External Authentication Services for Craft Apprenticeships

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

1. At a glance

Buyer Title CPV / category Estimated value Per-year Procedure type Lots Location Contract length Submission deadline Go-live / start |-------|-------|----------------|------------------|----------|----------------|------|----------|------------------|---------------------|------------------| SOLAS External Authentication Services for Craft Apprenticeships Services not disclosed not stated Open not stated not stated 12 months 2024-10-10T12:00:00+00:00 not stated

2. Scope of Work

The contract involves the provision of External Authentication Services for Craft Apprenticeships, aimed at ensuring quality assurance in the education sector. The contractor will be responsible for verifying the authenticity of assessments and qualifications related to craft apprenticeships.

Key activities include:

• Quality Assurance Services: Conducting assessments to ensure compliance with educational standards.
• Monitoring Processes: Implementing procedures to guarantee that no conflicts of interest arise during the authentication process.
• Client Interaction: Engaging with educational institutions and stakeholders to facilitate the authentication process.
• Reporting: Providing detailed reports on the outcomes of assessments and any issues encountered.
• Service Delivery: Ensuring timely delivery of services and adherence to deadlines.
• Personnel Management: Sourcing and managing qualified personnel to conduct assessments.

The contractor must demonstrate a minimum of three years' experience in similar roles and provide evidence of previous contracts in the education sector.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement aligns with SOLAS's strategic objectives to enhance the quality of craft apprenticeship programs in Ireland. The initiative is part of a broader government effort to improve vocational education and training, ensuring that apprenticeships meet industry standards. The contract is being issued now to address ongoing needs for external quality assurance in the education sector, particularly in light of recent reforms in apprenticeship frameworks.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following eligibility and selection criteria:

• Turnover requirement: Minimum average annual turnover of €100,000 for each of the last three years.
• Insurance:
• Professional Liability: €1m for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Public Liability: €6.5m for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Employers Liability: €12.7m for any one claim or series of claims arising out of a single occurrence.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Minimum of three comparable projects in the education sector within the last three years.
• Personnel: Key personnel must have a minimum of three years' experience in relevant roles.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

Bids will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

The overall scoring will follow a Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) approach.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following documentation:

• Method statement / response document: Follow the provided template with no specified page limit.
• CVs: For key personnel, no specified page count.
• Pricing schedule: Use the designated template.
• Case studies: Three relevant projects with values ranging from €100,000.
• Declarations: Including ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, and Conflict of Interest.
• Mandatory site visit: Not applicable for this tender.
• Submission portal: All documents must be submitted via eTenders, following specific format rules.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

Key contract terms include:

• Term: Initial contract length of 12 months, with an option for one 12-month extension.
• Payment terms: Payments will be made under the Services Contract as specified in Appendix 5.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not detailed in the documents.
• Liquidated damages: Not specified.
• Termination clauses: SOLAS may terminate with 14 days' notice.
• IP ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting rules: Must be disclosed, with the Prime Contractor responsible for overall performance.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

Potential risks and concerns include:

• The turnover requirement of €100,000 may limit participation from smaller firms.
• The lack of specified geographic constraints could lead to a broader pool of bidders, but may also introduce competition from larger entities.
• The absence of detailed SLAs/KPIs could lead to ambiguity in service expectations.
• The requirement for extensive documentation may pose a challenge for smaller businesses with limited resources.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with relevant experience in quality assurance within the education sector.

• Credible bidders: Firms with a proven track record in educational services, particularly in quality assurance, are best positioned to bid.
• Consortium or sub-contracting: Allowed, but the Prime Contractor must be clearly identified.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Estimated at 10-15 days for preparation and submission.
• Pwin signal: The presence of established firms in the sector may indicate a competitive landscape, but the tender's open nature allows for participation from smaller firms.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: 2414-SO-N - EA for Craft Apprenticeship CfT.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact email: Not specified
• Important attachments: Appendix 1 — Requirements and Specifications, Appendix 3 — Tenderer’s Statement, Appendix 4 — Declaration.