Download Purpose of the EOI - Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia

Invitation for Expression of Interest (EOI)
Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia
Project: Review of Standards
Released: 24 October 2014
Closes: EXTENDED TO FRIDAY 30 JANUARY 2015
Structure of Invitation
This Invitation for EOI consists of the following parts:
Part A – Introduction contains an overview of the opportunity presented in, and the objectives of,
this EOI.
Part B – Conditions of the EOI Process sets out the rules applying to the EOI documents and to the
EOI Process. These rules are deemed to be accepted by all Registrants and by all persons having
received or obtained the EOI.
Part C – Registrant’s Response specifies the information to be provided in the EOI and may also
specify any information to be provided by a Registrant by other means.
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A. Introduction
Purpose of the EOI
The Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia Ltd (CCEA) is seeking an indication of interest
from potential consultancies to undertake the review of the two sets of Standards relevant to its
accreditation and assessment functions:


Competency Standards for Entry Level Chiropractors
Educational Standards for First Professional Award Programs in Chiropractic.
Role and legislated responsibilities of CCEA
The Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia Ltd (CCEA) is the independent and nationally
recognised body responsible for ensuring competency and high education standards in chiropractic
for the Australasian community.
Registration in Australia as a Chiropractor. CCEA is the assigned accreditation authority for
chiropractic under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 (the ‘National Law’).
Accreditation functions include the development and review of accreditation standards, the
accreditation of programs of study and education providers, the assessment of overseas assessing
authorities, and performing assessments of the knowledge, clinical skills and professional attributes of
overseas qualified chiropractors seeking registration in Australia with the Chiropractic Board of
Australia (CBA), which is supported by the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency
(AHPRA).
Functions under this Law must be exercised having regard to the objectives and guiding principles of
the national registration and accreditation scheme.
The objectives of the national registration and accreditation scheme are—
(a) to provide for the protection of the public by ensuring that only health practitioners who are
suitably trained and qualified to practise in a competent and ethical manner are registered;
and
(b) to facilitate workforce mobility across Australia by reducing the administrative burden for
health practitioners wishing to move between participating jurisdictions or to practise in more
than one participating jurisdiction; and
(c) to facilitate the provision of high quality education and training of health practitioners; and
(d) to facilitate the rigorous and responsive assessment of overseas-trained health
practitioners; and
(e) to facilitate access to services provided by health practitioners in accordance with the
public interest; and
(f) to enable the continuous development of a flexible, responsive and sustainable Australian
health workforce and to enable innovation in the education of, and service delivery by, health
practitioners.
The guiding principles of the national registration and accreditation scheme are as follows—
(a) the scheme is to operate in a transparent, accountable, efficient, effective and fair way;
(b) fees required to be paid under the scheme are to be reasonable having regard to the
efficient and effective operation of the scheme;
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(c) restrictions on the practice of a health profession are to be imposed under the scheme
only if it is necessary to ensure health services are provided safely and are of an appropriate
quality.
Registration in New Zealand as a Chiropractor. Section 12 of the Health Practitioners Competence
Assurance Act 2003 states that the New Zealand Chiropractic Board (NZCB) must prescribe the
qualification or qualifications for every Scope of Practice that it has gazetted under Section 11. The
NZCB has prescribed, to meet this requirement, the following:
1.
2.
3.
Bachelor of Chiropractic from the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, Auckland; or
A pass in an examination set by the Chiropractic Board for chiropractors trained overseas
in a chiropractic program that has accreditation status as recognised by the CCEA (Board
Registration Examination); or
Registration with the Chiropractic Board of Australia.
Migration to Australia as a Chiropractor. In accordance with the Migration Regulations 1994,
CCEA is specified by the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection as the assessing authority for
the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) General Skilled Migration program for
the occupation Chiropractor (ANZSCO 252111).
Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangement. The Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition
Agreement, under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997, states that ‘a person registered to
practise an occupation in Australia is entitled to practise an equivalent occupation in New Zealand,
and vice versa, without the need for further testing or examination’.
