Question 1: Do I have to be a registered training organisation (RTO) or higher education provider to deliver a Short Course?
The lead tenderer must be an Australian higher education provider or RTO in Australia.
Question 2: If I do not fit the above categories, how can I be involved in the delivery of a Short Course?
Organisations that are not RTOs or higher education providers and who are based either in Australia or internationally, can form consortia with RTOs and higher education providers to deliver Short Courses.
Question 3: Can I propose the subject area of a Short Course?
Short Course topics are driven by Australia’s aid objectives within the country or region. A Short Course concept note is developed in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in that country; in-country partners such as government departments and ministries; and our Australia Awards in-country team and Continuing Professional Development Solutions team. The intended outcomes of the course will be articulated in the Request for Tender, Scope of Services. Tendering organisations can then propose their delivery approach based on their technical expertise, within the parameters of the RFT document.
Question 4: Can an organisation who is already receiving DFAT funding, deliver a Short Course.
Yes.
Question 5: Can we partner with organisations based in the recipient Program country?
Yes, we encourage partnership with in-country partners, especially those who can support in person delivery in the recipient country and who have subject matter experience relevant to the course.
Question 6: How do we cost for these local facilitators mentioned in question 5?
Additional facilitators can be added as a fixed cost in sections A1 and A2 of the RFT budget template. If the input of the in-country personnel is minimal, for example an individual is engaged as a specialist presenter, then they can be added as a reimbursable under section B1 ‘Personnel Costs for Delivery of Course.’
Question 7: With the uncertainty of COVID-19 restrictions, should we still cost for in-person delivery in the country of origin?
The RFT Scope of Services will specify the mode/s of delivery for a specific short course. If the Scope of Services needs to change after a service agreement has been executed, Scope Global will negotiate these changes with the Provider.
Question 8: What if I budget for in country facilitation and the other tenderers do not and my financial proposal is substantially higher?
Financial assessments comprise 20% of the overall score and are based on the fixed cost of the financial proposal alone. The addition of in country partners is a desirable outcome and thus the merit of the technical proposal will be balanced against the additional costs as part of the overall value for money assessment.
Question 9: If there isn’t a topic listed in the tender, is it possible to propose a topic for consideration?
If the topic aligns with the intended learning outcomes, then yes it can be proposed.
Question 10: Can an assessment component be built into a Short Couse as a form of micro-credentialing and then be used as a pathway to a tertiary education degree?
We encourage Short Courses to be a pathway to certification if possible, however, this is not a requirement.
Question 11: Do I need to register my intention to submit a tender in order to be eligible?
No, you don’t. However, only organisations which register an intention to submit, receive addenda to the RFT which may help in developing your proposal. An Intent to Submit does not commit your organisation to submit a proposal.