Notification of invitation to tender for School Open Source Project

Becta wishes to ensure that schools are aware of and can access the
wide variety of open source software in the marketplace.  To achieve
this it recognises that they must be supported in its awareness,
adoption, deployment, use and ongoing development.  In order to aid
this we are commissioning a project to:

1.  Support a sustainable and significant community of schools who use
and develop open source products by April 2010; and

2. Provide schools specific content development on open source
implementations.

The intended timetable for project award will be:

2nd May
 Invitation to Tender issued

By 12 noon 9th May
 Tenderers submit questions and comments regarding tender documents.
(see 1.6 above)

13th May
 Becta responds to questions and comments via email to all tenderers

By 12 noon 20th May
 Bidders submit tender (see 1.8 above)

3rd June
 Please endeavour to keep free as a shortlist of bidders may be
invited to Becta to discuss their tender submission, after which a
final decision will be made on awarding the Contract. (see 1.3 above)

12th June
 Contract Award

Please address all correspondence or requests for tender documents  to
tender.questi...@becta.org.uk

Best regards

David Carey

Becta Consultant

Who is interested in working on this (besides me)

R

On 02/05/2008, dcarey121 <dca...@oxfordlogic.com> wrote:

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http://www.thefreemac.com/

If this message was sent to you regarding the business of The Bolitho  
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has been taken to minimise any potential risk.

I've also uploaded the zip file containign tender documents to the
group area.  If you ar eunable to access this eamiul
tender.questi...@becta.org.uk and they will forward you a copy.

Regards
David Carey
Becta Consultant

On May 2, 10:28 am, dcarey121 <dca...@oxfordlogic.com> wrote:

Will look at the docs now they're uploaded.

 > Could the tender come from us as a whole group, perhaps with the INGOTs as
 > one assessment focus?

Absolutely - I think an sf-uk tender would be best, we can decide on
 the 'official company to front it in due course, and then employ
 consultants :-)

 Yes, using theINGOTS asn assessment focus is a good idea.

 > I am certainly happy to join in as I already publish this sort of thing to
 > www.thefreemac.com as my own effort.  If we can include sections on
 > courseware, training materials, etc. I think that this is a real
 > possibility.

I hope everyone would see it that way.

 > I will just have to get the Head to confirm that I can join in in school
 > time and get back but definitely interested.

Good luck - assuming the contract is big enough, we can pay release
 fees to the school - that is what Becta and the exam boards do.

