Establishment of a Single-Party Framework Agreement for the Provision of Procurement Training and Advice

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 establish a single-party framework agreement for the provision of procurement training and advice services to Tipperary County Council (TCC). The framework will cover two interrelated areas: the delivery of an annual training programme and the provision of ongoing procurement advice and support to TCC staff.

The scope encompasses:

• Procurement Training:

• Development and delivery of bespoke training programmes for procurement practitioners and for management, budget holders, and approvers.

• Training will cover beginner, intermediate, and experienced levels.

• Key training areas include:

• Procurement of Works and Works Related Services (CWMF focus).

• Procurement of Goods and Services.

• SupplyGov training.

• Upskilling of procurement coordinators.

• Refresher and beginner courses.

• Specific topics such as tender management, pre-tender processes (selection and award criteria), tender preparation, contract notices, insurances, project specifications, evaluation protocols, contract management, category management, electronic tendering, category strategy formulation, CWMF and OGP templates, green public procurement, and dealing with clarifications/modifications.

• Procurement best practices, including determining requirements, cost estimation, market research, tender documentation preparation, objective evaluation, debriefing, risk management, contract implementation, and future-proofing.

• Applicable EU Directives and national implementing legislation.

• Training development must reflect changing market conditions, feedback on procurement challenges, and strategies for managing market volatility.

• No additional development charges will be paid outside agreed rates.

• Online training sessions are typically 1-2 hours.

• Procurement Advice:

• Provision of ad hoc and urgent advice, support, and assistance to staff at all stages of the procurement process.

• Advice will cover a wide range of TCC's procurement activities, including Works, Works Related Services, Goods, and Services.

• Services include:

• Strategic: Partnership in end-to-end management of complex projects, briefing on new procurement updates, and annual management briefings on regulatory changes and risks.

• Pre-Tender: Assisting in determining procurement routes, liaising on selection criteria, tender documentation, specifications, technical dialogue, award criteria, evaluation, and including Green Public Procurement (GPP) criteria. Support for peer review of tender documents.

• Tender Stage: Managing tender processes, preparing and issuing tender documentation (e.g., RFPs, PQQs, eTenders/OJEU notices, mini-tenders, prior information notices, invitations to negotiate, requests for quotes, evaluation reports), and publishing documents on relevant platforms.

• Evaluation/Notification: Co-ordinating evaluation meetings, supplier selection, issuing feedback, award/regret letters, contract award notices, debriefing support, and Regulation 84 Reports.

• Contract Management: Advising on contract implementation, Service Level Agreements, KPIs, and performance metrics.

• Procurement Operations: Administration of procurement processes, liaising with suppliers, responding to clarifications, and providing skill and knowledge transfer.

• The provider must be available at short notice for ad hoc queries via phone, email, and occasionally in person.

• Advice may be required for Major Public Procurement Projects.

• The Contracting Authority reserves the right to procure outside the framework.

3. Background & buyer context

Tipperary County Council (TCC) is procuring these services to enhance its internal procurement capabilities. TCC operates a decentralised procurement model, with procurement responsibilities distributed across its directorates. The Procurement Office provides guidance, compliance, and risk management support, alongside training and upskilling initiatives. The level of procurement expertise across the organisation is varied. This framework aims to ensure TCC complies with public procurement requirements and to provide timely, professional advice and training to staff at all levels, irrespective of their department or the procurement type. The Corporate Procurement Plan 2025-2027 outlines TCC's procurement activities and goals, with a significant focus on Works and Works Related Services, and a CWMF focus for both training and advice. The training programme for 2026-2029 is anticipated to be developed with the successful tenderer.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered eligible:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employer's Liability: €13 million
• Public Liability: €6.5 million
• Professional Indemnity: €1 million
• Certifications: Tenderers should provide information on measures to ensure quality delivery, for example, by way of an externally certified system. Compliance with relevant Health & Safety and Environmental legislation and guidelines is mandatory.
• Past experience: The primary personnel nominated must have a minimum of 10+ years' experience with local authorities or government bodies. Tenderers must demonstrate access to the skills of the primary and backup personnel.
• Personnel: Primary personnel must have a minimum of 10+ years' experience with local authorities or government bodies. Tenderers must demonstrate access to the skills of the primary and backup personnel.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Tenderers must also have been in existence for at least 6 months.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The award will be based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), determined by a combination of price and quality.