CCEA provides the accreditation function on behalf of the New Zealand Chiropractic Board,
accrediting programs of study and education providers for chiropractic in New Zealand. After
graduation and registering with NZCB, applicants who are not intending to migrate to Australia may
apply directly to the CBA for registration. Those applying for Skilled Migration to Australia will still
need to apply to CCEA as part of the preparation of their migration application.
Standards relevant to accreditation and assessment
There are two sets of Standards relevant to CCEA’s accreditation and assessment functions:


Competency Standards for Entry Level Chiropractors (download at
www.ccea.com.au/files/1513/8872/2006/CCEA_Competency_Based_Standards_December_
2009.pdf)
Educational Standards for First Professional Award Programs in Chiropractic (download at
www.ccea.com.au/files/4213/8872/1929/CCEA_Educational_Standards__First_Professional_-_December_2009.pdf).
These two sets of Standards are complementary and inter-linked.
Competency standards for entry level chiropractors
In October 1991, ACCOE (then entitled the Australasian Council on Chiropractic and Osteopathic
Education) resolved to establish competency-based professional standards for chiropractors. The
development of the first version of the competency-based professional standards in Australia was
funded by the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) in the Department of
Employment, Education and Training.
The funding guidelines stipulated that the standards must be derived from work-place practice, be
expressed as performance outcomes, have accompanying performance criteria and link entry-level
education and training. The competency standards were developed in consultation with members of
the profession and all other interested parties, in line with the NOOSR requirements. These
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competencies relate to the knowledge, skills and attitudes required of practitioners in performing their
required practice roles and tasks.
Since their initial development, the competency standards have typically been reviewed following the
release of Job analysis for chiropractic in Australia and New Zealand, a publication of the US National
Board of Chiropractic Examiners, International division.
The current version was adapted mutatis mutandis from Kleynhans in 1993, with the most recent
review occurring in response to the project Benchmarking competencies for introducing and
managing mental health disorders in chiropractic curricula in 2009.
Educational Standards for First Professional Award Programs in Chiropractic
The framework for the CCEA Educational Standards for First Professional Award Programs in
Chiropractic was based on the World Federation of Medical Education (WFME) Global standards for
Quality Improvement in medical education. The essence of the Standards is also derived from those
established and applied by ACCE.
The CCEA Standards also reflect the International Chiropractic Accreditation Standards of the
Councils of Chiropractic Education International (CCEI) and are considered equivalent to those of
major overseas chiropractic accrediting agencies (CCEs in the United States, Europe and Canada).
The current version was originally developed in September 2003, with the most recent review
occurring in response to the project Benchmarking competencies for introducing and managing
mental health disorders in chiropractic curricula in 2009.
Rationale for the review
CCEA supports the objectives and guiding principles of the National Law, recognising that the quality
of accreditation standards impact on decisions about registration of practitioners and the protection of
the public.
The National Registration and Accreditation Scheme was implemented on 1 July 2010. Since then the
Standards must meet all the requirements under the National Law, and the more recently developed
Quality Framework for the Accreditation Function (the ‘Quality Framework’). The Quality Framework is
the principal reference document for national boards and AHPRA to assess the work of accreditation
authorities. Domain 4 states that:
The accreditation authority develops accreditation standards for the assessment of programs
of study and education providers.
Attributes:





Standards meet relevant Australian and international benchmarks.
Standards are based on the available research and evidence base.
Stakeholders are involved in the development and review of standards and there is
wide ranging consultation.
The accreditation authority reviews the standards regularly.
In reviewing and developing standards, the accreditation authority takes account of
AHPRA’s Procedures for Development of Accreditation Standards and the National
Law.
Additionally, a substantial volume of reference material has been formulated since the current
Standards were developed, including (but not limited to):

Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009
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












Procedures for the Development of Accreditation Standards. AHPRA; 2011.
Quality Framework for the Accreditation Function. AHPRA; 2011.
TEQSA Higher Education Threshold Standards. Commonwealth of Australia; 2011.
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), 2nd edition. January 2013.
National Common Health Capability Resource for the Australian Health Workforce (provision
edition). HWA; 2013.
Standards for Professional Accreditation Processes. Professions Australia; 2008.
WHO/WFME Guidelines for accreditation of basic medical education. World Health
Organisation and World Federation for Medical Education; 2005.
