QQI L7 Bachelor of Arts in Applied Early Childhood Education and Care

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

The contract involves delivering a QQI Level 7 Bachelor of Arts in Applied Early Childhood Education and Care. The program is designed for individuals holding a Level 6 qualification and will span two academic years. The delivery method is blended, incorporating both online and onsite components.

Key activities include:

• Training Delivery:

• Minimum of 20 trainees and a maximum of 35 trainees per cohort.

• Weekly live online tutorials complemented by four onsite days per semester (weekends).

• Program Structure:

• Semester One (January 2025 - May 2025):

• Professional Development 3

• Psychology of Atypical Development 1

• Aistear through Outdoor Learning

• Professional Practice Placement 1

• Promoting Health in the Early Years

• Semester Two (September 2025 - December 2025):

• Law and Civic Studies

• Aistear through PE

• Professional Development 4

• Psychology of Atypical Development 2

• Professional Practice Placement 1

• Semester Three (January 2026 - May 2026):

• Child & Family Law

• Skills for Child Health and Safety

• Evidence-Based Practice

• Aistear through Arts in Education

• Professional Practice Placement 1

• Semester Four (September 2026 - December 2026):

• Professional Practice Placement 2 (Full Semester)

• Documentation and Compliance:

• Use of supplied documentation for sign-in, trainee profiles, evaluations, and promotional materials.

• Submission of final certificates to IRD Duhallow Skillnet post-completion.

• Adherence to cancellation procedures with specified notice periods.

3. Background & buyer context

IRD Duhallow Skillnet was established in 2015 and aims to enhance the skills of employees in member companies primarily located in North Cork. The Skillnet is funded by member contributions and the Training Networks Programme, an initiative of Skillnet Ireland. This procurement aligns with the organization's objective to improve workforce capabilities and competitiveness in the region.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following eligibility and selection criteria:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.

• Insurance:

• Professional Indemnity Insurance: not specified.

• Public Liability Insurance: not specified.

• Employer's Liability Insurance: not specified.

• Product Liability Insurance: not specified.

• Cyber Insurance: not specified.

• Motor Insurance: not specified.

• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.

• Past experience: Minimum of 2 relevant contracts of similar size and complexity within the last 2 years.

• Personnel: Trainers must have relevant experience in early childhood education.

• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

Bids will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

No minimum scoring threshold is specified for any criterion.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following documents:

• Method statement / response document: Adhere to the template provided, with no specified page limit.
• CVs: Include CVs for all proposed trainers, no specified page count.
• Pricing schedule: Format as per the named template, including costs for 20, 25, 30, and 35 participants.
• Case studies: Provide at least two relevant case studies demonstrating past experience.
• Declarations: Include ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, and Conflict of Interest declarations.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted via eTenders, with both hard and digital copies required.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

Key contract terms include:

• Term: The contract spans two academic years, from January 2025 to December 2026.
• Payment terms: Payment is contingent upon the provision of a valid tax clearance certificate.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Successful completion of training modules and timely submission of documentation.
• Liquidated damages: Not specified.
• Termination clauses: IRD Duhallow Skillnet reserves the right to cancel the tender process at any time before contract execution.
• IP ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting rules: Not specified.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

Potential risks and concerns include:

• The requirement for a minimum of 20 trainees may limit the pool of bidders who can guarantee sufficient enrollment.
• The lack of specified insurance and certification requirements may lead to variability in bidder qualifications.
• The absence of a clear geographic constraint may open the tender to a wider range of bidders, but also raises concerns about the quality of local delivery.
• The tender process allows for cancellation at any stage, which may deter bidders concerned about commitment.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is suitable for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with expertise in educational program delivery, particularly in early childhood education. Viable bidders should possess:

• Relevant experience in delivering QQI-accredited programs.
• Capability to manage blended learning environments.
• A strong network to ensure trainee enrollment within the specified limits.

Consortium or subcontracting arrangements are not explicitly mentioned, suggesting that bidders should be prepared to deliver the program independently. Bid preparation may require several days to compile necessary documentation and case studies. The incumbent's strength is not disclosed, but the absence of a named incumbent may indicate an open competitive environment.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: Level 7 Tender 2024-2025.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: not specified
• Contact email: [email protected]
• Important attachments:
• Appendix A - General Information
• Appendix B - Experience & Achievement
• Appendix C - Declaration