. The Skills Council are not partners. They can advise via the reference group, but will not be employed by you.
Q28.When we calculate the amount per hour, do we calculate including or excluding GST?
Calculate this figure from the Excluding GST amount.