 rgds,

R

 > Simon
 > www.thefreemac.com
 >
 >
 > On 2 May 2008, at 02/05/2008,11:09, linuxgirlie wrote:
 > We are, just waiting for confirmation from the head and deputy.
 >
 >
 > Jo
 >
 >
 > 2008/5/2 Richard Rothwell <rich...@caliban.org.uk>:
 > >
 > > Wow!
 > >
 > > Who is interested in working on this (besides me)
 > >
 > > R
 > >
 > >
 > >
 > >
 > > On 02/05/2008, dcarey121 <dca...@oxfordlogic.com> wrote:
 > > >
 > > >  Dear all
 > > >  I felt this may be of interest to members of this list as a potential
 > > >  opprotunity or future benefit.
 > > >
 > > >
 > > >  Notification of invitation to tender for School Open Source Project
 > > >
 > > >  Becta wishes to ensure that schools are aware of and can access the
 > > >  wide variety of open source software in the marketplace.  To achieve
 > > >  this it recognises that they must be supported in its awareness,
 > > >  adoption, deployment, use and ongoing development.  In order to aid
 > > >  this we are commissioning a project to:
 > > >
 > > >  1.  Support a sustainable and significant community of schools who use
 > > >  and develop open source products by April 2010; and
 > > >
 > > >  2. Provide schools specific content development on open source
 > > >  implementations.
 > > >
 > > >  The intended timetable for project award will be:
 > > >
 > > >  2nd May
 > > >   Invitation to Tender issued
 > > >
 > > >  By 12 noon 9th May
 > > >   Tenderers submit questions and comments regarding tender documents.
 > > >  (see 1.6 above)
 > > >
 > > >  13th May
 > > >   Becta responds to questions and comments via email to all tenderers
 > > >
 > > >  By 12 noon 20th May
 > > >   Bidders submit tender (see 1.8 above)
 > > >
 > > >  3rd June
 > > >   Please endeavour to keep free as a shortlist of bidders may be
 > > >  invited to Becta to discuss their tender submission, after which a
 > > >  final decision will be made on awarding the Contract. (see 1.3 above)
 > > >
 > > >  12th June
 > > >   Contract Award
 > > >
 > > >
 > > >  Please address all correspondence or requests for tender documents  to
 > > >  tender.questi...@becta.org.uk
 > > >
 > > >  Best regards
 > > >
 > > >  David Carey
 > > >
 > > >  Becta Consultant
 > > >
 > > >  david.ca...@becta.org.uk
 > > >
 > > >  >
 > > >
 > >
 > >
 > > --
 > > Richard Rothwell,                                 richa...@m6-it.org
 > > Education Consultant                                http://m6-it.org
 > >
 > > Web services * Back-ups * Support * Training & Certification * E-Mail
 > > M6-IT CIC ``Software Freedom for the Education and Voluntary Sector''
 > >
 > > M6-IT is a Community Interest Company, limited by guarantee
 > > Registered in England & Wales,               Registration No: 6040154
 > > 11 St Marks Road, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY9 7DT
 > >
 > >
 > >
 > >
 > >
 > >
 >
 >
 >
 > --
 > http://www.karoshi.org.uk
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > For free Mac software, teaching resources and training opportunities, visit:
 >
 > http://www.thefreemac.com/
 >
 > If this message was sent to you regarding the business of The Bolitho
 > School, you should be aware that this email and any attachments may contain
 > confidential material and is solely for the use of the intended
 > recipient(s).  If you have received this email in error, please notify the
 > sender immediately and delete this email.  If you are not the intended
 > recipient(s), you must not use, retain or disclose any information contained
 > in this email.
 >
 >
 >
 > Any views or opinions are solely those of the sender and do not necessarily
 > represent those of the Bolitho School. Unless expressly stated in the text,
 > this email is not intended to form a binding contract.  The Bolitho School
 > does not guarantee that this email or any attachments are free from viruses
 > or 100% secure although due care has been taken to minimise any potential
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 >
 >
 >
 >
 >   >
 >

--

Richard Rothwell,                                 richa...@m6-it.org
 Education Consultant                                http://m6-it.org

 Web services * Back-ups * Support * Training & Certification * E-Mail
 M6-IT CIC ``Software Freedom for the Education and Voluntary Sector''

If I can contribute as a freelance developer then I'm definitely
interested in getting involved. Even more so if there's an
accessibility angle (bound to be) or use of Mozilla tech. Happy to
develop and/or educate on OSS and web use/development for
sustainability.

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/sf-uk-discuss/files

http://sf-uk-discuss.googlegroups.com/web/Invitation%20to%20Tender%20...

On 02/05/2008, Steve Lee <st...@fullmeasure.co.uk> wrote:

On 2 May 2008, at 14:04, Steve Lee wrote:

R

On 02/05/2008, Tim Duckett <tim.duck...@gmail.com> wrote:

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Just received it...  three .docs :-)

ahh well, will try reposting to the group list.

R

--
Richard Rothwell,                                 richa...@m6-it.org
Education Consultant                                http://m6-it.org

Web services * Back-ups * Support * Training & Certification * E-Mail
M6-IT CIC ``Software Freedom for the Education and Voluntary Sector''

will send to some of you, others just give me a nod

Steve

On 02/05/2008, Richard Rothwell <rich...@caliban.org.uk> wrote:

try...

