MI-CFT26-033 Domestic and International Courier Services

AI-generated analysis of the documents. Check the official notice and any amendments for current submission details.

1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

This tender seeks to appoint a single supplier to provide comprehensive domestic and international courier services for the Marine Institute. The contract will cover the collection, transportation, and delivery of a wide range of items, including documents, samples, and equipment, across various service levels and destinations.

The scope of work includes, but is not limited to:

• Service Types:
• Day Definite International: For shipments requiring delivery within a defined number of days to international destinations.
• Time Definite International: For time-critical international shipments.
• Time Definite Domestic: For time-critical shipments within Ireland.
• Economy International: For less time-sensitive international shipments.
• Domestic Express: For urgent domestic shipments.
• Geographic Coverage:
• Domestic: Within Ireland, with specific service areas including Dublin (DUB), Cork (ORK), Shannon (SNN), Galway (GLA), and others.
• International: Primarily within Europe, with destinations including Germany (DE), Great Britain (GB), Italy (IT), Netherlands (NL), France (FR), Spain (ES), Belgium (BE), Denmark (DK), Sweden (SE), Norway (NO), and others.
• Shipment Characteristics:
• Volume: Based on sample data, consignments range from single packages to multiple items per shipment.
• Weight and Dimensions: Shipments vary in calculated weight and volumetric weight, with examples ranging from less than 1kg to over 400kg.
• Item Types: Includes documents and non-document items, with specific mention of "Medical Express (doc)" for time-sensitive medical document shipments.
• Delivery Requirements:
• Same-day, next-day, and 2-3 day delivery options are specified.
• Operational Requirements:
• Collection from Marine Institute locations.
• Tracking and proof of delivery.
• Adherence to specified delivery times and service levels.
• Handling of various package sizes and weights.

The provided sample consignment data details specific dates, product names (e.g., W-ECONOMY SELECT, H-ECONOMY SELECT (nondoc), N-DOMESTIC EXPRESS), origin and destination regions/countries/service areas, and calculated piece counts, weights, and volumetric weights, illustrating the typical nature and volume of shipments.

3. Background & buyer context

The Marine Institute is Ireland's national agency for marine research, development, and innovation. This procurement is necessary to ensure the efficient and reliable logistical support required for its operations, which involve scientific research, data collection, and collaboration across national and international bodies. The contract aims to secure cost-effective and timely courier services, supporting the Institute's mission to explore, understand, and manage Ireland's marine resources. The current provision of these services is not explicitly detailed, but the tender indicates a need for a structured, long-term arrangement.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Goods in Transit Insurance: Not specified for this tender.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Additionally, bidders must provide their Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for online verification of their tax status. They must also be able to supply the name, title, telephone number, postal address, facsimile number, and email address of a nominated entity authorised to represent the tenderer.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award criteria and scoring mechanism are not detailed in the provided extract. Typically, public sector tenders in Ireland are awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), which balances price and quality. The specific weighting between price and quality, and any sub-criteria for quality assessment, would be detailed in the full tender documentation.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders are required to submit the following:

• Pricing Schedule: A detailed breakdown of costs for the services offered.
• Tax Clearance Information: Tax Clearance Access Number and Tax Reference Number for verification.
• Nominated Representative Details: Name, title, contact number, postal address, facsimile number, and email address of the authorised representative.
• Declarations:
• ESPD (European Single Procurement Document): To be completed by all bidders.
• Bona Fides: Declaration of eligibility.
• Tax Clearance Certificate: Confirmation of tax compliance.
• Conflict of Interest Declaration: To ensure no undue influence.
• Method Statement / Response Document: Not explicitly detailed, but implied for detailing how services will be provided.
• CVs: Not specified for this tender.
• Case Studies: Not specified for this tender.
• Mandatory Site Visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission Portal: Bids must be submitted electronically via the eTenders platform.

All prices quoted must remain valid for 120 days from the Tender Deadline.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The provided extract does not detail specific contract terms such as duration, payment schedules, SLAs, penalties, termination clauses, or IP ownership. Standard public sector contract terms, including prompt payment directives and freedom of information provisions, are likely to apply. Bidders should refer to the full suite of contract documents for detailed contractual obligations.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The most notable aspect of this tender is the very distant submission deadline of September 30, 2026. This is significantly longer than typical tender periods and may indicate a long-term planning horizon for the Marine Institute or a potential for the tender to be re-issued or amended before that date. The absence of specific requirements for turnover, past experience, and detailed scoring criteria in the provided extract suggests that these details will be elaborated upon in other tender documents. The estimated value of €210,000.00 is relatively modest for a multi-year courier service contract, which could imply a focused scope or a desire for competitive pricing.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender appears open to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that specialise in courier and logistics services. The absence of specific turnover or extensive past experience requirements suggests that smaller, niche providers could be competitive. Consortium bids or subcontracting arrangements are not explicitly mentioned but are generally permissible in public sector tenders unless stated otherwise. The bid preparation effort would likely involve compiling pricing, insurance details, and declarations, which is a standard effort for most tender responses. The primary indicator of potential incumbent strength or market dynamics would be revealed in the award criteria and any historical contract information, which is not present here.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: MI-CFT26-033 Domestic and International Courier Services
• eTenders CFT ID: Not surfaced in provided data.
• Contact / Clarification Portal: Refer to the official eTenders platform for clarification requests.
• Key Attachments:
• MI-CFT26-033 - Appendix 1a. Marine Institute Sample Consignments 2023 - 2026.xlsx
• VERIFIED PHRASES (for insurance requirements)
• Tender Rules and Instructions