E-Learning Resource Development - Request for Tenders
Flexible Learning Toolboxes - Series 13
Tender No. 01/01-10
**THIS TENDER HAS NOW CLOSED**
Tenders are requested from vocational education and training (VET) Registered Training Organisations (RTO) suitably qualified to act as Lead Agents in the development of Flexible Learning Toolboxes (Toolboxes).
Toolboxes are high quality, cost effective interactive and scenario based e-learning and assessment resources featuring scenarios, images, activities and games that can be used to support learning in any situation; and to support the flexible delivery of nationally endorsed training packages.
Applications that demonstrate creativity, integration and understanding of current and flexible learning practices and developments are encouraged.
VET organisations that have not previously been involved in the development of Toolboxes are also encouraged to apply.
Tenders must be lodged by 12.00pm noon (EDT) Tuesday 16 February 2010.
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 13: E-Learning Resource Development - Tender No. 01/01-10 (Word - 506KB).
Tender queries and responses will be published on this page as they are received for the information of all tenderers.
Important amendments
January 21, 2010
The priority areas for development have been updated to include the following competencies submitted by the Construction & Property Services Industry Skills Council.
CPCPMS4001A Plan size and lay out heating and cooling services
CPCPRF4001A Plan, size and lay out roof drainage systems
For the complete list of priority skills areas please refer to 'Appendix A: Development Priorities' in the downloadable tender documentation.
Partnering with other organisations
If you would like to consider partnering with another organisation for a development project, you can view organisations submitted to date or register your details. Flexible Learning Toolboxes cannot participate further in this communication.
Tender queries and responses
Q1. We have an urgent need to develop resources to address cross cultural relationships in the workplace. This online course would be open to the community and would be beneficial to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal. Could you please advise if this fits the criteria for flexible learning funding?
In order to be eligible for Toolbox funding, the project must align to the Industry Skills Council priority areas (Appendix A in the Tender documentation). Certainly you could select units of competency from the priority list which have an Indigenous focus, and from there develop other resources, and use resources from existing units to enhance the product.
Q2. On page 8 of the document, it says that for mid-term a ‘fully populated functional specification’ is required. What does that mean? Does it mean that all content and plan for entire Toolbox is required at this point?
Yes, this is correct. The requirement for a completed functional specification for content and instructional design is to focus development at the early stages on quality educational design and to enable educational and editorial feedback to be integrated prior to costly multimedia development.
Q3. This probably follows on from question 1, but does all content and instructional design work have to be completed and submitted by July (the mid-term date)? Then the building of product (apart from POC) including multimedia applications takes place from July to alpha submission date?
Yes, this is correct, however, audio and final video content may be added in the lead up to the Beta submission.
Q4. For the alpha submission the tender document on Page 8 says ‘a content complete version of the Toolbox (with or without audio depending on instructional design issues)’. Does this mean that if the design of the Toolbox submitted earlier specifies audio at mid-term that audio has to be completed for the alpha submission?
It would be sufficient for audio transcripts to be available at Alpha. However, if audio is available it can be submitted at Alpha.
Q5. Is it possible for tenderers to get a copy of appendix C so that it is known prior to application what the actual requirement will be?
As stated in the tender, we are happy to forward a copy of the functional specification document to any interested party. It has not been included in full in the tender documentation to reduce download size. Full support in the use and requirements of the functional specifications documentation will be provided during induction and throughout the project.
Q6. When will external quality assurance testing actually happen? Concern is that the tender document timelines on page 6 state that the product is submitted for external quality assurance in December and project finalisation is 17 December. When will project teams incorporate feedback received as a result of testing?
The actual dates for external testing will be provided on appointment of successful tenderers during the induction process. Teams will be given the usual seven day period to return feedback and changes between Beta testing and final submission.
Q7. Can we use our own proprietary software to build Toolboxes and who owns the copyright.
Toolboxes must be interoperable and accessible to all, they cannot use proprietary software. All copyright is owned by the Commonwealth under the AESHarenet S license - Share and Return.
Q8. Do I need to get letters of support from my Reference Group members?
No, you do not need to get letters of support, but you do need to identify the proposed members of your reference group in the tender application.
Q9. Could you explain the new Quality principles in the tender document and how they will be used?
Until 2008 all Toolboxes went through the Quality noting process administered through the National Quality Council. This process was suspended at the end of 2008. In December 2009 a new Quality assurance process for training package support materials was introduced. The process will assess completed Toolboxes on the Quality Principles attached in the tender. They have been included to provide guidance to applicants on the quality measurement checkpoints which Toolbox materials will be required to meet.
Q10. Are there any difference in process with the 2010 Toolboxes, if yes, what are they?
Yes there is a difference to the process from past years. Instead of having a working Toolbox developed for mid-term, we will require a 'functional specification' document with full content and instructional design detail instead. Once that is approved, teams can start with the Toolbox media development.
Q11. Does an RTO need to partner up with an Australian development company or can it be from overseas?
As long as the Lead Agent is an RTO based in Australia the development can be done by an international company.
NB. Some questions have been edited to keep tenderers anonymous and to better inform other tenderers.