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ahks36p5jxzf_19d84cphfd

R
--
Richard Rothwell,                                 richa...@m6-it.org
Education Consultant                                http://m6-it.org

Web services * Back-ups * Support * Training & Certification * E-Mail
M6-IT CIC ``Software Freedom for the Education and Voluntary Sector''

Steve

On 02/05/2008, Richard Rothwell <rich...@caliban.org.uk> wrote:

I need to read what details there are tomorrow. Two things.

Let's not assume we will automatically win it, we don't know who else
got it. We need to work out how to bid. OSC, SFUK, OSA and a number of
individual companies might decide to bide separately. That might or
might not be a good strategy. Just needs some thought.

Ian
--
New QCA Accredited IT Qualifications
www.theINGOTs.org

I don't think there is anything wrong with DBG doing its own bid, it
would just be useful to know who is likely to submit a bid. And who are
potential partners.

So far OSS Watch have declared they will bid on a non-advocacy ticket.

Richard, as Chair of SF-UK do you propose a SF-UK bid? What about M6-IT?

We could do a TLM bid and I know Axiomtec are interested but probably my
preferred route would be to partner TLM and INGOTs with SF-UK and other
education focused private sector companies (Including CICs like M6). A
genuine public/private/third sector consortium bid I think would be
politically attractive.

Basically such a bid would focus on SF-UK and its web site with a
community manager and say bounties or competitions with prizes to
incentivise schools to contribute open source resources and learning
content. My first thoughts are to concentrate on Web based resources to
support primary schools. (This would solve a lot of technical support
issues and make migration from proprietary to FOSS easier) This would be
complemented by resources such as a free open source managed learning
platform (Moodle) and Web 2.0 community environment (Drupal) from the
INGOT web site that is supervised and teaches learners how to use social
networking safely as well as FOSS apps. All contributes to the
e-strategy. We already have 20,000 + learners on the certification site
and about 2000 actively using Blogs etc and it's all on free software/CC
licensed content. We could move or link the resources section from there
to the SF-UK site. In terms of educating people about FOSS, we already
have QCA accredited certificates to do just that and we also support
staff development with links to the Teacher Learning Academy of the
General Teaching Council. We can put out tenders to the OSC companies on
behalf of schools that want to install FOSS infrastructure and provide
consultancy on development planning to move progressively to FOSS from
current circumstances. The publicity from the BECTA involvement is
probably as valuable in getting confidence and the message out as the
money. If as a result we make more money from services to schools and eg
INGOT academies we'll be able to develop more resources for the web
sites so BECTA (tax payer) gets value added beyond the original
investment and we demonstrate sustainability fo when the finance comes
to an end.

Ian
--
New QCA Accredited IT Qualifications
www.theINGOTs.org

I think that is a good starting point Ian.
We should at least consider MIS/Admin even if we decide it is a little
immature at this point in time (though there very useful tools in the
various projects). Perhaps we just provide info and otherwise treat
like infrastructure?

Bronze
http://theingots.org/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?inpopup=true&id=136

Silver
http://theingots.org/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=275

Gold
http://theingots.org/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=252

Note the progression to build concepts and ideas of increasing
sophistication. The goal is learning how to learn through understanding
of key transferrable knowledge and skills.

If anyone can add and improve these courses please do. I have already
made them available for download so people can put them in their own
Moodles, it's all CC licensed generally using CC resources.

Ian
--
New QCA Accredited IT Qualifications
www.theINGOTs.org

1) The Tory party received a briefing paper on FOSS.
2) Cameron makes his speech - timed to prevent the Labour party
responding rapidly, because of the rules about making announcements
before elections.
3) The day _after_ the local elections, this tender is published.
4) The period of the project is set to run until just after the
expected date for the general election.

There is a win-win potential here...

I expect that if you look around you will find the most government
agencies have just released similar tenders, all designed to counter
the spin doctors' expectation of the Tory manifesto.

Anyway, it's good news.

R

--
Richard Rothwell,                                 richa...@m6-it.org
Education Consultant                                http://m6-it.org

Web services * Back-ups * Support * Training & Certification * E-Mail
M6-IT CIC ``Software Freedom for the Education and Voluntary Sector''