The tenderer with the lowest cost that also meets all minimum qualitative award criteria will receive the maximum score for the cost criterion. Specific scoring methodologies for qualitative criteria are detailed in the RFT.

6. Submission requirements

Tenderers must submit their responses via the eTenders platform. The following documents and information are required:

• Tender Response Document (TRD): This mandatory document must be used and should not be personalised with tenderer branding.
• Declarations:
• Declaration of Bona Fides (Art. 57 of Directive 2014/24/EU).
• Declaration regarding compliance with relevant statutory obligations.
• European Single Procurement Document (ESPD) (electronic or separate attachment).
• Declaration regarding the International Procurement Instrument (2022/1031) and Regulation 2022/576 (Russian Actions in Ukraine).
• Personnel Information: Details demonstrating access to the skills of primary and backup personnel.
• Quality Assurance: Information on measures for quality delivery (e.g., certified system).
• Pricing Schedule: As per Schedule 1 of the Framework Agreement Terms and Conditions.
• Consortium/Sub-contractor Information: If applicable, details for all relevant third parties upon whom the Lead Tenderer is relying.
• Reference Contracts: Details of nominated reference contracts for assessment.
• Framework Agreement Terms and Conditions: Tenderers must indicate acceptance. Any reservations must be submitted as a query.

Tenderers are recommended to upload their response as a Zip file.

7. Key dates & process

The tender validity period is 12 months from the submission deadline.

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: Maximum 4 years. Contracts awarded under the framework may extend beyond the framework expiry date.
• Payment terms: Not specified for this tender.
• SLAs/KPIs: A Service Level Agreement (SLA) will be agreed for contract management activities.
• Liquidated damages: Not specified for this tender.
• Termination: Not specified for this tender.
• IP ownership: Not specified for this tender.
• Sub-contracting: Allowed, but tenderers must prove they will have the resources of other entities at their disposal. If a subcontractor's value exceeds 10% of the Services Contract, their capacity and absence of exclusion grounds must be demonstrated.
• Guarantees/Bonds: Not specified for this tender.
• Record Keeping: Framework Member must maintain records for a minimum of six years after the framework expiry.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

• Single-Party Framework: This is a single-party framework, meaning only one supplier will be appointed. This significantly limits competition post-award.
• Indicative Value vs. EU Threshold: The indicative total value (€10,000 - €12,000 for training, €10,000 - €216,000 for advice) is stated as not exceeding the EU Threshold. However, the upper limit of €216,000 is relatively low for a 4-year framework, suggesting potential for low call-off volumes or that the stated value is a conservative estimate.
• No Guaranteed Expenditure: The RFT explicitly states there is no guaranteed expenditure under the framework.
• Tender Validity: A 12-month tender validity period is required, commencing from the submission deadline.
• No Branding on TRD: Tenderers must not add their branding to the Tender Response Document.
• Contract Management Non-Billable: Contract management activities by the nominated manager are non-billable.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is structured as a single-party framework, which typically favours established providers with proven experience in public sector procurement training and advice.

• Who can credibly bid: A small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) could bid if they possess significant, demonstrable expertise in public procurement, particularly with local authorities or government bodies, and can meet the insurance requirements. The primary personnel must have 10+ years of relevant experience. A consortium of smaller firms could also be viable if they can collectively demonstrate the required capacity and appoint a lead tenderer.
• Consortium/Sub-contracting: Consortiums and sub-contracting are permitted. SMEs are encouraged to form relationships with other entities to meet capacity requirements.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Preparing a comprehensive response, including the TRD, declarations, and detailing personnel experience, could require 5-10 days of dedicated effort for a firm familiar with public sector tenders.
• Pwin signal: The single-party nature of the framework suggests a strong incumbent advantage if one exists, or a desire for a deeply integrated partner. The absence of specific turnover requirements might indicate a focus on demonstrated capability and experience over sheer financial scale, potentially opening the door for niche providers. However, the insurance requirements are substantial.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: Request for Tender Multi-Party Framework Open Procedure (RFT) 2026.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact for queries: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie
• Most important attachments:
• Framework Agreement Terms and Conditions (Appendix 1)
• Contract Terms and Conditions (Appendix 2)
• Tender Response Document (TRD)