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European Commission asked to investigate Becta’s Learning Platform Procurement
Added: (Fri Jan 05 2007)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5th 2007
European Commission asked to investigate Becta’s Learning Platform Procurement
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Alpha Learning Ltd has asked the European Commission to investigate Becta’s Learning Platform procurement framework on the grounds that it breaches European regulations.
In his letter to the Commission, Managing Director Crispin Weston says that a significant number of the successful tenders fail to satisfy criteria which were described under the contract notice as mandatory. The main purpose of European regulations for public procurement is to ensure that selection criteria, announced at the beginning of a competition, are applied objectively.
Weston commented, “Becta did not enforce its own mandatory requirements when it realised that no-one would meet them. While smaller companies and open source products have been excluded from this competition, larger companies have been awarded contracts even though they do not meet necessary standards for interoperability.
“Becta has for many years failed to implement technical standards for interoperability for learning software in schools. The result has been an uncompetitive market with a poor record for innovation. The lack of support for these standards is also making it difficult for the BBC to meet the conditions under which it is required to operate the Digital Curriculum”.
Weston’s letter to the Commission is published at www.alphalearning.co.uk/ojeu.htm along with a range of supporting documentation.
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A press conference will be held at 12 noon on Wednesday, 10th December on Alpha Learning’s stand S95 at the BETT show. If you are planning to attend, please let us know on 01308 485054.
Alpha Learning is showing its learning platform, Engage, at BETT (10th – 13th January at Olympia, London) on stand S95.
Alpha Learning did not compete in the Learning Platform competition because it was too small to meet the financial criteria for qualification.
Weston is an expert on standards for interoperability who has sat on the DfES’ Technical Standards Working Group, Learning Platforms Stakeholders Group and Becta’s Learning Services Technical Sub Group. He was a contributor to Becta’s best practices guide to supporting open standards, published in January 2005.
One hundred MPs have signed John Pugh’s Early Day Motion of 21st November, expressing concern at the distorting effect on the market of Becta’s ‘outdated purchasing frameworks’.
The BBC has started to roll-out content under its £150 million ‘Digital Curriculum’ initiative, which operates under DCMS conditions. Doubts were first raised about the interoperability of BBC content by the government’s Content Advisory Board in December 2005. Alpha Learning submitted a complaint to Becta on 25th September. It has recently been reported at www.addysg.org.uk/merlinjohnonline that the roll-out of the BBC’s Digital Curriculum has been frozen while their support for interoperability standards is reviewed.
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To reserve a seat at the press conference: 01308 485054.
To speak to Crispin Weston: 07780811806.
Alpha Learning
New Barn Studios
West Milton
Bridport
Dorset DT6 3TN
Fax: 01308 485189.
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