Good Practice in Accreditation of Health Profession Education Programs. Australian Health
Professions’ Accreditation Councils Forum; 2010.
National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. ACSQHC; 2012.
Australia Safety and Quality Framework for Health Care. ACSQHC; 2010.
Health Workforce New Zealand initiatives and resources
Universities New Zealand – Committee on University Academic Programmes (CUAP)
requirements/initiatives
New Zealand Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003.
Opportunities to facilitate and support inter-professional learning and encourage use of simulated
learning environments (where appropriate) are also areas of particular interest.
Given changes in the education, health and chiropractic environment, a comprehensive review of the
Standards is imperative.
Overview of requirements
With oversight and direction provided by a dedicated Steering Committee, and through a process of
genuine and broad-ranging consultation, CCEA is seeking a consultancy to prepare robust,
defensible, fair and current Standards that:


when applied, will ensure quality chiropractic programs produce highly educated and skilled
graduates who have the requisite competencies and attributes.
are internationally and nationally benchmarked and that are responsive to the current health,
education and chiropractic environment.
The consultancy will be expected to:
1.
Prepare a paper that provides a review of the current environment, including:
o Best practice in competency and accreditation standards
o Relevant local and international standards in chiropractic
o Key initiatives in health and education that may impact on the Standards.
2.
Facilitate consultation with key stakeholders, including:
o Preparation of a discussion paper and consultation questions (emanating from the
review of the environment) for distribution to stakeholders
o Facilitation of stakeholder consultation workshops (in two locations in Australia and
one location in New Zealand expected)
o Collation and analysis of feedback received via stakeholder consultation workshops
and received in writing.
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3.
Prepare a first draft of the Standards, as well as:
o a brief consultation paper that describes the findings that underpin the preparation of
the first draft and seeks structured feedback from stakeholders
o a broad assessment of proposed standards against the COAC principles for best
practice regulation.
4.
Collate and analyse feedback and prepare recommendations for its incorporation into the
Standards
5.
Prepare a final draft of the Standards for approval by the Council.
Three one-day face-to-face meetings with the Steering Committee should be allowed for, with further
progress reports and discussions via teleconference and email.
A high level indicative timeline of the overall project is presented in the following table.
Key milestones
Time allowed
Project time line
Consultancy engaged
2 weeks (contract signed)
0
Discussion paper prepared
6 weeks (Consultancy to draft)
4 weeks (SC reviews)
2 weeks (amended and approved)
+ 12 weeks
First round consultation
1 week (circulated to key stakeholders
and published on website)
2 weeks (workshops held; 3 locations)
2 weeks (further receipt of written
feedback)
2 weeks (Consultancy prepares
summary of consultation prepared)
+19 weeks
First draft Standards prepared
8 weeks (Consultancy to draft)
4 weeks (SC reviews)
2 weeks (amended and approved by
SC)
2 weeks (review and approved by
Council)
+35 weeks
Second round consultation
1 week (notification to key
stakeholders and published on
website)
6 weeks (public consultation)
2 weeks (Consultancy to analyse
feedback and make recommendations
for changes)
2 weeks (SC reviews and approves)
+46 weeks
Final draft Standards prepared
2 weeks (Consultancy to draft)
2 weeks (amended and approved by
SC)
2 weeks (preliminary review by CCEI)
2 weeks (review and approved by
Council)
+54 weeks
Submission to CBA and NZCB
for approval
2 weeks (preparation of submission to
CBA)
+56 weeks
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B. Conditions of the EOI process
Rules governing this invitation
Participation in the EOI Process is subject to compliance with the rules contained in this Part B.
All persons (whether or not they submit an EOI) having obtained or received this Invitation may only
use it, and the information contained in it, in compliance with the rules set out in this Part B.
All Registrants are deemed to accept the rules contained in this Part B.
The rules contained in this Part B of the Invitation apply to:
a. the Invitation and any other information given, received or made available in connection with
the Invitation including any additional materials specified and any revisions or addenda;
b. the EOI Process; and
c. any communications (including any briefings, presentations, meetings or negotiations) relating
to the Invitation or the EOI Process.
Evaluation process
Following the Closing Time, CCEA intends to evaluate the EOIs received. EOIs will be evaluated
against the Evaluation Criteria specified in this Invitation.
An EOI will not be deemed to be unsuccessful until such time as the Registrant is formally notified of
that fact by CCEA.
If, in the opinion of CCEA, an EOI is unclear in any respect, CCEA may, in its absolute discretion,
seek clarification from the Registrant. CCEA may use such information in interpreting and evaluating
the EOI. Failure to supply clarification to the satisfaction of CCEA may render the EOI liable to
disqualification.
CCEA is under no obligation to seek clarification of anything in an EOI and CCEA reserves the right to
disregard any clarification that CCEA considers to be unsolicited or otherwise impermissible in
accordance with the rules set out in this Part B.
After evaluation of all EOIs, CCEA may, without limiting other options available to it, do any of the
following:
•
•
•
enter into a contract with one or more Registrants;
decide not to proceed further with the EOI process; or
commence a new process for calling for EOIs on a similar or different basis to that outlined in
this Invitation.
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Evaluation criteria
EOIs will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Criterion
1
Capability: Registrants are required to provide details of:
•
•
•
•
Key personnel and any sub-contractors, and the scope and extent of the services
they would provide
Knowledge of and experience in the industry
Infrastructure and other support which would be used to provide the service
Methodology proposed in providing the service, including proposed planning
arrangements to be implemented to ensure deadlines met.
2
Performance: Registrants are required to provide details of key personnel and any subcontractors:
• experience and performance on work or contracts of a similar nature in the last five
(5) years
3
Financial viability: Registrants are required to demonstrate that they have the financial
capacity to provide, over the term of the contract, all the requirements specified in this
Invitation. This includes answers to the following questions:
•
•
4
Are there factors which could adversely impact on the financial ability of the
Registrant to successfully perform the obligations contemplated by this Invitation?
Is the Registrant solvent and able to meet its debts as and when they fall due in the
normal course of business?
Risk and insurance. CCEA requires appropriate insurance provisions for the supply of
Services contemplated under this Invitation (e.g. public, product, professional liability).
Provide details of all relevant insurances maintained by the Registrant.
5
Conflict of interest. Registrants are required to:
•
•
6
Provide details of any interests, relationships or clients which may or do give rise to a
conflict of interest and the area of expertise in which that conflict or potential conflict
does or may arise, and details of any strategy for preventing conflicts of interest.
Outline the processes in place to handle any future conflicts of interest (actual or
perceived)
Pricing principles. Registrants are asked to:
•
•
Provide details of your proposed pricing structure or consultancy fee
Provide an estimate of the time required to complete each stage of the project.
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Preparing an EOI
All communications relating to the Invitation and the EOI Process must be directed to the Project
Manager.
Any questions or requests for further information or clarification of the Invitation (or any other
document issued in connection with the EOI Process) must be submitted to the Project Manager in
writing, preferably by email.
Any communication by a Registrant to CCEA will be effective upon receipt by the Project Manager
(provided such communication is in the required format).
CCEA may restrict the period during which it will accept questions or requests for further information
or for clarification and reserves the right not to respond to any question or request, irrespective of
when such question or request is received.
Except where CCEA is of the opinion that issues raised apply only to an individual Registrant,
questions submitted and answers provided will be made available to all Registrants without identifying
the person or organisation having submitted the question. In all other cases, CCEA may deliver any
written notification or response to a Registrant by leaving or delivering it to the address of the
Registrant (as notified to the Project Manager).
Name
Kylie Woolcock
Project Manager, Review of Standards
Executive Officer, Council on Chiropractic Education
Australasia
Email address
[email protected]
Registrants must ensure that:
•
their EOI is presented in the required format as set out in Part C; and
•
all the information fields in Part C are completed and contain the information requested.
Unnecessarily elaborate responses or other presentations beyond what is sufficient to present a
complete and effective proposal are not desired or required. Elaborate artwork and expensive visual
and other presentation aids are not necessary.
Word limits where specified should be observed and CCEA reserves the right to disregard any parts
of the EOI exceeding the specified word limit.
Incomplete EOIs may be disqualified or evaluated solely on the information contained in the EOI.
CCEA may disregard any content in an EOI that is illegible and will be under no obligation whatsoever
to seek clarification from the Registrant.
CCEA may permit a Registrant to correct an unintentional error in its EOI where that error becomes
known or apparent after the Closing Time, but in no event will any correction be permitted if CCEA
reasonably considers that the correction would materially alter the substance of the Registrant’s EOI.
If, after an EOI has been submitted, the Registrant becomes aware of an error in the EOI (excluding
clerical errors which would have no bearing on the evaluation of the EOI) the Registrant must
promptly notify CCEA of such error.
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Registering an EOI
EOIs must be submitted by COB 30 January 2015 electronically to:
Name
Kylie Woolcock
Project Manager, Review of Standards
Executive Officer, Council on Chiropractic Education
Australasia
Email address
[email protected]
EOIs must be lodged by the Closing Time.
EOIs lodged after the Closing Time or lodged at a location or in a manner that is contrary to that
specified in this Invitation will be disqualified from the EOI Process and will be ineligible for
consideration.
The determination of CCEA as to the actual time that an EOI is lodged is final.
CCEA will inform a Registrant whose EOI was lodged after the Closing Time of its ineligibility for
consideration.
Timeframes
The indicative timetable for evaluating EOIs received is:
Activity
Date
Invitation for EOI issued
24 October 2014
End of period for questions or requests for
information
27 January 2014
Closing time and date - extended
30 January 2015 COB
Intended completion of evaluation of EOIs
11 February 2015
Intended date for signing contract
28 February 2015
Intended commencement date
1 March 2015
[Insert Registrant’s Name]
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C. Registrant’s response
Required information
•
•
•
•
Registrants must provide an electronic copy(ies) of the Registrant’s Response in Microsoft
Office format
All responses must be provided within the specified boxes and must respond to the
Conditions of the EOI Process (Part B)
A Curriculum Vitae of the Registrant and any major subcontractors is required to be attached,
including the names and contact details of at least three referees.
Include the name of the Registrant in the footer of the EOI.
Registrant information
Name and title of Registrant
Address of registered office:
Australian Company Number:
Australian Business Number:
Telephone:
Email:
Postal address:
Date:
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Summary
Provide a brief summary/overview of the
Registrant’s Response.
List attachments provided with your EOI.
[Word limit 250 words]
Capacity to comply with the Overview of Requirements
The Overview of Requirements contained in Part B of this Invitation provides an overview of CCEA’s
requirements with regard to Services.
Where Registrants believe they will not be capable of providing all Services in full or will only comply
with the Overview of Requirements subject to conditions, they must describe these clearly below.
Registrants will be taken to represent that in all other respects they are capable of complying with the
Overview of Requirements.
Capability
Describe knowledge of and experience in the
industry
[Word limit 250 words]
Provide details of key personnel and any subcontractors, and the scope and extent of the
services they would provide
[Word limit 250 words]
Provide details of infrastructure and other support
which would be used to provide the service
[Word limit 250 words]
Provide details of methodology proposed in
providing the service, including proposed
planning arrangements to be implemented to
ensure deadlines met.
[Word limit 250 words]
Performance
Provide details of experience and performance
on work or contracts of a similar nature in the last
five (5) years
[Word limit 250 words]
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Financial viability
Are there factors which could adversely impact
on the financial ability of the Registrant to
successfully perform the obligations
contemplated by this Invitation? (If yes, please
provide further explanation)
Is the Registrant solvent and able to meet its
debts as and when they fall due in the normal
course of business?
Risk and insurance
Provide details of all relevant insurances
maintained by the Registrant.
Conflict of interest
Provide details of any interests, relationships or
clients which may or do give rise to a conflict of
interest and the area of expertise in which that
conflict or potential conflict does or may arise, and
details of any strategy for preventing conflicts of
interest.
Outline the processes in place to handle any future
conflicts of interest (actual or perceived)
Pricing principles
Provide details of your proposed pricing structure
or consultancy fee
Provide an estimate of the time required to
complete each stage of the project
Any other matters
Provide details of any matters which have not
been covered in previous sections, and you
believe need to be taken into consideration when
your EOI is evaluated.
[Insert Registrant’s Name]
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